THE ORDER FOR Nine Days to CHRISTMAS
THE LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. Hab. ii. 20.
Watch ye, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even,
or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: lest coming
suddenly he find you sleeping. St. Mark xiii, 35, 36
LET us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.
A General Confession.
To be said by the whole Congregation, after the Minister, all kneeling.
A LMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed
from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices
and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy
laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And
there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable
offenders. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore
thou those who are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto
mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father,
for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.
The Declaration of Absolution, or Remission of Sins.
To be made by the Priest alone, standing; the People still kneeling,
T HE Almighty and Merciful God grant you Absolution and Remission
of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace
and consolation of the Holy Spirit. Amen
O UR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. 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, and the power, and the glory, for
ever and ever. Amen.
Then likewise he shall say,
O Lord, open thou our lips.
Answer. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise
Here, all standing up, the Minister shall say,
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world Without end. Amen
Minister. Praise ye the Lord.
Answer. The Lord’s Name be praised.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
R: The Lord our king is drawing near O come, let us adore Him
(i) Break into song, daughter of Sion/and sing for boundless joy, daughter
of Jerusalem/for He comes, your Lord and Master/and the day shall
gleam with a radiant splendour: and mountains distil sweet new wine/
hills shall flow with milk and honey/for now comes the long awaited
Prophet/and then shall He re-BUILD you. Jerusalem.
R: The Lord our king is drawing near O come, let us adore Him
(ii) He shall be both God and man/and come from David’s house to sit
upon HIS kingly throne/you shall see HIM/and in your hearts rejoice
gladly
(iii) Behold, the Holy one of Israel shall appear/God, our shield and
strength/and the diadem of kings shall REST upon His Brow/ His domain
shall encompass the land from sea to sea/and from the river even upon
the EARTH’S most remote limits.
R: The Lord our king is drawing near O come, let us adore Him
(iv) Behold the Lord indeed shall appear/and HIS WORD shall never fail/
though he tarry awhile/keep a wakeful watch/for swift and sudden
SHALL be His coming.
R: The Lord our king is drawing near O come, let us adore Him
(v) As dew gently falling upon a fleece SHALL HE descend/in the days of
the Lord shall righteousness again prevail/with blessing of peace abounding;/
and in homage shall all the kings and princes of the land/all the nations
SERVE and adore Him.
R: The Lord our king is drawing near O come, let us adore Him
(vi) For unto us a Boy is born/His name, the God of Might and power/He
shall sit upon the throne of David, His father/and rule His people/for the
government RESTS upon His shoulder.
R: The Lord our king is drawing near O come, let us adore Him
(vii) Bethlehem, city OF God most High/from you shall spring the chosen
king of Israel/and his coming forth shall be/as on the timeless morn of
the days of eternity;/so shall the nations’ countless voices chant/His
praise in wondrous concert/and lasting peace shall fill our land when He
shall appear.
R: The Lord our king is drawing near O come, let us adore Him
On Christmas Eve add the following:
(viii) Tomorrow shall the earth be freed FROM all iniquity/and the Saviour
of the world shall REIGN over us.
R: The Lord our king is drawing near O come, let us adore Him
(ix) Near in DEED is Christ the Lord. Come Let us adore Him.
R: The Lord our king is drawing near O come, let us adore Him
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD:
LESSON FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
December 16:
Isaiah 35:1-4
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert
shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given
unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of
the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands,
and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be
strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God
with a recompence; he will come and save you.
December 17:
Isaiah 40:3-5
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the
LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley
shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the
crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory
of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the
mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
December 18:
Isaiah 9:1-6
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when
at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea,
beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness
have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of
death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation,
and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest,
and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken
the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor,
as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with
confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning
and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
December 19:
Isaiah 11:1-6, 9
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch
shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon
him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and
might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall
make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall
not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of
his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove
with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with
the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the
wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness
the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and
the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. They shall not
hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
December 20:
Isaiah 61:1-4
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed
me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the
LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for
ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting
of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old
wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair
the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
December 21:
Isaiah 60:1-5
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen
upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross
darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory
shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and
kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and
see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons
shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then
thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be
enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee,
the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
December 22:
Isaiah 2:2-3
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the
LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall
be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many
people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the
LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways,
and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
December 23:
Isaiah 40:9-11
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O
Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it
up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold,
the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him:
behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his
flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry
them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
December 24:
Isaiah 7:13-14
And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to
weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself
shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and
shall call his name Immanuel.
MEDITATION CANTICLE
Rejoice heavens and earth be joyful/ and mountains sing glad praises
Burst forth mountains with gladness/ and lowly hills with justice
Because the Lord is coming/ on His poor He will have mercy
Drop down dew, heavens and clouds, rain the Just One/ Earth, be opened and bud forth a Saviour
O Lord do remember us/ and visit us with Thy Salvation
Show us Lord Thy Mercy/ and grant us Thy Salvation
Lord send Thy Lamb, The Ruler of our nation/ From Petra of the desert to
the daughter of Sion’s Holy Mount.
Come, Lord, God of Hosts and deliver us/ Show us Thy face and we shall
see Salvation.
Come Lord, Grant us in peace Thy visit/ That we may joy before thee with
heart all perfect
May we know Lord, On earth Thy passing/ Thy Salvation in all nations
Arise with power and come to us/ And settle us in safety
Come Lord and delay us no longer/ loose the bonds of Thy people
Only rend the heavens and come down to us/ How the mountains would
melt away at Thy presence
Come Lord and unveil to us Thy countenance/ Who dwell over the cherubim
Glory be to the Father, Son and to the Holy Ghost
As in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen
LESSON FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT
December 16:
Luke 2:1-14
Glory be to thee, O Lord
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was
first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be
taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To
be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it
was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she
should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and
wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because
there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the
Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel
said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign
unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a
manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men.
Praise be to thee, O Christ
December 17:
Luke 3:1-9
Glory be to thee, O Lord
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his
brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and
Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the
book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying
in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths
straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall
be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough
ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O
generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to
come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to
say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto
you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore
which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire.
December 18:
Matthew 5:17-20
Glory be to thee, O Lord
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not
come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and
earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all
be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom
of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except
your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and
Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Praise be to thee, O Christ
December 19:
Matthew 11: 2-5
Glory be to thee, O Lord
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two
of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do
we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew
John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their
sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the
dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Praise be to thee, O Christ
December 20:
Luke 4:16-22
Glory be to thee, O Lord
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his
custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood
up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet
Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it
was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to
the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable
year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the
minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue
were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is
this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered
at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they
said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
Praise be to thee, O Christ
December 21:
Luke 2:8-14
Glory be to thee, O Lord
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping
watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came
upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they
were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Praise be to thee, O Christ
December 22:
Mark 8:17-25
Glory be to thee, O Lord
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye
have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your
heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye
not? and do ye not remember? When I brake the five loaves among five
thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto
him, Twelve. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets
full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. And he said unto
them, How is it that ye do not understand? And he cometh to Bethsaida;
and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and
when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him
if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up:
and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
Praise be to thee, O Christ
December 23:
John 10:14-16
Glory be to thee, O Lord
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As
the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my
life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them
also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one
fold, and one shepherd.
Praise be to thee, O Christ
December 24: Luke 1: 26-33
Glory be to thee, O Lord
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city
of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And
the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured,
the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw
him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner
of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary:
for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in
thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He
shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord
God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall
reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be
no end.
Praise be to thee, O Christ
Nunc dimittis.
St. Luke ii. 29.
L ORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen * thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared * before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, * and to be the glory of thy people
Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen.
ANTIPHON OF THE DAY
December 16
Lo, the king is coming, Lord off all creation, and He shall take away the
sins that keep us chained in bondage.
December 17
O, Wisdom, from the mouth of God proceeding and reaching from end to
end dispose all things with sweetness. O come to enlighten us in the
ways of prudence.
December 18
O Adonai, leader of the house of Israel, to Moses in the flaming bush you
appeared and gave him your law on Sinai. O come and do ransom us in
the strength of your arm extended.
December 19
O Root of Jesse, a lofty standard unto the nations, in your sight kings
silent shall remain while all people to you shall rally. O come to deliver
and delay no longer.
December 20
O Key of David, and sceptre of the house of Israel, who open and none
can close, who close and none can open, O come, free the captive from
prison who sits in darkness in death’s shadow.
December 21
O Rising Day-star, Splendour of Light Eternal and Shining Sun of Justice,
O come and light with your radiance those who in darkness dwell
and linger in death’s shadow.
December 22
O King of Nations, Long Desired and Awaited, The Builder’ Cornerstone,
you bind in one what was divided. O come to save sinful man, mortal clay
you once fashioned.
December 23
O Emmanuel, our king and legislator, expected of all nations and their
only salvation, O come be our redeemer, Lord our God and master.
December 24
When the first rays of morn light the heavens, shall you behold the King of kings
proceeding from the Father as a bride-groom from His chamber leaving.
Magnificat.
St. Luke i. 46.
MY soul doth magnify the Lord, * and my spirit hath rejoiced in God
my Saviour.
For he hath regarded * the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth * all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me; * and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; * he hath scattered the proud in
the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the
humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; * and the rich he hath sent
empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel; * as he
promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen.
REPEAT THE ANTIPHON OF THE DAY
Apostles Creed
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: Who was conceived by the
Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was
crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose
again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right
hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to Judge
the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost: The holy Catholic Church; The Communion
of Saints: The Forgiveness of sins: The Resurrection of the body: And
the Life everlasting. Amen.
O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.
Answer. And grant us thy salvation.
Minister. O Lord, save the State.
Answer. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
Minister. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.
Answer. And make thy chosen people joyful.
Minister. O Lord, save thy people.
Answer. And bless thine inheritance.
Minister. Give peace in our time, O Lord.
Answer. For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in safety.
Minister. O God, make clean our hearts within us.
Answer. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
The Collect. (1st Sunday in Advent)
ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of
darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this
mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility;
that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge both the quick and [the]* dead, we may rise to the life immortal,
through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Ghost, now and ever. Amen
The Collect. (3rd Sunday in Advent—Proper)
OLORD Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger
to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards
of thy mysteries may likewise so pre pare and make ready thy way,
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at
thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people
in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy
Spirit ever,* one God, world without end. Amen
The Collect. (4th Sunday in Advent—Proper)
OLORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and
with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness,
we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before
us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and ‘deliver us;
through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord*, to whom, with thee and
the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world with out end. Amen
A Collect for Peace.
O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just
works do proceed; Give unto thy servants that peace which the
world cannot give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments,
and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of our enemies,
may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus
Christ our Saviour. Amen.
A Collect for Aid against Perils.
LIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great
mercy defend us from all Perils and dangers of this night; for the
love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A Prayer for The President of the United States, and all in Civil Authority.
ALMIGHTY God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite;
Have mercy upon this whole land; and so rule the hearts of thy servants
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, The Governor of this State,
and all others in authority, that they, knowing whose ministers they are,
may above all things seek thy honour and glory; and that we and all the
people, duly considering whose authority they bear, may faithfully and
obediently honour them, according to thy blessed Word and ordinance;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth
and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
A Prayer for the Clergy and People.
A LMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and
perfect gift; Send down upon our Bishops, and other Clergy, and
upon the Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of
thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual
dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate
and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A Prayer for all Conditions of Men.
O GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech
thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be
pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all
nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it
may he so guided and governed by thy 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 thy fatherly goodness all those who are any
ways afflicted, or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; [*especially those
for whom our prayers are desired;] that it may please thee 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 Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
A General Thanksgiving.
A LMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants,
do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness
and loving-kindness to us, and to all men; [*particularly to those who desire
now to offer up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies
vouchsafed unto them.]. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and
all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable 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 beseech thee, give us that due
sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may he unfeignedly thankful:
and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness
and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to
whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world
without end. Amen.
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom.
A LMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord
to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise
that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt
grant their requests; Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy
servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world
knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.
2 Cor. xiii. 14.
THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship
of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.
HYMN: O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
Refrain
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Refrain
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Refrain
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Refrain
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
Refrain
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Refrain
