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Sunday, December 28 |
| The Vespers Office To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 5 and 8 p.m. |
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The Feast of St. Stephen |
The Call to Prayer |
| Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens;* praise him in the heights. |
| Psalm 148:1 |
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The Request for Presence |
| You are my helper and my deliverer,* O LORD, do not tarry. |
| Psalm 70:6 |
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The Greeting |
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| O LORD, I am your servant;* I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds. |
| Psalm 116:14 |
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The Hymn |
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Good King Wenceslaus |
| Good King Wenceslaus looked out on the feast of Stephen. When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight gathering winter fuel. “Hither, page, and stand by me if you know it telling. Yonder peasant, who is he, where and what his dwelling?” “Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes’ fountain.” “Bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pine-logs hither. You and I will see him dine when we bear them thither.” Page and monarch forth they went, forth they went together. Through the rude winds’ wild lament, and the bitter weather. “Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger. Fails my heart I know not how, I can go no longer.” “Mark my footsteps, my good page, tread now in them boldly. You shall find the winter’s rage freeze your blood less coldly.” In his master’s steps he trod where the snow lay dented. Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed. Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing. You who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing. |
| Unknown |
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The Refrain for the Vespers Lessons |
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| Be strong and let your heart take courage,* all you who wait for the LORD. |
| Psalm 31:24 |
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The Vespers Psalm |
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Come, Children, and Listen to Me |
| Fear the LORD, you that are his saints,* for those who fear him lack nothing. The young lions lack and suffer hunger,* but those who seek the LORD lack nothing that is good. Come, children, and listen to me;* I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Many are the troubles of the righteous,* but the LORD will deliver him out of them all. The LORD ransoms the life of his servants,* and none will be punished who trust in him. |
| Psalm 34:9–11, 19, 22 |
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The Refrain |
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| Be strong and let your heart take courage,* all you who wait for the LORD. |
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The Gloria |
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| Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall ever be, world without end. Alleluia.* Amen. |
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The Lord's Prayer |
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| Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name. May your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. |
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The Lord's Prayer |
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| Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name. May your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. |
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The Prayer Appointed for the Week |
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| Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.† |
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The Concluding Prayer of the Church |
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| Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made me one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in my earthly pilgrimage I may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know myself to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. I ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all my intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.† |
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