Christmas Novena | Holy Catholic Anglican

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"

THE 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

OUR 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

Minister: O Lord, open thou our lips.

Answer: And our mouth shall show forth thy praise

Minister: 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

Reverend: 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.

Reverend: 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.

Reverend: 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.

Reverend: 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.

Reverend: 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.

Reverend: 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.

Reverend: 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.

Reverend: 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.

Reverand: 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.
LORD, 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.

Minister: 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