Today Is: First Sunday after Christmas

Collect for: First Sunday After Christmas
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, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament
Isaiah 63:7-9

7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD And the praises of the LORD, According to all that the LORD has bestowed on us, And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, According to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses. 8 For He said, 'Surely they are My people, Children who will not lie.' So He became their Savior. 9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the Angel of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; And He bore them and carried them All the days of old.

Officiant: The Word of the Lord.
The People: Thanks be to God.

Psalm
Psalm 147

13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you. 14 He makes peace in your borders, And fills you with the finest wheat. 15 He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; 17 He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold? 18 He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow. 19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His judgments, they have not known them. Praise the LORD!

*At the end of the Psalms this is sung or said
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.

New Testament
Hebrews 2:14-17

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Officiant: The Word of the Lord.
The People: Thanks be to God.

Gospel
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Introduction to the Gospel:
Deacon:The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you. Or And with your spirit
Deacon: May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
People: Glory to You, Lord Christ.
Deacon: We are reading from Matthew's Gospel chapter 2, beginning at verse 13.

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, 'Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.' 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 'Out of Egypt I called My Son.' 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, 'Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead.' 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, 'He shall be called a Nazarene.'

After the Gospel reading, the deacon elevates the book and says:
Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, Lord Christ.

Prayers of the People

Prayers of the People for: First Sunday after Christmas

Brothers and sisters, God humbled Himself and became part of the human family and thereby sanctified family life forever. Let us now pray for the needs of our families and for those of the whole world.

That the Church will continually be open to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That Christian families will glorify God in their homes and be faithful witnesses of Him to their neighbors.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That governments will protect the institution of marriage, designed by God as the union between one man and one woman.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That families torn apart by mistrust, despair, or fear will be reconciled to one another.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That mothers and fathers, like Mary and Joseph, will act out their God-given responsibilities within the family.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That children will be valued as a treasured gift from God.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That families who have been broken by divorce, abuse, or abandonment will be reconciled to one another through Christ, Who is able to restore all things.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

God of love, You sent Your Son to become fully human and redeem mankind.
Hear our prayer and give us the grace to walk as Jesus walked.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN