Today Is: First Sunday after Christmas
Sun, 26 Dec 2021 -- The Lectionary Cycle is: C

Click for Responsorial Psalm

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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 61:10-11 10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful 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 ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Psalm Psalm 148 1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! 2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! 4 Praise Him, you heavens 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 also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away. 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; 8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; 9 Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; 10 Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; 12 Both young men and maidens; Old men and children. 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. 14 And He has exalted the horn of His people, The praise of all His saints -- Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. 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 Galatians 4:1-7 1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Gospel Luke 2:22-32 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 Luke. People: Glory to You, Lord Christ. Deacon: We are reading from Luke's Gospel chapter 2, beginning at verse 22. 22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, 'Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD'), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, 'A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.' 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.' 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, since we are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters and heirs of God through Christ, let us bring our requests and those of the whole world before Him. That the Church will walk in the fear of the Lord. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That the Patriarch, all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons will live lives holy and pleasing to the Lord that His Name will be glorified even among non-believers. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth from all nations. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That nations will defend the poor and the needy and oppose their oppressors. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That our homes will be a refuge for our children and a Christlike environment for visitors. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That parents, through the example of Mary and Joseph, will seek the Lords Will for their children. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That those who are near death, and their families, will be ever mindful of the blessed assurances that are in Christ Jesus. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. Heavenly Father, You have called us Your children and have poured Your love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Hear our prayer and give us the grace to return that love through our obedience to Your Word. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN