LORDS-DAY gguide during talk 8 at CLP and before or afterdedication

Lords Day and Dedication

1. THE
LORD’S DAY
CELEBRATION

2. 2
INTRODUCTION
ThisceremonyresemblestheSabbathCeremonyactuallyusedbyJewish
familiesforbeginningtheSabbath.Theceremonyisusuallyperformedbefore
thedinnermeal.
Inthismeal,wemakeuseoftheJewishformofthankingGodforHis
blessings,whichiscalled“TheBerakah”(BlessedareYou,OLord,Kingof
theUniverse,Whoetc.....)
AsthefirstChristianswereJews,wellfoundedinOldTestamenttradition,
theymadeuseofthisformofblessingintheirprayers(Eph.1:3-14)and
Liturgy.
JesushimselfwouldhavebeenfamiliarwiththisblessingasHewouldhave
heardJosephprayingandblessingthebreadandwineontheSabbath.Mary
HisMother,also,liketheJewishwomenofhertime,wouldhavebegunthe
celebrationbylightingandblessingoftheSabbathlight.

3. 3
The Lighting of the Candle
Song: (Opening song to be selected
according to the festive season)
Reading: (One of the following can be
selected):
–John 1:1-18
–John 1:1-5
–Ephesians1:3-14
–Colossians 1:15-20

4. 4
SURE FOUNDATION
Lord, we are Your children
Chosen and called by Your name
With one heart and purpose we gather
To glorify You and proclaim that
You, Lord, are a sure foundation
We will not be afraid
When the storm comes;
We will not be shaken,
For by your hand we are saved,
O by Your hand we are saved.

5. 5
JOHN 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

6. THE LORD’S DAY CEREMONY
LEADER PRAYS: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.

7. 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.

8. RESPONSORIAL PRAYER
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: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.

9. BLESSING OF THE LORD’S DAY LIGHT
LEADER:Therefore, remembering the Lord Jesus Who is
the source of all light and life, and united with all our
brothers and sister and with all angels and saints, we
enkindle this light.
ASSISTANT: (The assistant now lights the candle. Then
with hands raised over the light prays the following
blessing):
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe,
Who has hallowed us by Your loving word and taught us
to kindle for the Lord’s Day.

10. 10
THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
Refrain:
The light of Christ
has come into the world (2x)

11. 11
1.All men must be born again
to see the kingdom of God
The water and the Spirit
bring new life in God's love

12. 12
THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
Refrain:
The light of Christ
has come into the world (2x)

13. 13
2. God gave up His only Son
out of love for the world
So that all men who believe
in Him will live forever

14. 14
THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
Refrain:
The light of Christ
has come into the world (2x)

15. 15
3. The light of God has come to us
so that we might have salvation
From the darkness of our sins
we walk into glory with Christ Jesus

16. 16
THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
Refrain:
The light of Christ
has come into the world (2x)

17. BLESSING OF THE LORD’S DAY LIGHT
LEADER:Father, You have glorified the world by
the light of your Risen Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through Him You sent Your Spirit into the world
to enkindle in us the fire of Your love. Grant that
we who are gathered in His Name, may so live
together in the light of His truth that our love for
one another may continue to grow each day.

18. BLESSING OF THE WINE
LEADER:ComeletuswelcomethedayoftheLordinjoyand
peace.Likeabride,radiantandjoyous,comesthedayoftheLord.It
bringsblessingstoourhearts,workdaythoughtsandcaresareput
aside.ThebrightnessoftheLord’sDaylightshinesforthtotellthat
theDivineSpiritofLoveabideswithinourhome.Inthatlightallour
blessingsareenriched,allourgriefsandtrialsaresoftened.
Atthishour,God’smessengerofPeacecomesandturnsourheart
towardsoneanother,strengtheningthebondofdevotiontothatpure
andloftyidealofbrotherhoodandsisterhoodthatisfoundinHoly
Scripture.

19. BLESSING OF THE WINE
(Here the leader pours wine into the cup. Holding the cup, he recites the following
prayer)
LEADER: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.”

20. BLESSING OF THE WINE
RESPONSE:Amen.
LEADER:(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)

21. 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.)

22. 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.....”
(The bread is not eaten until all have given thanks.)

23. THE LORD’S DAY GREETING
(After the thanksgiving prayers are said, all eat the bread
together while the Leader says the Lord’s Day greeting.)
LEADER:This is the Lord’s day –let us be glad and rejoice
in it.
RESPONSE:Amen.

24. CONCLUDING PRAYER
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

25. CONCLUDING PRAYER
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.

26. THE CLOSING CEREMONY
LEADER:Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of
the Universe, Who has created the fruit of the vine.
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the
Universe, Who has created the light of the fire…
Through Christ our Lord.”
RESPONSE:Amen.

27. THE CLOSING CEREMONY
LEADER:Sovereign of the Universe…Through
Christ our Lord.
RESPONSE:Amen.
LEADER:Father of mercies…We make our prayer to
you, Father through Christ our Lord.
RESPONSE:Amen.
LEADER:The Lord’s Day has ended.
RESPONSE:Let us praise and serve the Lord. Amen.

28. 28
WE’LL BE FAITHFUL
Forgetting what lies behind
Setting our hearts on the prize
Always keeping our eyes on our
Lord Jesus
We’re running the race to win
All the way to the end
Laying down every sin that would
seek to hinder us

29. 29
And we’ll be faithful to our calling
For You are able to keep us from
falling
For in Your promise, we will trust
You’ll be faithful to finish the work
You began in us