Nativity of the Forerunner

Common Prayer Daily

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Opening

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

Come, let us worship God our King.
Come, let us worship Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us worship Christ among us, our King and our God.

Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy immortal one,
have mercy upon us. (3x)

Glory be to the + Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

From Psalm 51

Open my lips, O Lord, *
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.

Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

Glory be to the + Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

A Reading

Luke 1:24-25

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, “Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”

Luke 1:57-69

Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechari′ah after his father, but his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your kindred is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

And his father Zechari′ah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people,
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,

Luke 1:76-80

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
through the tender mercy of our God,
when the day shall dawn upon us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

The Word of the Lord
Thanks Be to God

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth;

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Examen

In God's presence, think through the day ahead:

the work you will do, the people you will encounter,

the dangers or uncertainties you face,

the possibilities for joy and acts of kindness,

any particular resolutions you need to renew,

consider what might draw you from the love of God and neighbor,

the opportunities you will have to know and serve God and to grow in virtue,

remember those closest to you and all for whom you have agreed to pray,

ask God's blessings, guidance, and strength in all that lies before you.

Gather up these thoughts and reflections in the words
Our Savior taught us to say:

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Collect of the Day

Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, following his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Closing Prayers

Glory be to the + Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

Lord, have mercy! (3x)

God, be gracious to us and bless us and shine Your countenance upon us and have mercy on us.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!

The Father+ is my hope; the Son, my refuge; the Holy Spirit, my protection:
All-Holy Trinity, glory to You!

Amen!