The Birth of John the Baptist

24 June
White
Invitation to Confession

John the Baptist proclaimed,

‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’

Matthew 3.2

Let us turn to the Lord in penitence and faith

and humbly confess our sin.

Kyrie Confession

Lord Jesus, you stand among us, and we do not recognize you.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, we are not worthy to untie the thong of your sandals.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the Lamb of God

who takes away the sin of the world.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Collect

Almighty God,

by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born,

and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Saviour

by the preaching of repentance:

lead us to repent according to his preaching

and, after his example,

constantly to speak the truth, boldly to rebuke vice,

and patiently to suffer for the truth’s sake;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Lectionary

Principal Service

Isaiah 40.1-11

Psalm 85.7-end

Acts 13.14b-26 or Galatians 3.23-end

Luke 1.57-66,80

Second Service

Malachi 4

Matthew 11.2-19

Evening Psalms

Psalms 80, 82

Third Service

Ecclesiasticus 48.1-10 or Malachi 3.1-6

Luke 3.1-17

Morning Psalms

Psalms 50, 149

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia.

You, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.

Luke 1.76

Alleluia.

Intercession

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ,

let us pray to the Father.

Lord God,

who promised Zechariah a son filled with the spirit and power of Elijah,

to prepare a people fit for the Lord:

we pray for reconciliation between all people.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord God,

when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting

the baby leapt in her womb:

may she who believed your promise be blessed among women,

and may we proclaim with joy the good news of your Christ.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord God,

at John’s birth Zechariah proclaimed he would be the prophet of the Most High:

we pray for all who preach the Good News,

[especially …].

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord God,

when your Son came to the Jordan and was baptized by John

he saw the heavens open and the Spirit descending as a dove:

may we who are baptized into your Church

faithfully proclaim in the world the words of your beloved Son.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord God,

John proclaimed your Son as the Lamb of God

and John’s disciples followed Jesus:

help us to follow him also,

and by our words and deeds

to bring our families and friends closer to you.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord God,

who sent John to witness to the light,

to be the voice of one crying in the wilderness

and to prepare the way of the Lord:

comfort your people

and bring your healing to the sick and needy,

to the broken-hearted and the oppressed,

to prisoners and captives.

[Especially we pray for …]

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord God,

John preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins

and suffered imprisonment and death for proclaiming your Law:

we remember all who have died in your service,

joining our prayers with John the Baptist and all the saints;

grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

God our Father,

in your tender compassion

the dawn from on high has broken upon us.

Shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death

and guide our feet into the way of peace;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

Amen.

Introduction to the Peace

The Lord God of Israel has come to his people to set them free

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Prayer at the Preparation of the Table

God of our salvation,

as we praise you for your servant John the Baptist,

accept all we bring to you this day,

and free us to worship you without fear,

in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Preface

And now we give you thanks

because you prepared the way of your Son Jesus Christ

by the preaching of your servant John the Baptist,

who proclaimed him as the Lamb of God, our Saviour.

Extended Preface

It is indeed right and good,

our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

holy Father, almighty and eternal God,

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

Among those born of women

you marked out John the Baptist with your special favour

as the one who prepared the way before your Son.

His birth brought great rejoicing;

even in the womb he leapt for joy, so near was our salvation.

Alone of all the prophets,

John hailed the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

He baptized Jesus, the author of baptism,

in waters made holy by the one baptized.

By shedding his blood

he gave his last and greatest witness to your Son.

And so with angels and archangels

and all the heavenly host

we proclaim your glory

and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Post Communion

Merciful Lord,

whose prophet John the Baptist

proclaimed your Son as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world:

grant that we who in this sacrament have known your forgiveness and your life-giving love

may ever tell of your mercy and your peace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

Through the tender compassion of our God

may the dawn from on high break upon you

and guide your feet into the way of peace.

And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

Acclamation

The Father’s voice bears witness to the Son.

God the Holy Trinity has revealed himself to us.

The Son bows his head beneath the Baptist’s hand.

God the Holy Trinity has revealed himself to us.

The Spirit as a dove descends from the heavens.

God the Holy Trinity has revealed himself to us.

Submitting to John’s baptism, Christ delivers us from bondage.

God the Holy Trinity has revealed himself to us.

Short Passages of Scripture

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.

Luke 1.68

You, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.

Luke 1.76

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Luke 1.78

There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

He came as a witness to testify to the light.

John 1.6,7

 

Common Worship: Festivals, material from which is included here,
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