L: Leader
R: Reader
A: Assembly

Opening Hymn

Words of Welcome (Host Pastor)

The Lord’s Prayer

L: Blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

A: Our Father…

L: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever.

A: Amen.

Invocation

R1: May the name of the Lord be blessed forever, for his name is before the sun.

R2: All the nations of the earth will be blessed through him and all generations will extol him.

R1: Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, the only worker of wondrous deeds, the holy name of his glory is forever blessed. The whole world will be filled with his glory. Amen! Amen!

R2: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

R1: Now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

R2: Again in peace let us beseech the Lord. Heed our prayers, raise us to life and have mercy on us.

L: Blessing and glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and always and unto the ages of ages.

A: Amen.

Hymn

Litany

R1: From sunrise in the East to sunset in the West, and throughout the entire Christian world, wherever people call on the name of the Lord in holiness—by their prayers and intercession may the Lord have mercy on us. Let us beseech God to deliver us from sin and from the temptations of the world. May the Lord accept the vows and supplications of our hearts and count us worthy of his faith and his commandments together with all of his saints. Almighty Lord our God, raise us to life and have mercy on us.

A: Raise us to life, O Lord.

R2: (If celebrated in the morning)
That the Lord may usher forth this sunlit morning and guide the day ahead in peace; with faith, let us beseech the Lord.
Or (If celebrated in the evening)
That the Lord may usher forth this coming evening and the night ahead in peace; with faith, let us beseech the Lord.

A: Grant it, O Lord.

R1: For an angel of peace to be our guardian, let us ask the Lord.

A: Grant it, O Lord.

R2: For the pardon and forgiveness of our transgressions, let us ask the Lord.

A: Grant it, O Lord.

R1: For the great and mighty power of the holy Cross to help us, let us ask the Lord.

A: Grant it, O Lord.

R2: Once again, for our true and holy faith, all together, let us beseech the Lord.

A: Lord, have mercy.

R1: Let us commit ourselves and one another to the almighty Lord our God.

A: We commit ourselves to you, O Lord.

R2: Have mercy on us, Lord our God, in your great mercy. Let us all say together as one:

A: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Pray and share the peace

The Leader may face East for the following prayer, which is prayed with arms outstretched:
L: From sunrise in the East to sunset in the West, blessed are you, O Lord, because you are King, and your name is revered throughout the universe. Let our psalmody resound sweetly in your hearing. Let justice dawn from your righteousness and rise over our frailty and may your most holy name be glorified. And let us become worthy to abide by your commandments and to sing praise and glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages.

A: Amen.

The Leader faces the people and may make the sign of the Cross, while saying:
L: Peace to all.

A: And with your spirit.
The people may exchange a suitable greeting of peace.

R1: Let us bow down to God.

The people bow down to God in worship, saying:
A: Before you, O Lord.

The Leader may turn to the East and prays again, saying:
L: Everlasting God, Eternal God, you dawned as light in this world, and you illumined us from the darkness of our sin. Infinite God, you came into our finite existence, abundantly pouring out the gifts of the Holy Spirit on your creatures. Now and for all eternity you are extolled, most great God, with the Father and the most Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages.

A: Amen.

Scripture Readings

R1: A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 58:6-11)

R2: A reading from the Letter of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians. (Ephesians 4:1-13)

Choir/Assembly (chanted):
Alleluia. Alleluia.
From you, O Lord, is the fountain of life, and from the light of your face shall we see light.

R2: Alleluia. Rise to your feet.

The Leader faces the people and may make the sign of the Cross, while saying:
L: Peace to all.

A: And with your spirit.

R3: Listen attentively to the holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John. (John 12:31-36)

Choir/Assembly: Glory to you, Lord our God.

R3: Attention! God is speaking.

(The Leader then proclaims the Gospel).
(At the conclusion) Choir/Assembly: Glory
to you, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sermon/Homily

Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 97)
The two sides of the assembly recite or chant verses of the Psalm alternately, with all joining together in the response. As the Psalm is being recited/chanted, candles lit by the ministers are distributed to the people.

R2: Our eyes turn to you, O God of all. Have mercy on us and hear our prayers.

A: Our eyes turn to you, O God of all. Have mercy on us and hear our prayers.

Side 1: The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

Side 2: Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

A: Our eyes turn to you, O God of all. Have mercy on us and hear our prayers.

Side 1: Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries round about.

Side 2: His lightnings lighten the world; the earth sees and trembles.

A: Our eyes turn to you, O God of all. Have mercy on us and hear our prayers.

Side 1: The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.

Side 2: The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.

A: Our eyes turn to you, O God of all. Have mercy on us and hear our prayers.

Side 1: All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.

Side 2: Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O God.

A: Our eyes turn to you, O God of all. Have mercy on us and hear our prayers.

Side 1: For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.

Side 2: The Lord loves those who hate evil; he preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

A: Our eyes turn to you, O God of all. Have mercy on us and hear our prayers.

Side 1: Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

A: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Hymn

Closing Prayers

L: Again, in peace, let us beseech the Lord. Let us glorify Almighty God, who has shined his light upon his creatures. Now, may he once more shine his abundant mercy upon those who glorify his name in song. Almighty Lord our God, raise us to life and have mercy on us.

A: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

L: Gracious and almighty Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, you are the true Light, who cast out the darkness of sin, and shined into our hearts the joy and hope of your eternal Kingdom.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: Loving Lord, accept the prayers of all your faithful children throughout the world, who call out to you with one mind, one voice, and one heart. Through your beloved disciple John, you promised that if we walk in your light, then we will have communion with one another, and your precious blood will cleanse us of all sin. Bring us that blessed communion, O Savior!

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: Grant us peace, O Loving Lord, and remove the scourge of civil unrest and violence from the face of the earth. Change the hearts of all who make war and touch the wounds of all who are afflicted by war. Comfort all prisoners of war and speedily bring them home. Let the light of your love shine in all the dark places of our world and hasten the day when all peoples may dwell in peace with justice.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: O Refuge and Shelter, Lord Jesus Christ, look with compassion on refugees throughout the world, who suffer the agony of displacement and the loss of their homes. Move us to manifest our communion with you, with them and with each other through gestures of hospitality and loving help.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: O Christ, our Savior, we pray for the people of Armenia and Artsakh, and their kindred throughout the world, who long ago turned to your light through the preaching of the Apostle Thaddeus and the miraculous witness of St. Gregory the Illuminator.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: Shine the light of your righteousness and wisdom on all your creatures. Make us children of light and children of the day, so that we may always live our lives reverently, and become for all the world, worthy lampstands for your life-giving light.

A: Lord, have mercy.

L: For you are our Savior, and to you be glory, dominion and honor, now and always and unto the ages of ages.

A: Amen.

Hymn

L: Blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

A: Amen.