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Lords Day
Lords 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.
Preparation for the Opening Ceremony
Have available:
Table set with dinner cloth and flowers
Lords Day booklets
Bible
Candle
Wine cup
Wine or grape juice
Loaf of bread
Cheese (optional)
Meal already prepared and ready to serve.
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.
NEXT
The word of the Lord.
Ephesians 1:3-6
Blessed 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 1:7-10
In 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 1:11-14
In 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.
Response: Amen
Responsorial Prayer
(Leader extends his hands towards unlit candle during this
prayer)
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.
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 Bread
Leader: (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.....
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