Sunday Morning THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ZECHARIAH

THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ZECHARIAH
First Sunday of Announcements
Safro
INTRODUCTION

DOXOLOGY
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as we begin and until we conclude.
May mercy and compassion be poured forth upon us
in this world and the next.
O Lord, our God, to you be glory for ever.
Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord,
open the eternal gates of your mercy to our plea.
In your love for mankind,
accept our prayer and fill us poor people with the
richness of your gifts.
We shall then rejoice with Zechariah and Elizabeth to
whom you granted a posterity.
Lord, to you is due praise,
now and for ever.
Amen.
GREETING
Peace be with the Church and her children.
PRAISE OF THE ANGELS
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace on earth and good will to all.
Praise the Lord all you nations,
glorify him all you peoples,
for steadfast is his mercy toward us,
and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
and peace on earth and good will to all.

FIRST PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O Most High,
the seraphim unceasingly praise you in the heights.
When you willed to descend to earth,
you commanded the head of the celestial powers to announce to
the priest Zechariah the conception of John.
Confirm us in the true faith
so that we may proclaim your marvelous announcement;
let us profess your awaited salvation and strive for the
cause of truth.
Then with your angels and men,
we shall glorify you, your Father and you Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
PSALM OF THE DAY
Antiphon:
The just man shall flourish like a palm tree, like a cedar
of Lebanon shall he grow.
Psalm 92: 1-7, 13-14
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praise to your name, Most High.
To proclaim your kindness at dawn
and your faithfulness throughout the night,

With ten-stringed instrument and lyre,
with melody upon the harp.

For you make me glad, O Lord, by your deeds;
at the works of your hands, I rejoice.

How great are your works, O Lord!
How very deep are your thoughts!

A senseless man knows not,
nor does a fool understand this.

The just man shall flourish like the palm tree,
like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.

They that are planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.

Antiphon:
The just man shall flourish like a palm tree, like a cedar
of Lebanon shall he grow.
[HYMN]
The Hymn, “The Church” (page 168) may be sung after
the Psalm of the Day.
SECOND PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O glorious Light,
who sent the angels of the heights as messengers to earth,
enlighten our hearts, sanctify our bodies and purify our
consciences that we may offer adoration, thanks
and praise,
to you, your Father, and your Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
NUHRO (HYMN OF LIGHT)
The Light of the just and joy of the upright in Christ Jesus,
our Lord.
Begotten of the Father, he manifested Himself to us.
He came to rescue us from darkness and to fill us with the
radiance of his light.
Day is dawning upon us; the power of darkness is fading away.
From the true Light there arises from us the light which illumines our darkened eyes.
His glory shines upon the world and enlightens the very depths of the abyss.
Death is annihilated, night has vanished, and the gates of Sheol are broken.

Creatures lying in darkness from ancient times are clothed in
light.
The dead arise from the dust and sing because they have a Savior.
He brings salvation and grants us life.
He ascends to his Father on high.
He will return in glorious splendor and shed his light on those gazing upon him.
Our King comes in majestic glory,
Let us light our lamps and go forth to meet him.
Let us find our joy in him, for he has found joy in us.
He will indeed rejoice us with his marvelous light.
Let us glorify the majesty of the Son and give thanks to
the almighty Father, who,
in an outpouring of love, sent him to us, to fill us with
hope and salvation.
When he manifests himself, the saints awaiting him in
weariness and sorrow,
will go forth to meet him with lighted lamps.
The angels and guardians of heaven will rejoice in the
glory of the just and upright people of the earth;
together, crowned with victory, they will sing hymns and psalms.
Stand up then and be ready!
Give thanks to our King and Savior, who will come in great
glory to gladden us with his marvelous light in his kingdom.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
[HYMN]
Either the Hymn, “The Return of Christ” (page 169) or the
Hymn, “Christ the Light” (page 169) may be sung after the
Nuhro.
THIRD PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
Lord,
Zechariah heard the announcement,
but was not able to have faith in its greatness

and was struck mute.
Open our mouths for your praise,
that our tongues may glorify you and proclaim
your signs of salvation.
O Lord and God, to you be glory,
now and for ever.
Amen.
MORNING PSALMS
Psalm 148
Alleluia.
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights;
Praise him, all you his angels,
praise him, all you his hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created;
He established them forever and ever;
he gave them a duty which shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all depths;
Fire and hail, snow and mist,
storm winds that fulfill his word;
You mountains and all you hills,
you fruit trees and all you cedars;
You wild beasts and all tame animals,
you creeping things and you winged fowl.

Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,

Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys,
Praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven,
and he has lifted up the horn of his people.
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
from the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Alleluia.
Psalm 149:1-6
Alleluia.
Sing to the Lord a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
Alleluia.
Psalm 150
Alleluia.
Praise the Lord in his sanctuary,
praise him in the firmament of his strength.
Praise him for his mighty deeds,
praise him for his sovereign majesty.

Praise him with the blast of the trumpet,
praise him with lyre and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipe.
Praise him with sounding cymbals,
praise him with clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath
praise the Lord!
Alleluia.
Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
For steadfast is his mercy toward us,
and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
Alleluia.
[CANTICLE]
The “Canticle of the Three Children” (page 168) may
follow the Morning Psalms.
HOOSOYO
PROEMION
Praise, glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Word of God,
whose love for mankind brought him to earth and to
become flesh for our salvation.
He sent a Forerunner to announce his coming and
prepare the way.

It is to him we extend our hand,
that he might deliver us from the bonds of sin.
May he open our lips for his praise and enable our tongues
to thank him.
To the Good One is due glory and honor this morning,
and all the days of our lives,
now and for ever.
Amen.
SEDRO
Word of God,
for you all difficulties become easy and nothing is impossible.
You plant in our hearts the hope we will never perish
and give hope to the ones who are lost.
You are the powerful One who is able to do the impossible and
whose will is able to accomplish all that it desires.
You perform marvels, distribute gifts and accord strength to
all your faithful.
You have created everything in your wisdom and have made
all things through your love.
You sent your messenger to prepare the way for your
incarnation.
Confirm our hearts in the true faith that we might stand in
fear before this mystery.
Enable us to praise the compassion which you have shown us
and we shall exalt you who have saved us and give glory to you, your Father, and your Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
QOLO
Today, the archangel descends into the holy of holies to the
priest Zechariah.
The archangel announces that his barren wife, Elizabeth, the
daughter of Aaron, will have a child.
He will remain mute until the birth of John, and when his tongue is unbound, he will cry out: “Blessed are you, O Lord, God of
Israel.”

ETRO
Delightful Incense and Sweet Perfume,
joy of all in heaven and earth,
protection of all creatures,
grant peace to the world,
dignity to priests, purity to deacons,
pardon to sinners and rest to the dead.
Then we shall praise and glorify your name,
with your Father and Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
READINGS
MAZMOORO
Glory to you, O Light, who sent the angel to announce the birth of your Forerunner.
Thanksgiving to you, O Christ, who sent the one who
will prepare the way before you.
Praise to you, O Lord, for today the just sing your praise.
We join with them in giving glory to you and the Father.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
A Reading from the First Book of Samuel
1 Samuel 1: 9-19
Hannah rose after one such meal at Shiloh, and presented herself before the LORD; at the time, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost of the LORD’s temple. In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping copiously, and she made a vow, promising: “O LORD of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the LORD for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head.” As she remained long at prayer before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her, “How long will

you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” “It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD. Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.” Eli said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She replied, “Think kindly of your maidservant,” and left. She went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and no longer appeared downcast. Early the next morning they worshiped before the LORD, and then returned to their home in Ramah. When Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, the LORD
remembered her.
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 7: 2-9
And he replied, “My brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia, before he had settled in Haran, and said to him, ‘Go forth from your land and [from] your kinsfolk to the land that I will show you.’ So he went forth from the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, he made him migrate to this land where you now dwell. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but he did promise to give it to him and his descendants as a possession, even though he was childless. And God spoke thus, ‘His descendants shall be aliens in a land not their own, where they shall be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years; but I will bring judgment on the nation they serve,’ God said, ‘and after that they will come out and worship me in this place.’ Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision, and so he became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, as Isaac did Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him

HOOTOMO
GREAT DOXOLOGY
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and joy-filled hope to all.
We praise you, we adore you, we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord and Creator, King of heaven, God the Father almighty,
Lord God, only Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son and Word of the Father,
you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us;
you take away the sin of the world, hear us and receive
our prayer.
You are seated in glory at the right hand of your Father,
for give us and have mercy on us;
For you alone are holy,
you alone are the Lord, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
At all times, and all the days of our lives, we worship
you and praise your holy and blessed name,
which is and has been from age to age.
Blessed are you, Lord almighty, God of our fathers.
May your name be glorified, praised and exalted for ever.
To you be glory, praise and exaltation, God of all,
Father of truth, with the only Son and the living and Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Amen.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
O God,
you are before all ages and exist from age to age;
you are resplendent and glorified in unsearchable light;
through your word, you bring forth light and give us a new
day.
O radiant Day and source of light,
we glorify you, adore you and offer you praise night and day;
accept our praise and answer our prayer.
Send us your abundant blessings, through the mercy of your
Christ.
To him, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be glory, honor and power,
now and forever.
Amen.