Daily Anglican Prayer – Thursday Morning – Christmas Day - 25th December 2025

Daily Anglican Prayer – Thursday Morning – Christmas Day - 25th December 2025 Readings NRSV: Psalm 132. 10-18; Micah 4. 1-8; Luke 2.1-14. Led by Felicity Scott, an Anglican prayer minister in Queensland, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Christmas Day Morning prayer. The Sentence: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; for to us a child is born, to us a son is given. Alleluia. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ as our Saviour and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever. Let us Pray. 1 This is the message we have heard from Christ: That God is light, in whom there is no darkness at all. Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit: as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen. 2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of God’s Grace Go up to a high mountain Herald of good tidings to Zion: Lift up your voice with strength, Herald of good tidings to Jerusalem. Lift up your voice, fear not: Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’ See the Lord God coming with power: Coming to rule with his mighty arm. He brings his reward for the people of God: the recompense for those who are saved. God will feed his flock like a shepherd: And gather the lambs in his arms; He will hold them to his breast: And gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40.9-11 3 The Opening Prayer The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind. Silence may be kept. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts with love for you; now and for ever. Amen. 4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each. Psalm 132. 10-18 5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow Almighty God, who wonderfully created us in your own image and yet more wonderfully restored us in your son Jesus Christ: grant that as he came to share our human nature so we may be partakers in his divine glory; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen. 6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed. 1st Reading MICAH 4. 1-8 1In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, 2and many nations shall come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; 4but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. 5For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. Restoration Promised after Exile 6In that day, says the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away, and those whom I have afflicted. 7The lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion now and forevermore. 8And you, O tower of the flock, hill of daughter Zion, to you it shall come, the former dominion shall come, the sovereignty of daughter Jerusalem. Hear the word of the LORD. Thanks be to God. 2nd Reading Luke 2. 1-14 1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room. ...