Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, December-29-2013
First Sunday after Christmas

The Collect

First Sunday after Christmas Day
Almighty God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word: Grant that the same light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of the Incarnation

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 61:10-62:3
61:¹⁰ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall exult 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 a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ¹¹ For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. 62:¹ For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. ² The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will give. ³ You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Psalm

Psalm 147

Laudate Domi
1Hallelujah!
     How good it is to sing praises to our God! *
     how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
2The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; *
     he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3He heals the brokenhearted *
     and binds up their wounds.
4He counts the number of the stars *
     and calls them all by their names.
5Great is our LORD and mighty in power; *
     there is no limit to his wisdom.
6The LORD lifts up the lowly, *
     but casts the wicked to the ground.
7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; *
     make music to our God upon the harp.
8He covers the heavens with clouds *
     and prepares rain for the earth;
9He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *
     and green plants to serve mankind.
10He provides food for flocks and herds *
     and for the young ravens when they cry.
11He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *
     he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
12But the LORD has pleasure in those who fear him, *
     in those who await his gracious favour.
13Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; *
     praise your God, O Zion;
14For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
     he has blessed your children within you.
15He has established peace on your borders; *
     he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16He sends out his command to the earth, *
     and his word runs very swiftly.
17He gives snow like wool; *
     he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
18He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
     who can stand against his cold?
19He sends forth his word and melts them; *
     he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
20He declares his word to Jacob, *
     his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
21He has not done so to any other nation; *
     to them he has not revealed his judgments.
     Hallelujah!

- OR -

Psalm 147:13-21

13Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; *
     praise your God, O Zion;
14For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
     he has blessed your children within you.
15He has established peace on your borders; *
     he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16He sends out his command to the earth, *
     and his word runs very swiftly.
17He gives snow like wool; *
     he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
18He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
     who can stand against his cold?
19He sends forth his word and melts them; *
     he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
20He declares his word to Jacob, *
     his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
21He has not done so to any other nation; *
     to them he has not revealed his judgments.
     Hallelujah!

New Testament Reading

Galatians 3:23-25
²³ Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. ²⁴ So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; - AND -

Galatians 4:4-7
⁴ But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" ⁷ So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.

Gospel Reading

John 1:1-18
¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God; ³ all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. ⁹ The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. ¹¹ He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. ¹² But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. ¹⁵ (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") ¹⁶ And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Collect

Fourth Sunday of Advent
We beseech thee, Almighty God, to purify our consciences by thy daily visitation, that when thy Son Jesus Christ cometh he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of Advent

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 7:10-17
¹⁰ Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, ¹¹ "Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." ¹² But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test." ¹³ And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman'u-el. ¹⁵ He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. ¹⁶ For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. ¹⁷ The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that E'phraim departed from Judah-- the king of Assyria."

Psalm

Psalm 24

Domini est terra
1The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it, *
     the world and all who dwell therein.
2For it is he who founded it upon the seas *
     and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
3"Who can ascend the hill of the LORD? *
     and who can stand in his holy place?"
4"Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *
     who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,
     nor sworn by what is a fraud.
5They shall receive a blessing from the LORD *
     and a just reward from the God of their salvation."
6Such is the generation of those who seek him, *
     of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
7Lift up your heads, O gates;
     lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
     and the King of glory shall come in.
8"Who is this King of glory?" *
     "The LORD, strong and mighty,
     the LORD, mighty in battle."
9Lift up your heads, O gates;
     lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
     and the King of glory shall come in.
10"Who is he, this King of glory?" *
     "The LORD of hosts,
     he is the King of glory."

- OR -

Psalm 24:1-7

1The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it, *
     the world and all who dwell therein.
2For it is he who founded it upon the seas *
     and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
3"Who can ascend the hill of the LORD? *
     and who can stand in his holy place?"
4"Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *
     who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,
     nor sworn by what is a fraud.
5They shall receive a blessing from the LORD *
     and a just reward from the God of their salvation."
6Such is the generation of those who seek him, *
     of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
7Lift up your heads, O gates;
     lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
     and the King of glory shall come in.

New Testament Reading

Romans 1:1-7
¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God ² which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, ³ the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh ⁴ and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, ⁵ through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ⁶ including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; ⁷ To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 1:18-25
¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; ¹⁹ and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; ²¹ she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." ²² All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ²³ "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). ²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.