Family Prayer January 1

The Feast of the Circumcision of Christ

The Eighth Day of Christmas

*Opening Sentence: Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10, 11

Confession: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

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.

*Absolution: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

*Invitatory:

Lord, open our lips.

And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Alleluia. To us a child is born: Come let us adore him. Alleluia.

*Jubilate

Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands;
serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song.

Know this: The Lord himself is God;
he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise; give thanks to him and call upon his Name.

For the Lord is good;
his mercy is everlasting; and his faithfulness endures from age to age.

*The Hymn #107 “Lord, Our Lord, Thy Glorious Name”

Responsive Reading: Psalm 103

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.

He forgives all your sins
and heals all your infirmities;

He redeems your life from the grave
and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;

He satisfies you with good things,
and your youth is renewed like an eagle's.

The LORD executes righteousness
and judgment for all who are oppressed.

He made his ways known to Moses
and his works to the children of Israel.

The LORD is full of compassion and mercy,
slow to anger and of great kindness.

He will not always accuse us,
nor will he keep his anger for ever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.

As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our sins from us.

As a father cares for his children, so does the LORD care for those who fear him.

For he himself knows whereof we are made;
he remembers that we are but dust.

Our days are like the grass;
we flourish like a flower of the field;

When the wind goes over it, it is gone,
and its place shall know it no more.

But the merciful goodness of the LORD endures for ever on those who fear him,
and his righteousness on children's children;

On those who keep his covenant
and remember his commandments and do them.

The LORD has set his throne in heaven,
and his kingship has dominion over all.

Bless the LORD, you angels of his,
you mighty ones who do his bidding, and hearken to the voice of his word.

Bless the LORD, all you his hosts,
you ministers of his who do his will.

Bless the LORD, all you works of his,
in all places of his dominion; bless the LORD, O my soul. Amen.

Gloria Patri

First Lesson: Philippians 3:7-14

Leader: The Word of the Lord.

Family: Thanks be to God.

Second Lesson: Luke 2:21-35

Leader: The Word of the Lord.

Family: Thanks be to God.

*The Hymn “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” (218, 1^st tune)

The Holy Name or, The Circumcision of Christ: On January 1st, we celebrate the Circumcision of Christ. Since we are more squeamish than our ancestors, modern calendars often list it as the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, but the other emphasis is the older. Every Jewish boy was circumcised (and formally named) on the eighth day of his life, and so, one week after Christmas, we celebrate the occasion when Our Lord first shed His blood for us. It is a fit close for a week of martyrs, and reminds us that to suffer for Christ is to suffer with Him.

Collect of the Day: Almighty God, who made Your blessed Son to be circumcised and obedient to the law for man; Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit; that our hearts and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey Your blessed will; through the Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Apostles’ Creed

The Lord’s Prayer

A Collect for Guidance: (All) Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Mission (All): Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of you holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Petitions and Intercessions: Let us pray now for our own needs and those of others.

A Prayer for all Conditions of Men: (All) O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly pray for all sorts and conditions of men: that You would be pleased to make Your ways known unto them, Your saving health unto all nations. More especially, we pray for Your blessing upon the holy Catholic Church; that it may be so guided and governed by Your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to Your fatherly goodness all those, who are any ways afflicted, or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please You to comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

General Thanksgiving: (All) 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. Chrysostom: Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: 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

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21

Three-fold “Amen.”

Hymn #7 “Now Blessed be the Lord Our God”