Christmas Day | Monday 25 December 2023

Today is Monday, the 25th of December, Christmas Day.


Everyone at Pray As You Go would like to wish you a very Happy Christmas!

Salt of the Sound sings, ‘The First Noel’.

The first Noel the angels 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
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
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
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That has made heaven and earth of naught
And with His blood our life hath bought
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.


Beneath all the glitz of Christmas is the grittiness of human existence: its pain and fears, its bewilderments, hopes and capacity for love. Amid all our limitations the infant Son of God gives us power in our turn to become God’s children.
How does it feel to think of yourself as a child of God?
As you hear part of the reading repeated, see what words, phrases or mental images catch your attention and stay with you. What makes them important to you today?

As you allow today’s reading to take hold, is there something you find yourself wanting to say to God our Creator or to God’s newborn Son? Speak from your heart as God’s word made flesh becomes real for you.

We are praying for every listener all over the world, that you would experience the fullness of joy in Christ’s arrival on this Christmas day.

As we end today, One Hope Project sings, ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’.

Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the new-born king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the new-born king"
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the new-born king"


Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.