24th December 2025 at 11.30pm – Christmas Midnight Eucharist

The Readings

Isaiah 52.7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.
Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

John 1.1-14

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.

Scripture Quotations are from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

The Sermon
By the Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

We have just read the opening verses of the gospel according to
John. His Christmas gospel.

You may have realised that if this were the only account we had of
the birth of Christ, we would know little or nothing about what
actually happened.

We have to turn to the gospels of Luke and Matthew to learn about
all those things that are in carols and nativity plays. How Joseph
and the heavily pregnant Mary made their way from Nazareth to
Bethlehem to be registered. How Mary gave birth in a stable and
laid her baby in a manger, because there was no room for them in
the inn. How shepherds from the surrounding fields visited. And so
on.

These gospel writers want us to know what happened. John wants
us to know why it happened. What does the birth of Christ mean for
all who come after, including us.

He sums it up by saying: when we look at this child, we see God
himself. God has become flesh in Jesus Christ.

But why does God become human?

In the nineteenth century there was a philosopher who was asked
this. He could have given a long, scholarly answer. He was after all
the most famous philosopher of his day. Instead he told a folk story.

This story, if you think about it, gives us the clue.

This was the folk story he wrote:

There was once a prince who lived in a great castle. He had
everything he could wish for. He had servants. He dressed in fine
clothes. He ate sumptuously. He wanted for nothing – save one
thing. He had no wife.

One day while hunting with his courtiers in the forest, they came
across a clearing with a few cottages. The villagers, poor peasants,
came out to give loyal greetings to the Prince. Among them was a
beautiful young woman who, despite her patched clothes, stirred
the heart of the Prince.

He tried to speak to her. She was terrified and averted her eyes,
looking down at the ground.

The Prince did this over several days, but had the same response
every time. The young woman could not look at him.

Then he realised what he must do.

He set aside his princely clothes and put on the ragged dress of a
peasant. He left his horse and servants at the castle and went into
the forest on foot.

He came to the village. No one took any notice of him. He was just
a peasant, like them.

He saw the young woman and spoke to her. Now she was not
terrified because this was no great prince, but someone poor like
her. She was able to look him in the face and see a kind and loving
young man.

And so, as in all good folk tales, they fell in love and lived happily
ever after.

The point of the folk story was that the social gap between the
prince and the young woman was so great that she could never
look him in the face and see him for the person he was – until he
set aside all the trappings of his princely life and met her at her level
in peasant’s dress. Then she could find him, as he had found her.

And this is the clue to Christmas. The distance and the difference
between us and God is vast – beyond our comprehension. How can
we look upon the face of the Almighty, the one who made all things
in heaven and earth, seen and unseen? How can we ever know
what the unseen God is truly like?

John tells us in his gospel. On this night, God set aside all the
trappings of divinity and came among us as one of us. But this was
no pretence at being human. God came as a little child, in a
manger, in Bethlehem, someone we could see and touch and know.
This is what the birth of Christ means.

Tonight God stoops down to us, so that we can look him in the face,
see his grace and truth, and know with confidence the love he has
for us.

The Prayers

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Father, in this holy night your Son our Saviour
was born in human flesh.
Renew your Church as the Body of Christ.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night there was no room for your Son in the inn.
Protect with your love those who have no home
and all who live in poverty.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night Mary, in the pain of labour,
brought your Son to birth.
Hold in your hand all who are in pain or distress.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night your Christ came as a light shining in the darkness.
Bring comfort to all who suffer in the sadness of our world.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night the angels sang, ‘Peace to God’s people on earth.’
Strengthen those who work for peace and justice
in all the world.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night shepherds in the field heard good tidings of joy.
Give us grace to preach the gospel of Christ’s redemption.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night strangers found the Holy Family,
and saw the baby lying in the manger.
Bless our homes and all whom we love.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night heaven is come down to earth,
and earth is raised to heaven.
Hold in your hand all those who have passed through death
in the hope of your coming kingdom.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night Christians the world over celebrate Christ’s birth.
Open our hearts that he may be born in us today.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

Father,
in this holy night angels and shepherds worshipped at
the manger throne.
Receive the worship we offer in fellowship with Mary,
Joseph and the saints
through him who is your Word made flesh,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

St Marys Walkley

The Church on the Road: inclusive, eucharistic, a safe place to be with God

24th December 2025 at 11.30pm – Christmas Midnight Eucharist