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Christmas Day: The Christ Candle

Our concluding candle liturgy for this year...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God –  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1: 1-14

God came into the world so that none would live in darkness.
Glory to God in the highest!
The light shines in the darkness
and the darkness cannot overcome it.
This is the good news for all people:
to us is born a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
The world has been irreversibly transformed.
It is made new with hope, peace, joy and love
In Jesus Christ our Lord
(The candle is lit.)
Let us pray:
Source of light, shine in our lives and in your world
with your transforming power
Through Jesus Christ the Word made flesh we pray. Amen.

Shalom

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