INTRODUCTORY RITES
Entrance Psalm or Hymn
As the ministers go in procession to the entrance of the sanctuary, the congregation stands and sings either the following Psalm (A) or Hymn (B):
(A) Psalm 24
Give to the Lord, You heavenly beings,
give to the Lord glory and might;
Give to the Lord the glory due God’s name.
Bow down before the Lord’s holy splendor!
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over the might waters.
The voice of the Lord is power;
the voice of the Lord is splendor.
The voice of the Lord cracks the cedars;
the Lord splinters the cedars of the Lebanon,
Makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
and Sarion like a young bull.
The voice of the Lord strikes with fiery flame;
the voice of the Lord rocks the desert;
the Lord rocks the desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
All in his palace say, “Glory!”
The Lord sits enthroned above the flood!
the Lord reigns as king for ever!
May the Lord give might to his people;
may the Lord bless his people with peace!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
OR:
(B) Ephesians’ Hymn
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
Just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.
He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope in Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.
In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.
This is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Entrance Dialogue
Cel: I have entered your house, O Lord, and have worshiped before your throne. O King of heaven, forgive all my sins.
Cong: O King of heaven, forgive all our sins.
Cel: Pray to the Lord for me.
Cong: May the Lord accept your offering and have mercy on us through your prayer.
Doxology
Cel: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Cong: Amen.
Opening Prayer
Cel: When you come, O Lord God, a glorious throne will be raised for you, and the righteous will enter with resplendent garments and shining faces. They will present their offerings as they chant your praises. Make us worthy, O Lord, to be with them and to enter your garden of delights, that we may praise you for ever.
Cong: Amen.
Greeting
Cel: Peace be with the Church and her children
Hymn of the Angels
Cong: Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth and good will to all.
PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS (HOOSOYO)
Proemion
Cel: To the praise and glory of the Most Holy Trinity.
Cel: May we be worthy to praise, confess, and glorify the high Priest, who taught us purification at the waters of the Jordan and traced the path of life before us to purify us from sin; Christ, the good One, to whom is due glory, now and for ever.Cong: Amen.
Sedro
Cel: O God, you became man out of your love us. You were born of the flesh to gather all people into the adoption of your Father and to make them his children through water and the Holy Spirit. O creator of life, you became man in order to renew the image of ADam which grew old and distorted because of sin. Newness of life came through baptism, the pure fire and spiritual light. You had no need for baptism, yet came to be baptized and to sanctify the waters of the Jordan. O Son of the mighty One, you bowed your head before John the baptizer, and the Father’s voice thundered from the clouds and said” “This is my beloved Son.” The Holy Spirit descended and hovered above your head in the form of a dove, and the power of the Spirit was present in awe and wonder.
Lord God, rest the right hand of your mercy upon your faithful servant. Bless your people and guard your inheritance. You have clothed us with your baptism: the robe of glory and the seal of the Holy Spirit. You have called us to be spiritual children through the second birth of baptism, which purifies all sinners. Now through your power which surpasses all things, make us worthy to praise you with the gladness and liberty which belong to your children. We will glorify your Father, O Christ, who sent you for our salvation, and your Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Cong: Amen.
Hymn
The congregation sits and the hymn is then sung.
Cong: Holy are you, O God; you willed to give life to our nature in your mercy.
Holy are you, O Strong One; you purified us and washed away our guilt in your compassion.
Holy are you, O God; you are blessed in heaven and on earth by angels and mortals.
Holy are you, O Mighty One; you called sinners to repentance in your love.
Holy are your, O Eternal and Immortal One; the repentant knock at your door seeking forgiveness.
Etro
Cel: O holy God, you are glorified by your holy ones, and your divinity rests upon them. We petition your with the fragrance of this incense to make us holy, that your divinity may dwell in us through the descent of your Holy Spirit. Enlighten our weak and feeble minds with the abundance of your birth light. Raise us above the trials and distresses of life, that we may celebrate your mercy toward us, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to you be glory, for ever.
Cong: Amen.
Trisagion
The congregation stands and the Trisagion is then sung three times.
Cel: Holy are you, O God. Holy are you, O Strong One. Holy are you, O Immortal One.
Cong: Have mercy on us.
Cel: O holy and immortal Lord, sanctify our minds and purify our consciences, that we praise you with pure hearts and listen to your Holy Scriptures. To you be glory, for ever.Cong: Amen.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Psalm of the Readings
All sit for the psalm of the readings.
Cong: Today the waters were blessed with the baptism of the Son of God. The baptismal of the Son of God. The baptismal waters are sanctified for the pardon of Adam and his children.
Cel: Listen, all you nations: today the waters were blessed. Pay heed all you inhabitants of the earth: baptismal waters are sanctified.
Cong: You accepted the offerings made by the righteous before us, Lord. Now accept our offering, comfort us, and be attentive to our prayers.
Reading(s)
Reader: A reading from the ...
The reader then asks for the celebrant’s blessing:
Reader: Father, give your blessing.
The celebrant blesses the reader. The reader then continues:
Reader: Brothers and sisters ...
The reader concludes the reading by singing or saying:
Reader: Praise be to God always!
Alleluia
Meanwhile, the congregation stands and sings:
Cong: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Cantor: The Father said: “You are my beloved Son. On you my favor rests.” (Mark 3:17)
Cong: Alleluia!
Gospel
Deacon: Before the good news of our Savior, announcing life to us all, let us offer this incense. O Lord, we ask for your mercy.
The celebrant burns incense while two subdeacons (servers) hold lighted candles on each side of the Book of Gospels.
Cel: Peace be with you.
Cong: And also with you.
Cel: Let us be attentive to the gospel of life and salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded by the (evangelist Mark/Luke) (apostle Matthew/John).
The celebrant incenses the Book of Gospels three times. Meanwhile, the deacon proclaims:
Deacon: Remain silent, O Listeners, for the holy gospel is about to be announced to you. Listen and give glory and thanks to the living Word of God.
The celebrant begins the gospel using one of the following:
At the conclusion of the gospel, he sings or says:
Cel: This is the truth. Peace be with you.
Cong: Praise and blessings to Jesus Christ for his living word to us.
Homily
The congregation sits. The celebrant then gives a homily based on the readings and the liturgy of the day.
Creed
At the conclusion of the homily, the congregation stands and sings or says the Creed.
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, one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and ware buried.
On the third day he rose again
in fulfillment of 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 and the Son,
with the Father and the Son he is worshiped 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.
The liturgy continues with the Pre-Anaphora