Morning Prayer, Sunday, December 27th, 2020
Welcome
Sentence
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts; let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly. Colossians 3.15, 16
Hymn 126 Away in a Manger
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all.
And also with you.
The Penitential Rite
Dear friends in Christ,
as we prepare to worship almighty God,
let us with penitent and obedient hearts
confess our sins,
that we may obtain forgiveness
by his infinite goodness and mercy.
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 neighbours 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.
Almighty God have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Minister O LORD, open thou our lips;
People. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Minister. O God, make speed to save us;
People. O Lord, make haste to help us.
all stand
GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Ghost;
People. As it was in the beginning, is now, and
ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Minister. Praise ye the Lord;
People. The Lord’s Name be praised.
Jubilate
Psalm 100
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.
GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, / and
to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever
shall be, / world without end. Amen
Reader: A reading from the book of Isaiah
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
People: Thanks be to God
Psalm 148
1 Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord from the heavens; *
praise him in the heights.
2 Praise him, all you angels of his; *
praise him, all his host.
3 Praise him, sun and moon; *
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, *
and you waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord; *
for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He made them stand fast for ever and ever; *
he gave them a law which shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, *
you sea-monsters and all deeps;
8 Fire and hail, snow and fog, *
tempestuous wind, doing his will;
9 Mountains and all hills, *
fruit trees and all cedars;
10 Wild beasts and all cattle, *
creeping things and wingèd birds;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, *
princes and all rulers of the world;
12 Young men and maidens, *
old and young together.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, *
for his name only is exalted,
his splendour is over earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up strength for his people
and praise for all his loyal servants, *
the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
Hallelujah!
Blessed are you, Lord our God, creator of heaven and earth;
you open our eyes to see the wonders around us, and our
hearts and mouths to praise you. Now give us strength for
loving service, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
20 The Song of Simeon
Luke 2.29–32
Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; *
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation *
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
a light to reveal you to the nations *
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Amen.
Reader: A reading from the letter to the Galatians
Galatians 4:4-7
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
People: Thanks be to God
Hymn 139 The First Nowell
A reading from the Gospel of Luke
Luke 2:22-40
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.’
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
People: Thanks be to God
Sermon
The Nicene Creed
Celebrant Let us confess our faith, as we say,
All We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic
and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers of the people
Let us pray
Lord have mercy upon us,
Christ have mercy upon us
Lord have mercy upon us,
The Lord’s Prayer
Celebrant And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
All Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thyname,
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,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Collect
Almighty God,
you have shed upon us the new light
of your incarnate Word.
May this light, enkindled in our hearts,
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
O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that we, being ordered by thy governance, may do always what is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers –December 27th, 2020
Intercessor Let us pray.
Brothers and sisters in the faith, God has called us into the family of the church. In the Spirit of Christ, we call out “Abba, Father,” asking our creator to hear the prayers we offer, saying: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the human family: Eternal Father, you entrusted to Mary and Joseph the life of your child, Jesus. Strengthen all parents and children in the bonds of love, peace, and faith. Lord, in your mercy,
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor Let us pray for the household of the church: Creator of life, make your church a fruitful vine to all who are reborn in the living waters of baptism. May we find ourselves continually nourished and refreshed at the table of Christ’s body and blood. Lord, in your mercy,
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor Let us pray for those who suffer: Consoler of the afflicted, sustain the homeless and the abandoned. Protect the widow, the widower, the orphan. Comfort those who mourn the dead. [Hear our prayer for [Names in Parish]. Lord, in your mercy,
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor Let us pray for the families of this community: God of love, like a mother you nourish us with your grace. Quicken in us the seed of Christ’s word, that we might reveal his life to the whole human family. Lord, in your mercy,
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor Today in our Anglican Cycle of prayer we pray forChrist Church, Brampton, its support of local outreach ministries, including Regeneration, Knights’ Table, Coldest Night of the Year, and the Ste. Louise Outreach Centre; for Christ Church, Deer Park, its support of the Churches-on-the-Hill Food Bank, its refugee sponsorships, Saturday morning breakfast program, Let Your Lights Shine outreach donation program, and the Deer Park Skills Institute in Uganda;and for Christ Church, Holland Landing, its community lunch, Christmas meal at the local seniors’ centre, support of the Helping Hand food bank, Inn From the Cold, meal and snack programs at local schools, Crosslinks, Women’s Shelter of York Region, and other local agencies. Lord, in your mercy,
People hear our prayer.
Gracious God, may your favor and blessing rest upon the family which you have gathered in the ‘name of your child Jesus. Accept the prayers we offer in his name. So may your love embrace us, now and forever. Amen.
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COVID prayer
General thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, We your unworthy servants give you most humble and hearty thanks for all your goodness 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 give us, we pray, such an awareness of your mercies that with truly thankful hearts, And that we show forth your praise, not only with our lips but in our lives, by giving up ourselves 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 all honour and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
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 you will hear 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 eternal life Father as you are good and loving and we glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, in the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
Announcements
Benediction Prayer
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
To shine upon you and be gracious, and be gracious unto you
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
To shine upon you and be gracious, and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up the light
Of His countenance upon you,
The Lord