First Week After Christmas
The First Week After Christmas - Dec 27th - Jan 2nd
Opening Scripture:
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. - Luke 2:10-11
Confession: *
Let us take a moment to confess our sins
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord, and strengthen us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, all our days. Amen.
The Invitatory:
Lord, open our lips and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
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.
The Lord is glorious in his saints: O come, let us adore him.
Venite
O come, let us sing unto the Lord; *
let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God *
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are all the depths of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands prepared the dry land.
O come, let us worship and fall down, *
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is our God, *
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
The Lord is glorious in his saints: O come, let us adore him.
The Psalms and OT and NT Lessons
(Psalms taken from The New Coverdale Psalter *Click the Link for Download*)
(OT and NT Readings from the 2016 ESV)
Sun (12.27) - Psalm 39, Song of Songs 4, Luke 22:54-71
Mon (12.28) - Psalm 40, Song of Songs 5, Luke 23:1-25
Tue (12.29) - Psalm 41, Song of Songs 6, Luke 23:26-49
Wed (12.30) - Psalm 42, Song of Songs 7, Luke 23:50-24:12
Thur (12.31) - Psalm 43, Song of Songs 8, Luke 24:13-53
Fri (1.1) - Psalm 1-3, Genesis 1, John 1:1-18
Sat (1.2) - Psalm 3-4, Genesis 2:1-25, John 1:19-42
AFTER THE PSALMS: 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.
AFTER LESSONS: The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.
The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Prayers
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of Intercession
Show us your mercy, O Lord; And grant us your salvation. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care; and guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon the earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; and Sustain us with your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.
The Collects
The First Week of Christmas (BCP 1979)
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the peace of the World
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all people the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The General Thanksgiving **
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
A PRAYER OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting.
Amen.
Benediction
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Romans 15:13)
*Confession Prayer from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer
**General Thanksgiving from the 2019 Book of Common Prayer
Psalms taken from the 2019 BCP’s The New Coverdale Psalter click the link to download
OT and NT Readings from the 2016 ESV