(if the family has made a crib, the family gathers before it- the little baby jesus is placed in it during the prayer service.)
O Come All Ye Faithful, joyful and triumphant; Oh come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; come and behold him, born the King of angels;
O COME,let us adore hi, Christ the lord.
Sing, choirs of angels,sing in exultation; sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
glory to God in the highest:
All: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Head of the House : Praised be Jesus Christ, who dwells among us, now and forever.
All: Amen.
Mother : As we celebrate the birth of Christ , we have gathered to pray before our Christmas crib. It was St.Francis of Assisi who made the first Christmas crib and then invited his neighbours to join him as his little "Bethlehem".
As we look upon our family crib. may the Christmas gospel story unfold before our eyes, and may we be moved to rejoice in the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God who became like us so that we may become like Him.
Reading OF THE WORD OF GOD :LK2:1-7
The Mother places baby jesus in the manger
PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY: {By another family member}
Your response: Bind us together, Lord
1. Heavenly Father, you have given us a model of family life in the Holy Family. Help us, to make our family like theirs, where love, peace, and joy reign. R/-
2- Lord, may we all take our family responsibilities seriously, especially the ones that seem so insignificant. R/-
3. Help us to make time daily for our family prayer. R/-
4. And finally, we pray for our perish,that it may truly grow info one big community of love. R/
Joy to the World
Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing...
{Even if the family has wished each other earlier, they now wish each other once again)