Lords day

John 1:1-5In the beginning was the Word,and the Word was with God,and the Word was God.He was in the beginning with God.All things came to be through him,and without him nothing came to be.What came to be through him was life,and this life was the light of the human race;the light shines in the darkness,and the darkness has not overcome it.IntroductionThis ceremony resembles the Sabbath Ceremony actually used by Jewish families for beginning the Sabbath. The ceremony is usually performed before the dinner meal.

In this meal, we make use of the Jewish form of thanking God for His blessings, which is called The Berakah (Blessed are You, O Lord, King of the Universe, Who etc.....)

As the first Christians were Jews, well founded in Old Testament tradition, they made use of this form of blessing in their prayers (Eph. 1:3-14) and Liturgy.

Jesus himself would have been familiar with this blessing as He would have heard Joseph praying and blessing the bread and wine on the Sabbath. Mary His Mother, also, like the Jewish women of her time, would have begun the celebration by lighting and blessing of the Sabbath light.

Preparation for the Opening Ceremony Have available: Table set with dinner cloth and flowers Lords Day booklets Bible CandleWine cup Wine or grape juice Loaf of bread Cheese (optional) Meal already prepared and ready to serve.

Have different members of the household take responsibility for these different areas of preparation; all should be done and set up before the celebration begins. The Lords Day CeremonyThe Lighting of the CandleSong: (Opening song to be selected according to the festive season) Reading: (One of the following can be selected): John 1:1-18John 1:1-5Ephesians1:3-14Colossians 1:15-20

John 1:6-13A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world,and the world came to be through him,but the world did not know him.He came to what was his own,but his own people did not accept him.But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a mans decision but of God.John 1:14-18And the Word became fleshand made his dwelling among us,and we saw his glory,the glory as of the Fathers only Son,full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying, This was he of whom I said, The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me. From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Fathers side, has revealed him.

The word of the Lord.NEXTEphesians 1:3-6Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.Ephesians 1:7-10In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.Ephesians 1:11-14In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as Gods possession, to the praise of his glory.

The word of the Lord.NEXTColossians 1:15-16The Preeminence of Christ

He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn of all creation.

For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,the visible and the invisible,whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;all things were created through him and for him.Colossians 1:17-20He is before all things,and in him all things hold together.

He is the head of the body, the church.He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,that in all things he himself might be preeminent.

For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,and through him to reconcile all things for him,making peace by the blood of his cross[through him], whether those on earth or those in heaven.

The word of the Lord.Responsorial Prayer(Leader extends his hands towards unlit candle during this prayer)

Leader: Let us welcome the Lords Day. Response: May its radiance illuminate our hearts as we enkindle this candle.

Leader: Light is the symbol of the Lord Jesus. Response: The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Leader: Light is the symbol of the Lords presence with us. Response: He is the true light that enlightens every man. Responsorial PrayerLeader: Light is the symbol of the Lords purpose and ways. Response: His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path.

Leader: Light is the symbol of the mission to which the Lord has called us. Response: You are the light of the world; let Your light so shine before men that they may see Your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Blessing of the Lords Day Light Leader: Therefore, remembering the Lord Jesus Who is source of all light and life, and united with all our brothers and sisters and wish all the angels and saints, we enkindle this light.

Assistant: (The wife or assistant now lights the candle. Then with hands raised over the light prays the following blessing):

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has hallowed us by Your loving word and taught us to kindle the light of the Lords Day.

Song: (e.g., Light of Christ; Isaiah 60; etc.)Blessing of the Lords Day LightLeader: Father, You have glorified the world by the light of your Risen Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him You sent Your Spirit into the world to enkindle in us the fire of Your love. Grant that we who are gathered in His Name, may so live together in the light of His truth that our love for one another may continue to grow each day.

Blessing of the WineLeader: Come let us welcome the day of the Lord in joy and peace. Like a bride, radiant and joyous, comes the day of the Lord. It brings blessings to our hearts, workday thoughts and cares are put aside. The brightness of the Lords Day light shines forth to tell that the Divine Spirit of Love abides within our home. In that light all our blessings are enriched, all our griefs and trials are softened. At this hour, Gods messenger of Peace comes and turns our heart towards one another, strengthening the bond of devotion to that pure and lofty ideal of brotherhood and sisterhood that is found in Holy Scripture.

Blessing of the Wine(Here the leader pours wine into the cup. Holding the cup, he recites the following prayer)Leader: Lord, through Your goodness we have this wine, symbol of joy. As we enter into this Lords Day celebration, we thank you for the blessings of this past week; for life, health and strength; for home, love and friendship; for the discipline of our trials and temptations through which we are strengthened; for the fruit that has come out of our labors. You have enabled us, O Lord, by the blessing of work, and in your love and kindness you have made us holy by the blessing of rest according to your commandment: Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.

Response: Amen

(The leader now raises the wine cup and prays the traditional blessing): Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has created the fruit of the vine. (The cup is now passed around)

Blessing of the BreadLeader: (Holding the bread in his hands, says:) Lord, through Your goodness we have this bread. It is a symbol of our brotherhood and unity, since this one bread comes from many grains of wheat. It is a sign of Your daily provident care and love. As we have this one bread may we also share completely our lives together through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life. Response: Amen.Leader: (Holding up the bread, says the traditional blessing) Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who causes the earth to yield food for all.(The bread is now passed around.)

Thanksgiving(As a portion of the bread is taken, each person may give thanks for a particular blessing he/she has received during the past week.)

For example: I thank the Lord for this good day with my family. I thank the Lord for the rain we have received. (Or, in the form of Berakah): Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe Who has given us.....

(The bread is not eaten until all have given thanks.) The Lords Day Greeting(After the thanksgiving prayers are said, all eat the bread together while the Leader says the Lords Day greeting.)

Leader: This is the Lords Day let us be glad and rejoice in it. Response: Amen

(Cheese may be passed around now. The ceremony concludes with a song of praise or any other appropriate song.)

Note: In case the celebration is among CFC members, the following concluding prayer may be used: Leader: (The Leader extends his right hand towards the members as he prays:) God has given us to one another as special gifts. He calls us to be true children of God. He calls us to live lives that are truly Christ-like. So that we may experience the fullness of the life of Jesus Christ, I now pray that God will bless us and empower us to live in holiness and honor all the days of our lives.Response: Amen

Leader: I now call upon us all the blessing which God commanded that Aaron should pray over the chosen people: May the Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord makes His face to shine upon us and be gracious to us. The Lord lifts up His countenance upon us and gives us peace.Response: Amen

Dinner is now served.