Sunday Morning The Birth of John the Baptizer

THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER
Fourth Sunday of Announcement
Safro
INTRODUCTION
DOXOLOGY
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as we begin and until we conclude.
May mercy and compassion be poured forth upon us
in this world and the next.
O Lord, our God, to you be glory for ever.
Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
O Lord,
you, the Holy One, sanctified the one who baptized you and
exalted your Forerunner.
On the morning of this feast,
may we give glory to you, your Father,
and your Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
GREETING
Peace be with the Church and her children.
PRAISE OF THE ANGELS
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace on earth and good will to all.
Praise the Lord all you nations,
glorify him all you peoples,
for steadfast is his mercy toward us,
and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
and peace on earth and good will to all.

PSALMODY
FIRST PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
Lord,
you gave joy to the mountains of Judea with this marvelous
newborn child.
Give joy to us also in memory of his birth that we may
hear your voice,
announce your appearance among us, and fulfill your will.
We shall cry out with Zechariah: “Blessed be the Lord God.”
now and for ever. Amen.
PSALM OF THE DAY
Antiphon:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
he has come to his people and set them free.
Luke 1: 68-79
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.

Though his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hand of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most
High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow
of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.

Antiphon:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
he has come to his people and set them free.

NUHRO (HYMN OF LIGHT)
The Light of the just and joy of the upright in Christ Jesus,
our Lord.
Begotten of the Father, he manifested Himself to us.
He came to rescue us from darkness and to fill us with the
radiance of his light.
Day is dawning upon us; the power of darkness is fading away.
From the true Light there arises from us the light which illumines our darkened eyes.

His glory shines upon the world and enlightens the very depths of the abyss.
Death is annihilated, night has vanished, and the gates of Sheol are broken.
Creatures lying in darkness from ancient times are clothed in
light.
The dead arise from the dust and sing because they have a Savior.
He brings salvation and grants us life.
He ascends to his Father on high.
He will return in glorious splendor and shed his light on those gazing upon him.
Our King comes in majestic glory,
Let us light our lamps and go forth to meet him.
Let us find our joy in him, for he has found joy in us.
He will indeed rejoice us with his marvelous light.
Let us glorify the majesty of the Son and give thanks to
the almighty Father, who,
in an outpouring of love, sent him to us, to fill us with
hope and salvation.
When he manifests himself, the saints awaiting him in
weariness and sorrow,
will go forth to meet him with lighted lamps.
The angels and guardians of heaven will rejoice in the
glory of the just and upright people of the earth;
together, crowned with victory, they will sing hymns and psalms.
Stand up then and be ready!
Give thanks to our King and Savior, who will come in great
glory to gladden us with his marvelous light in his kingdom.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
[HYMN]
Either the Hymn, “The Return of Christ” (page 169) or the
Hymn, “Christ the Light” (page 169) may be sung after the
Nuhro.

THIRD PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
Lord,
by the birth of John you have given joy to the
mountains of Judea.
Grant us joy and happiness,
that with the hope of forgiveness we may do penance.
We shall praise and glorify you, your Father, and your
Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
MORNING PSALMS
Psalm 148
Alleluia.
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights;
Praise him, all you his angels,
praise him, all you his hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created;
He established them forever and ever;
he gave them a duty which shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all depths;
Fire and hail, snow and mist,
storm winds that fulfill his word;
You mountains and all you hills,
you fruit trees and all you cedars;

You wild beasts and all tame animals,
you creeping things and you winged fowl.

Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,

Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys,
Praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven,
and he has lifted up the horn of his people.
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
from the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Alleluia.
Psalm 149:1-6
Alleluia.
Sing to the Lord a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
Alleluia.

Psalm 150
Alleluia.
Praise the Lord in his sanctuary,
praise him in the firmament of his strength.
Praise him for his mighty deeds,
praise him for his sovereign majesty.
Praise him with the blast of the trumpet,
praise him with lyre and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipe.
Praise him with sounding cymbals,
praise him with clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath
praise the Lord!
Alleluia.
Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
For steadfast is his mercy toward us,
and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
Alleluia.
[CANTICLE]
The “Canticle of the Three Children” (page 168) may
follow the Morning Psalms.

HOOSOYO
PROEMION
Praise, glory and honor to the incarnate Word
who sent the Announcer before him to prepare the way
for the Master of the universe.
He sent his Forerunner as a voice in the desert calling everyone back to him.
He is our Savior who chose a messenger from among us,
the holy One who chose a child and sanctified him in the womb
of his mother.
To the Good One is due glory and honor this morning,
and all the days of our lives,
now and for ever. Amen.
SEDRO
O God,
naturally hidden and inaccessible to the human spirit,
you willed to form our world after that of the angels and spirits and created two worlds from nothing.
By your power you made the angels;
by your strength you established the earth, giving it to us as a paradise of perfect beauty.
After the fall, you put the hope of salvation into your hearts.
By the light of your natural law and the Mosaic law, you led us on the way of life;
in the fullness of time you enlightened us with the brilliant light of your gospel,
a beacon for all times and for all living creatures.
Now, merciful Lord, we beseech you,
in memory of this day of joy,
the beginning of the tremendous good news,
hear our plea and turn not your face from us.
Fill us with your word,
pour your blessings upon us,
make of us trees which bear good fruit
that we might escape the axe of him who cuts down dead trees.

Enable us always to witness you,
to be the wheat gathered into your barn.
In the joyful memory of the birth of your Forerunner,
may we enter into the dwelling places of your beloved.
May our dead live among your holy ones,
and we shall proclaim the birth of your Forerunner to the world.
Enable us to celebrate the birth of your grace in our hearts
that we may give thanks, glory, veneration and homage to you,
your Father, and your Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
QOLO
Holy are you, who sanctified John in the womb of his mother
and made him your Messenger.
Holy are you, who sent him as a voice that resounds and as a
witness who proclaims.
O God, protect your Church which today venerates the memory
of your Forerunner and Messenger in all places.
ETRO
O God,
make our hearts holy temples and our souls blessed dwellings
where you will place yourself,
as you placed yourself in John your Messenger.
Enlighten our spirits that they might know your truth and your commandments.
As you loosened the tongue of Zechariah,
free our tongues that they may become like harps and
praise you.
Accept our incense (prayers) as a pleasing aroma,
and we shall at all times praise and glorify you, your Father
and your Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.

MAZMOORO
The good news which the angel gave to Zechariah in the holy
Temple is now accomplished today with the birth of John.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited and
delivered his people.
In memory of the birth of John, the Church sings hymns of
glory and praise.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
A Reading from the Prophet Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1: 4-10
The word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. “Ah, Lord GOD!” I said, “I know not how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD answered me, Say not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth!
This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, To root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.

A Reading from the First Letter of Peter
1 Peter 2: 12-25
Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that if they speak of you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king as supreme or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the approval of those who do good. For it is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish people. Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God. Give honor to all, love the community, fear God, honor the king. Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and equitable but also to those who are perverse. For whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace. But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps.“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He him self bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

HOOTOMO
GREAT DOXOLOGY
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and joy-filled hope to all.
We praise you, we adore you, we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord and Creator, King of heaven, God the Father almighty,
Lord God, only Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son and Word of the Father,
you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us;
you take away the sin of the world, hear us and receive
our prayer.
You are seated in glory at the right hand of your Father,
for give us and have mercy on us;
For you alone are holy,
you alone are the Lord, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
At all times, and all the days of our lives, we worship
you and praise your holy and blessed name,
which is and has been from age to age.
Blessed are you, Lord almighty, God of our fathers.
May your name be glorified, praised and exalted for ever.
To you be glory, praise and exaltation, God of all,
Father of truth, with the only Son and the living and Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Amen.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
O God,
you are before all ages and exist from age to age;
you are resplendent and glorified in unsearchable light;
through your word, you bring forth light and give us a new
day.
O radiant Day and source of light,
we glorify you, adore you and offer you praise night and day;
accept our praise and answer our prayer.
Send us your abundant blessings, through the mercy of your
Christ.
To him, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be glory, honor and power,
now and forever. Amen.