Church Calendar

Old Testament: Isaiah 40:1-11
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040%3A1-11

Epistle:1 Cor. 4:1-5
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.%204%3A1-5

Holy Gospel:Matt. 11:2-10
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.%2011%3A2-10

Collect:
Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Introit:
Antiphon:
Rejoice in the Lord | always.*
     Again will I | say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to | all men.*
     The Lord | is at hand. (Philippians 4:4-5)

Psalm:
LORD, You have been favourable | to Your land;*
     You have brought back the captivity of | Jacob.
You have forgiven the iniquity of Your | people;*
     You have covered | all their sin.
Will You not revive | us again,*
     that Your people may re- | joice in You?
I will hear what God the | Lord will speak,*
     for He will speak peace to His | people. (Psalm 85:1-2, 6, 8)

Gradual:
You who dwell between the cherubim, | shine forth!*
     Stir up Your | strength and come!
Give ear, O Shepherd of | Israel,*
     You who lead Joseph | like a flock. (Psalm 80:1–2)

Verse:
Alle- | luia.*
     Alle- | luia.
Stir | up Your strength,*
     and come and save us! Alle- | luia. (Psalm 80:2)

Old Testament: Deut. 18:15-19
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut.%2018%3A15-19

Epistle:Phil. 4:4-7
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil.%204%3A4-7

Holy Gospel:John 1:19-28
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201%3A19-28

Collect:
Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Introit:
Antiphon:
Rain down, you heavens, | from above,*
     and let the skies pour down the | Righteous One;
Let the earth o- | pen her womb,*
     and bring forth Sal- | vation. (Isaiah 45:8)

Psalm:
The heavens declare the glo- | ry of God;*
     and the firmament shows His | handiwork.
Their voice is gone out into | all the earth,*
     and their words to the end | of the world.
In the heavens He has set a tabernacle | for the sun,*
     which is like a Bridegroom coming out of His | chamber.
His going forth is from the end of the | heaven,*
     and his circuit unto the | end of it. (Psalm 19:1, 4-6)

Gradual:
The LORD is near to all who call up- | on Him,*
     to all who call upon | Him in truth.
My mouth shall speak the praise | of the LORD,*
     and all flesh shall bless His | holy name. (Psalm 145:18, 21)

Verse:
Alle- | luia.*
     Alle- | luia.
You are my help and my de- | liverer;*
     do not delay, O my God. Alle- | luia. (Ps.40:17)

Old Testament: Isaiah 9:2-7
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%209%3A2-7

Epistle:Titus 2:11-14; Isaiah 9:2-7
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus%202%3A11-14%3B%20Isaiah%209%3A2-7

Holy Gospel:Luke 2:1-14
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A1-14

Collect:
O God, You make this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that as we have known the mysteries of that Light on earth, we may also come to the fullness of His joys in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament: Exodus 40:17-21; Exodus 40:34-38
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2040%3A17-21%3B%20Exodus%2040%3A34-38

Epistle:Titus 3:4-7
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus%203%3A4-7

Holy Gospel:Luke 2:15-20
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A15-20

Collect:
Most merciful God, You gave Your eternal Word to become incarnate of the pure Virgin. Grant Your people grace to put away fleshly lusts, that they may be ready for Your visitation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Amen.

Old Testament: 2 Chron. 24:17-22
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chron.%2024%3A17-22

Epistle:Acts 6:8-15; Acts 7:54-60
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%206%3A8-15%3B%20Acts%207%3A54-60

Holy Gospel:Matt. 23:34-39
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.%2023%3A34-39

Collect:
Heavenly Father, in the midst of our sufferings for the sake of Christ grant us grace to follow the example of the first martyr, Stephen, that we also may look to the One who suffered and was crucified on our behalf and pray for those who do us wrong; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament: Rev. 1:1-6
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev.%201%3A1-6

Epistle:1 John 1:1-10
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201%3A1-10

Holy Gospel:John 21:19-24
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021%3A19-24

Collect:
Merciful Lord, cast the bright beams of Your light upon Your Church that we, being instructed in the doctrine of Your blessed apostle and evangelist John, may come to the light of everlasting life; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-5
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2011%3A1-5

Epistle:Gal. 4:1-7
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal.%204%3A1-7

Holy Gospel:Luke 2:33-40
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A33-40

Collect:
O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Introit:
Antiphon:
Your testimonies are | very sure;*
     holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, for- | ever.
Your throne is established | from of old;*
     You are from ever- | lasting. (Psalm 93:5,2)

Psalm:
The LORD reigns, He is clothed with | majesty;*
     The LORD is | clothed with strength.
Surely the world is es- | tablished,*
     so that it can- | not be moved.
The floods have lifted | up their voice;*
     the floods lift | up their waves.
The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many | waters,*
     than the mighty waves | of the sea. (Psalm 93:1, 3-4)

Gradual:
You are fairer than the | sons of men;*
     Grace is poured up- | on Your lips.
I recite my composition concern- | ing the King;*
     my tongue is the pen of a ready | writer. (Psalm 45:1–2)

Verse:
Alle- | luia.*
     Alle- | luia.
The LORD reigns, He is clothed with | majesty;*
     the LORD is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Alle- | luia. (Psalm 93:1)