Family Prayer: December 27

The Feast of St. John the Apostle

The Third Day of Christmas

Opening Sentence: Their sound has gone out into all lands, and their message to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:4

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 Saints

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! The Lord is glorious in his saints: Come let us adore him. Alleluia!

Venite Psalm 95:1-7

Come let us sing to the Lord;
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth,
and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee,
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.
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

Gloria Patri

Responsive Reading: Psalm 97

The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice;

Let the multitude of the isles be glad!

Clouds and darkness surround him;

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

A fire goes before him,

And burns up his enemies round about.

His lightnings light the world;

The earth sees and trembles.

The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord,

At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

The heavens declare his righteousness,

And all the peoples see his glory.

Let all be put to shame who serve carved images,

Who boast of idols. Worship him, all you gods.

Zion hears and is glad,

And the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments, O Lord.

For you, Lord, are most high above all the earth;

You are exalted far above all gods.

You who love the Lord, hate evil!

He preserves the souls of his saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

Light is sown for the righteous,

And gladness for the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous,

And give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name. Amen.

Sing Psalm 98 (98B)

First Lesson Old Testament Lesson: Proverbs 8:22-30

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Sing Hymn #277 “How Glorious Zion’s Courts Appear”

The Reading of the Gospel: John 13:20-35

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

St. John, apostle and evangelist: John, the son of Zebedee, was one of the twelve apostles of our Lord. He expressed a willingness to undergo martyrdom (Matt. 20:22). History tells us that John was imporisoned and exiled for his testimony to the Gospel. He was eventually released and died a natural death and is accordingly called a “martyr in will though not in deed.”

Prayer Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light; that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Apostles’ Creed

The Lord’s Prayer

Suffrages

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;

Govern and uphold them, now and always.

Day by day we bless you;

We praise your name for ever.

Lord, keep us from all sin today;

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

Lord, show us your love and mercy;

For we put our trust in you.

In you, Lord, is our hope;

And we shall never hope in vain.

A Collect for the Renewal of Life (All): O God, the King eternal, who divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Mission (All): Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.

Petitions and Intercessions

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

For Peace Among Nations (All): Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

For Those in the Armed Forces of Our Country: Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through 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”