FIRST READING Colossians 1: 15-20

Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers - all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

PSALM 104: 26-end

26. There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan : whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein.

27. These wait all upon thee : that thou mayest give them meat in due season.

28. When thou givest it them they gather it : and when thou openest thy hand they are filled with good.

29. When thou hidest thy face they are troubled : when thou takest away their breath they die, and are turned again to their dust.

30. When thou lettest thy breath go forth they shall be made : and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

31. The glorious majesty of the Lord shall endure for ever : the Lord shall rejoice in his works.

32. The earth shall tremble at the look of him : if he do but touch the hills, they shall smoke.

33. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live : I will praise my God while I have my being.

34. And so shall my words please him : my joy shall be in the Lord.

35. As for sinners, they shall be consumed out of the earth, and the ungodly shall come to an end : praise thou the Lord, O my soul, praise the Lord.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it as in the beginning, is now

and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

SECOND READING 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.