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The Lord's Day
The Lord's Day
Introduction
This 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.
● Bible
● Candle
● Wine cup
● Loaf of bread
● Cheese (optional)
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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 ceremony should normally take place seated around the dining room table. (If done in the
living room, a small table for candle, wine, bread, etc. should be set before the head’s place.)
There are two opening ceremonies:
It is appropriate to sing and worship the Lord at different times during the celebration.
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Lord of the Universe, in honor of Your Son, Light of the World and Author of Life, I am
about to perform the duty of kindling the light for the Lord’s Day, even as it is written:
“and you shall call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy day of the Lord honorable,” and
may the effect of our fulfilling this commandment be, that the stream of abundant life
and heavenly blessing flow in upon us; that You may be gracious unto us and cause Your
Holy Spirit to dwell more richly among us. Father of Mercy, O continue Your loving
kindness toward us. Make us worthy to walk in the way of Your Son, loyal to your
teaching and unwavering in love and service. Keep far from us all anxiety, darkness and
gloom; and grant that peace, light and joy ever abide in our home; for in You is the
fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.
Response: Amen
Responsorial Prayer
(Leader extends his hands towards unlit candle during this prayer)
Leader:
Let us welcome the Lord’s 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 Lord’s presence with us.
Response:
He is the true light that enlightens every man.
Leader:
Light is the symbol of the Lord’s purpose and ways.
Response:
His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path.
Leader:
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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.
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Lord, through Your goodness we have this wine, symbol of joy. As we enter into this
Lord’s 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):
Leader:
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)
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.”
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“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)
Concluding prayer
(Said at the end of the meal)
Father and Mother:
(Father and Mother extend their right hands towards their children and extended family
members as they pray:)
God has given you to us as special gifts. He calls you to be true children of God. He calls
you to live lives that are truly Christ-like. So that you may experience the fullness of the
life of Jesus Christ, we pray that God will bless you and empower you to live in holiness
and honor all the days of your lives.
Response: Amen
Father:
I now call upon you the blessing which God commanded that Aaron should pray over
the chosen people:
(Then the Father calls each child to give his blessing. He may also choose to bless each
household helper present)
_____________________(child’s name), may the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord
make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His
countenance upon you and give you peace.
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Response: Amen
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.
Preparation
Have available:
● Bible
● Lit Candle
● Wine Cup
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The Ceremony
(The Leader should introduce the closing ceremony with a song. He then reads the “Benedictus”
Luke 1:68-79)
Leader: (The Leader takes the cup of wine and says:)
“Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has created the fruit of the
vine.”
(Spreading his hands towards the light, he says:)
“Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has created the light of the
fire.”
(The Leader passes the cup around and prays:)
“Sovereign of the Universe, Father of Mercy and forgiveness, grant that we may begin
the working days which draw near to us in peace; freed from all sin and transgression;
living in the joy of Your Holy Spirit and clinging to the study of your teaching and to the
performance of good deeds. Through Christ our Lord.”
Response: Amen
Leader:
“Father of mercies and Lord of forgiveness, open to us in this week and in the weeks to
come, the gates of light and blessing, of redemption and salvation, of heavenly help and
rejoicing, of holiness and peace, of the study of your teaching and prayer.
We give you thanks and praise for saving us through Your Son Jesus and calling us by
name to be numbered among Your people. May we work for the building of the
kingdom until the day of your coming. We make our prayer to you, Father through
Christ our Lord.”
Response: Amen
Leader:
(Extinguishes the Lord’s Day light and says:)
“The Lord’s Day has ended.”
Response:
Let us praise and serve the Lord. Amen
(The meal is then served)
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