25 December 2009

Happy Christmas to you all


Patrick Comerford

Last night I was in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, for the Midnight Eucharist. The Archbishop of Dublin presided, the Dean preached, and I was of the cathedral priests assisting in administering Holy Communion. In the chapter room, we were all delighted to hear Canon Katharin Poulton has been appointed Dean of Saint Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny.

This morning, at 11.15 a.m., I am celebrating the Christmas Eucharist in Whitechurch Parish (Church of Ireland), Rathfarnham, Dublin, at 11.15 a.m.

Our opening hymn is Good Christians all, rejoice (Church Hymnal 159) by John Mason Neale, who also wrote O come, O come Emmanuel:

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say;
Jesus Christ is born today;
ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul, and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this;
he has opened heaven’s door,
and all are blessed evermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save:
calls you one, and calls you all,
to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!

The Collect of the Day

Almighty God,
you have given us your only-begotten Son
to take our nature upon him
and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin:
Grant that we, who have been born again
and made your children by adoption and grace,
may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Post-Communion Prayer

God our Father,
whose Word has come among us
in the Holy Child of Bethlehem:
May the light of faith illumine our hearts
and shine in our words and deeds;
through him who is Christ the Lord. Amen.

Happy Christmas to you all!

Canon Patrick Comerford is Director of Spiritual Formation, the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, and a canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin