However, my bias in all of these things is to say that the longer you see a pattern coming, the more time you have to think about it. If one is especially interested in such things, laying out ones own discarded ideas for one Christmas for use on subsequent ones seems profitable. However, I leave that for the especially interested to pursue.
However, for those who tire of this pattern, there may be some help to be found in the Lectionary of all places. Unbenounced to me, the lectionary distinguishes between the readings on Christmas Eve, Morning, and Afternoon/Evening. Somewhat impractical in use at the average congregation, it seems to presuppose a monastic type community, in which worship is the center of the community, such that 3 worship services in 36 hours would not seem over the top. I would thus suggest that any of the three could be used for the service at a church with only one service, though some things are more appropriate than others.
The Gospel readings for Christmas Eve and Morning are essentially interchangable, though should one desire to preach two different sermons at each service, Luke's nativity has been divided in half by the lectionary, with the option of simply expanding the nativity story if one only has one service. Christmas Evening has a reading from John 1 which seems like a good option should one see fit to have two other services. Nonetheless, it seems singularly unadvisable to preach on the ethereal word made flesh except when one has already preached on the babe in the manger.
For the Epistle, again, Christmas Eve and Morning have similar readings - Titus 2 and 3 respectively. This is the only opportunity to preach out of Titus in the lectionary, so it is advisable to do at least some work with those texts. Using each every other year would be a neat way to keep some things changing should that be desirable.
Psalms 96, 97, and 98 are the psalms for Christmas Eve, Morning, and Evening respectively. It seems remarkable that there is this numerical progression among the psalms among these services. I would be curious to discover the source of that decision. Nonetheless, again, any of these could be chosen
Almost without saying, the great prophet Isaiah is the prophet of choice on Christmas. Passages from chapters 9, 62, and 52 are taken for Christmas Eve, Morning, and Evening. Again, presumably these can be used interchangably should you desire to use fully appropriate 1st Lessons to bring out different parts of the Christmas story this year.
Christmas Eve
Isa 9:2-7
3 Occurences per cycle, all on Christmas Eve
Ps 96
5 Occurences per cycle
- Christmas Eve ABC
- Proper 24 A
- Epiphany 9 C
- Proper 4 C
3 Occurences per cycle, all on Christmas Eve
- Note: Titus 2 appears only on Christmas Eve, and Titus 3 only appears on Christmas Morning. Thus, Christmas is the only time to work with the book of Titus in worship.
3 occurences per cycle, all on Christmas
- Note the parenthesis only apply if there is also a different Christmas morning service.
Isa 62:6-12
3 occurences in the cycle, all on Christmas Morning
Ps 97
4 Occurences in the cycle
- ABC Christmas Morning
- Easter 7 C
3 occurences per cycle, all on Christmas Morning
- Note: Titus 2 appears only on Christmas Eve, and Titus 3 only appears on Christmas Morning. Thus, Christmas is the only time to work with the book of Titus in worship.
3 occurences per cycle, all on Christmas Morning
Note that the parenthesis only apply if there is a different Christmas Eve service
Christmas Evening
Isa 52:7-10
3 occurences per cycle, all on Christmas Evening
Ps 98
3 occurences per cycle, all on Christmas Evening
Heb 1:1-4, 5-12
3 occurences per cycle, all on Christmas Evening
Jn 1:1-14
7 Occurences in 3 yr cycle
- Advent 3 B (1:6-8, 19-28) ---> Just occured
- Christmas Evening ABC
- Christmas 2 ABC (vs 1-9 optional, minimizing overlap)
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