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Sirach 24: 1-23

1Wisdom praises herself
    and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.
2 In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,
    and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:
3 “I came forth from the mouth of the Most High
    and covered the earth like a mist.
4 I encamped in the heights,
    and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.
5 Alone I compassed the vault of heaven
    and traversed the depths of the abyss.
6 Over waves of the sea, over all the earth,
    and over every people and nation I have held sway.[b]
7 Among all these I sought a resting place;
    in whose inheritance should I abide?

8 “Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,
    and my Creator pitched my tent.
He said, ‘Encamp in Jacob,
    and in Israel receive your inheritance.’
9 Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,
    and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.
10 In the holy tent I ministered before him,
    and so I was established in Zion.
11 Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting place,
    and in Jerusalem was my domain.
12 I took root in an honored people;
    in the portion of the Lord is my inheritance.

13 “I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon
    and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.
14 I grew tall like a palm tree in En-gedi[c]
    and like rosebushes in Jericho;
like a fair olive tree in the field
    and like a plane tree beside water[d] I grew tall.
15 Like cassia and camel’s thorn I gave forth perfume,
    and like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance,
like galbanum, onycha, and stacte,
    and like the odor of incense in the tent.
16 Like a terebinth I spread out my branches,
    and my branches are glorious and graceful.
17 Like the vine I bud forth delights,
    and my blossoms become glorious and abundant fruit.[e]

19 “Come to me, you who desire me,
    and eat your fill of my fruits.
20 For the memory of me is sweeter than honey
    and the possession of me sweeter than the honeycomb.
21 Those who eat of me will hunger for more,
    and those who drink of me will thirst for more.
22 Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame,
    and those who work with me will not sin.”

Wisdom of Solomon 10: 15-21

15 Wisdom rescued a holy people and a pure generation from the grip of people who were crushing them. 16 She entered the soul of a man who served the Lord. She enabled him to oppose terrifying kings by means of signs and wonders. 17 She rewarded the holy ones for their labors and led them along a wonderful route. She became a shelter for them by day and a flaming shower of stars by night. 18 She carried them across the Red Sea[a] and led them through deep waters. 19 She drowned their enemies and caused the depths to boil up over them. 20 The people who did what was right then stripped the ungodly of their weapons. All together they sang hymns to your holy name, Lord. They praised your hand, which had defended and fought for them. 21 Wisdom opens the mouths of those who can’t speak and puts clear words on the tongues of infants.

John 1: 1-18

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 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.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Hymn 233

We Three Kings of Orient Are

1 We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.

2 Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign. [Refrain]

3 Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high. [Refrain]

4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]

5 Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies. [Refrain]

This Little Light Of Mine

Vs. 1: This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
            This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
            This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
            Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Vs. 2: Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine,
            Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine,
            Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine,
            Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Vs. 3: All through the night, I'm gonna let it shine,
           All through the night, I'm gonna let it shine,
           All through the night, I'm gonna let it shine,
           Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hymn 229

The First Noel

1 The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Refrain:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

2 They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]

3 And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went. [Refrain]

4 This star drew nigh to the northwest;
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay. [Refrain]

5 Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. [Refrain]

6 Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought. [Refrain]

Hymn 716

God Be With You

1 God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
may the Shepherd’s care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain:
Till we meet, till we meet,
till we meet at Jesus’ feet.
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.