The most beautiful Christmas prayer ever

Last updated on: December 24, 2016 at 10:18 am by Jacob Lupfer

The most beautiful Christmas prayer ever 2016-12-24T10:18:49-04:00 Jacob Lupfer

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Every Christmas Eve in Cambridge, England, the Choir of King’s College performs A Festival of Nine Lessons in Carols. This annual service, broadcast on the radio worldwide by the BBC, includes scripture readings and music. It is one of my favorite Christmas traditions, and I hope to experience it in person some day. The broadcast begins at 3:00 local time (10:00 Eastern Standard Time). In the United States, you can likely hear it on your NPR station.

The 2016 order of service is here.

After the processional hymn, “Once in Royal David’s City,” the dean of the cathedral offers this prayer. It is one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard.

Beloved in Christ, be it this Christmastide our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Therefore let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by this Holy Child.

But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all his people; for unity and brotherhood within the Church he came to build, and especially in this University and City of Cambridge and royal and religious Foundations of King Henry VI here and at Eton.

And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children; all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.

Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light, that multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are for ever one.

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the Throne of Heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us:

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever. Amen.

Merry Christmas!

800px-King's_College_Chapel

Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge. Image credit: Wikipedia

Previous Post

December 20, 2016

Would you buy a LGBT Nativity ornament w/ two Josephs?

Next Post

December 29, 2016 Visiting a cemetery in the Old South

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #Faith2016 Christian right Christianity Debates Democratic Convention Donald Trump GOP nominating contest Inauguration Media News roundup Personal Polls Religious freedom Republican Convention Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 August 2017 July 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz