Almighty God and Father of light, a child is born for us and a Son is given to us. Your eternal Word leaped down from heaven in the silent watches of the night, and now your Church is filled with wonder at the nearness of her God. Open our hearts to receive his life and increase our vision with the rising of dawn, that our lives may be filled with his glory and his peace, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen
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This Advent season has been a time of waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus, recalling his birth and looking to his coming again in glory. The anticipation is over and the joy and peace of Christmas comes into our hearts and lights our way to the Christ Child. Truly, Christmas is a season of rejoicing in the Incarnation.
The Christmas season begins with the celebration of the birth of Jesus, Christmas day, or as a vigil on Christmas Eve. The Feast of Christmas lasts 12 days, until Epiphany. However, the time from Epiphany until the Baptism of the Lord is also included in the Christmas season. Traditionally, Epiphany had been fixed to January 6th, and the Baptism celebrated on the octave of Epiphany, which was January 13th. In most countries, the Epiphany is now celebrated on the Sunday closest to January 6th, and the Baptism celebrated the following Sunday.
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Lord, shine your star upon us and guide us to you. Lift our hearts in prayer and song during this holy season. Thank you for the gift of your presence in our lives. We come and kneel before you in humility and gratitude. We sing our praises to you. Thank you, O Lord, our God. Amen.
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