Michael Livingston 12/23/22 Michael Livingston 12/23/22

The First Week of Christmas

Liturgy for the First Week of Christmastide, 2022

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.

Grant to your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Invitatory:

O Lord, open our lips; and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

O God, make speed to save us; O Lord, make haste to help us

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.

Praise the Lord: The Lord’s Name be praised.

Venite (O Come)

Alleluia, to us a child is born:

O come, let us adore him.

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.

Alleluia, to us a child is born:

O come, let us adore him.

The Psalms and OT and NT Lessons

The reading plan based is based on the two-year version of the 2019 BCP Daily Office Lectionary

December 25th - 31st, 2022 (Psalms from BCP 2019 / OT and NT Readings from ESV / Apocryphal Books RSV)

Sunday (12.25) Christmas Day

Psalm 85; 110, Song of Songs 2, Luke 2:1–14

Monday (12.26) Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

Psalm 137; 138, Song of Songs 3, Luke 22:39–53

Tuesday (12.27)

Psalm 141; 142, Song of Songs 4, Luke 22:54–71

Wednesday (12.28) Childermas

Psalm 143, Song of Songs 5, Luke 23:1–25, Revelation 21:1–7

Thursday (12.29)

Psalm 145, Song of Songs 6, Luke 23:26–49

Friday (12.30)

Psalm 147, Song of Songs 7, Luke 23:50–24:12

Saturday (12.31)

Psalm 149; 150, Song of Songs 8, Luke 24:13–53

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.

The Suffrages

Officiant O Lord, show your mercy upon us;

People And grant us your salvation.

Officiant O Lord, guide those who govern us

People And lead us in the way of justice and truth.

Officiant Clothe your ministers with righteousness

People And let your people sing with joy.

Officiant O Lord, save your people

People And bless your inheritance.

Officiant Give peace in our time, O Lord

People And defend us by your mighty power.

Officiant Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten

People Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Officiant Create in us clean hearts, O God

People And take not your Holy Spirit from us.

Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.

The Collects

Special Collects:

Christmas

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born this day of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Stephen, Deacon and Martyr (Monday Only)

O Glorious Lord, your servant Stephen looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors: grant that in all our sufferings here upon earth we may love and forgive our enemies, looking steadfastly to Jesus Christ our Lord, who sits at your right hand and intercedes for us; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Childermas (Wednesday Only)

Almighty God, out of the mouths of children you manifest your truth, and by the death of the Holy Innocents at the hands of evil tyrants you show your strength in our weakness: We ask you to mortify all that is evil within us, and so strengthen us by your grace, that we may glorify your holy Name by the innocence of our lives and the constancy of our faith even unto death; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who died for us and now lives with you and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

Daily Collects:

A 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.

A Collect for Grace

O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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.