Friday, December 27, 2013

An Order for the Eucharist on the First Sunday after Christmas (29 December 2013)

First Sunday after Christmas
29 december 2013

The Gathering of the Community

Processional Hymn

‘Good King Wenceslas’  Common Praise #145

Introductory Responses

Blessed are you, O Christ, Son of God,
you were before time began
and came into the world to save us.
Blessed are you, Sun of righteousness;
you shine with the Father’s love
and illumine the whole universe.
Blessed are you, Son of Mary;
born a child, you shared our humanity.
Let heaven and earth shout their praise.

With all the voices of heaven
we celebrate the coming of our Saviour.
Let heaven and earth shout their praise.

With all the creatures on earth
we sing and dance at his birth.
Praise and honour and glory to you, O Lord most high.

Hymn of Praise

Gloria in excelsis [i]

Collect

Let us pray.

O Lord God,
you know that we cannot place our trust
in our own powers.
As you protected the infant Jesus,
so defend us and all in need
from harm and adversity,
through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [ii]

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading

A reading from the prophet Isaiah (63.7-9).

         I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all that the Lord has done for us, and the great favour to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.  For he said, “Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely”; and he became their saviour in all their distress.  It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 148 with the Refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  We join the whole world to praise the Holy One.

1 Hallelujah! 
Praise the Lord from the heavens; *
         praise God in the heights.
2 Praise the Lord all you angels; *
         sing praises, all you host of heaven.
3 Praise the Lord, sun and moon; *
         sing praises, all you shining stars.
4 Praise the Lord, heaven of heavens, *
         sing praises, you waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord; *
         who gave the command and they were created,
6 who made them stand fast for ever and ever, *
         who gave them a law which shall not pass away.

Refrain:  We join the whole world to praise the Holy One.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, *
         you sea-monsters and all deeps;
8 fire and hail, snow and fog, *
         tempestuous wind, doing the will of the Lord;
9 mountains and all hills, *
         fruit trees and all cedars;
10 wild beasts and all cattle, *
         creeping things and wingèd birds;

Refrain:  We join the whole world to praise the Holy One.

11 sovereigns of the earth and all peoples, *
         princes and all rulers of the world;
12 young men and young women, *
         old and young together.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, *
         whose name only is exalted,
         whose splendour is over earth and heaven.
14 The Lord has raised up strength for this people *
         and praise for all loyal servants, *
the children of Israel, *
         a people who are near to the Lord. 
         Hallelujah!

Refrain:  We join the whole world to praise the Holy One.

Second Reading

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (2.10-18).

         It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.  For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”  And again, “I will put my trust in him.”  And again, “Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”

         Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.  For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham.  Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.  Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.

The Gradual Hymn

‘Love Came Down at Christmas’  Common Praise #131

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (2.13-23).
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

         Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”  Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.  This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

         When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.  Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:  “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”

         When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.”  Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.  But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.  And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee.  There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.”

The gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sermon

An Affirmation of Faith

Let us affirm our faith.

We believe
that Christ is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation;
that in Christ all things in heaven and earth were created,
things visible and invisible,
that Christ himself is before all things,
and in him all things hold together;
that Christ is the head of the body, the church,
for in Christ the fullness of God was pleased to dwell;
that through Christ all things, whether on earth or in heaven, have been reconciled to God.

This is our faith and in this faith we shall live.  Amen. [iii]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy’  Common Praise #128

Prayer over the Gifts

Good and loving God,
we rejoice in the birth of Jesus,
who came among the poor
to bring the riches of your grace.
As you have blessed us with your gifts,
let them be a blessing for others.
With the trees of the field,
with all earth and heaven,
we shout for joy at the coming of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [iv]

Thanksgiving at the Table

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of heaven and earth;
we give you thanks and praise
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who in the mystery of his incarnation
was made truly human
of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother;
in him we have seen a new and radiant vision of your glory.
Therefore with all the angels of heaven,
we lift our voices and sing our joyful hymn of praise
to proclaim the glory of your name.

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. [v]

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:
Blessed are you for the birth of creation.
Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.
Blessed are you for your promise to your people.
Blessed are you for the prophets’ hopes and dreams.
Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.
Blessed are you for your Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

With this bread and cup we remember
your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.
We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection.
We look with hope for his coming.
Come, Lord Jesus.

Holy God, we long for your Spirit.
Come among us.  Bless this meal.
May your Word take flesh in us.
Awaken your people.  Fill us with your light.
Bring the gift of peace on earth.
Come, Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel,
Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High,
one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [vi]

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.  Amen. [vii]

The Breaking of the Bread

We break the bread of life,
and that life is the light of the world
God here among us,
light in the midst of us,
bring us to light and life.

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

The Communion

Communion Hymn

‘Born in the Night’  Common Praise #130

The Sending Forth of the Community

Prayer after Communion

Radiant God,
with our eyes we have seen your salvation,
and in this meal we have feasted on your grace.
May your Word take flesh in us,
so that we may be your holy people,
revealing your glory made known to us
in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [viii]

Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever.  Amen.

Closing Hymn

‘See Amid the Winter’s Snow’  Common Praise #148

Dismissal

Go forth in the light of Christ.
Thanks be to God.



[i] Lang Carol Mass.

[ii] ‘Trial Use Propers’ 2013).

[iii] Colossians 1.15-20 as arranged by the Rev’d Dr R. G. Leggett.

[iv] ‘Trial Use Propers’ 2013).

[v] Lang Carol Mass.

[vi] Thanksgiving at the Table III in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 110.

[vii] Common Praise #744.

[viii] ‘Trial Use Propers’ (2013).

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