Advent
Prayer for Light
Leader Light and
peace in Jesus Christ our Lord. (The
sign of the cross may be made)
All Thanks be to God.
Leader God be with you.
All And also with you.
Leader Let us pray.
Kindle in our hearts, O Lord, the flame of love
that is never overcome, that it may burn within us and shed its light on those
around us, and that by its light we may have a vision of the holy city, where lives
the true and eternal light, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Other prayers appropriate
to use in place of the above can be found in the BCP, pp. 211-212).
The appropriate number of
candles on the Advent wreath are lighted.
The household Grace follows, if this is mealtime. The Bible Reading and discussion may occur
during a meal or afterward.
Bible Reading
A passage of Scripture is
read, using the scheme on the reverse side, or from the Daily Office readings
(which can be found in the BCP, beginning on p. 937 (we are beginning Year Two).
The reading may be
discussed. The following simple format
can be used:
v Each person share a word,
image or phrase from the passage that especially caught their attention and why
they think it did so.
v Each person shares some
way in which the above touches their life.
Closing Prayers
Leader The night is far spent, the day draws near.
All Let us walk in the light while we have the
light.
Leader Maranatha.
All Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader Let us pray.
A time of free prayer of
both intercessions and thanksgivings.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Peace
Advent Resources
The Blessing of an Advent
Wreath
Bless, O Lord, our wreath of candles and greens,
and, as we use it to mark the time from now to the celebration of your birth,
guide us by its light to prepare our hearts to receive you again. We pray in your holy Name. Amen.
Setting Up the Crèche
v Set up the nativity set
sometime during the first three weeks of Advent. Put only the animals in place to emphasize
that this was first their home. The
shepherds could be nearby, and Mary and Joseph traveling toward Bethlehem. Save both the baby and the wise men for
later.
v On the Fourth Sunday of
Advent Mary and Joseph arrive and are placed in the set.
v Christmas Eve add the baby
Jesus; Christmas morning, the Shepherds.
Also get out the wise men and set them at a distance from the set, and,
during the 12 days of Christmas, each day move them a bit closer until they
arrive on the Eve of the Epiphany (January 5).
The Blessing of a Christmas
Tree
The tree may be blessed
before it is decorated by placing a single apple on it and recalling the story
of Eden.
God of Adam and Eve, God of all our ancestors, we
praise you for this tree. It stirs a
memory of paradise, and brings a foretaste of heaven. Send your Child, the flower of the root of
Jesse, to restore your good earth to the freshness of creation. Then every tree of the forest will clap its
hands, and all creation will bless you from these shining branches. Bless this tree and the time we spend around
it this holy season. All glory be yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Alternate Readings
If Forward Day by Day (the
Daily Office Lectionary) is not used.
Week
1: Isaiah’s Visions
Isaiah 6:1-8; Isaiah 9:2-7; Isaiah 11:1-10;
Isaiah 35:1-10; Isaiah 40:1-11
Week
2: John the Baptist
Malachi 3:1-4, Matthew 3:1-12; Mark
1:1-8; Luke 3:1-6, John 1:29-42
Week
3: Abraham & Sarah; Elizabeth &
Zechariah
Genesis 12:1-4a; Genesis 17:1-7,
15-16; Luke 1:5-25; Luke 1:57-66; Luke 1:67-80
Week
4: Mary & Joseph
Luke 1:26-38; Luke 1:39-56
Gift Giving
What about spreading your gift giving out. 1st, a small gift on St. Nicholas
Day; 2nd another gift or gifts on Christmas Day; 3rd one
last gift on Epiphany (January 6).
Christmas Day through The Epiphany
Prayer for Light
Leader Light and
peace in Jesus Christ our Lord. (The
sign of the cross may be made)
All Thanks be to God.
Leader God be with you.
All And also with you.
Leader Let us pray.
Almighty God, you
have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this
light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Other prayers that can be
used for the above can be found in the BCP, pp.
212-214 & pp. 237-238.
Bible Reading
A passage of Scripture is
read, using the scheme on the reverse side, or from the Daily Office readings
(which can be found in the BCP, beginning on p. 937 (we are beginning Year Two).
The reading may be
discussed. The following simple format
can be used:
v Each person share a word,
image or phrase from the passage that especially caught their attention and why
they think it did so.
v Each person shares some
way in which the above touches their life.
Closing Prayers
Leader Joy to the world!
All The Lord has come!
Leader Jesus has been born for us.
People Come let us adore him.
A time of
free prayer may be had, encouraging both intercessions and thanksgivings.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Peace
Leader The peace of Christ be always with you.
All And also with you.
Christmas Resources
Alternate Readings
Christmas Eve/Day:
Luke 2:1-20 (can be divided 1-14 & 15-20)
Feast Days:
St. Stephen’s Day (12/26): Acts 6:8—7:3, 51-60
St. John’s Day (12/27): 1 John 1:1-9
Holy Innocent’s Day (12/28): Matthew 2:13-18
Holy Name Day (1/1): Luke 2:15-21
Other Days:
John 1:1-14; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23; Luke 2:22-40;
Luke 2:41-52
The Epiphany (1/6): Matthew 2:1-12
The Blessing of a Home at Epiphany
Chalk is used (that may have
been blessed at the Epiphany Service at Church) to mark the following on the
door of the home:
20 + C
+ M + B + 18
The C-M-B stand for both the
legendary names of the Magi—Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar—and also the Latin
words “Christus, mansionem benedicat” (“Christ, bless the house”).
Once
the marking is done, all say this rhyme
Caspar,
Melchior, Balthasar!
Though
the spring seems very far,
Oe’r
us has risen a star.
Though
the cold grows stronger,
Now
the days grow longer.
Though
the world loves night,
Christ
is born our light.
Then
inside the home, the following blessing is said.
Visit,
O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence, Bless all
who live here
with the gift of your love; and grant that they may
manifest your love [to each other and] to all whose lives they
touch. May they grow
in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen them;
and preserve them in peace, O Jesus
Christ, now and for ever. Amen.
A candle may be carried to
each room in the house, incense burned, and water may be sprinkled in each room
to further the blessing.
When all is complete, the
Song of Mary may be said (BCP, p. 119).
Copyright © 2017 Epiphany ESourses, 67 E. Main St., Hornell, NY 14843, www.epiphanyesources.com. All rights reserved. Permission granted to copy for home or congregational use, with attribution
No comments:
Post a Comment