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Lords Day Preparation for the Opening Ceremony Have available: Table set with dinner cloth and flowers Lords booklet Bible Candle Wine cup Wine or grape juice Loaf of Bread Cheese (optional) Meal already prepared and ready to serve

Have different members of the household take responsibility for these different areas of preparation; all should be done and set up before the celebration begins. About the Ceremony The Opening Ceremony normally begins around sun set or later on Saturday evening. The Closing Ceremony is held on the evening of the following day. The head of the household should lead the ceremony. The wife or other designated person should: Light the candle Read the meditation prayer Distribute the bread and cheese The ceremony should normally take place seated around the dinning room table. There are two opening ceremonies:

The Lightning of the candle The Blessing of the Meal

It is appropriate to sing and worship the Lord at different times during the celebration. The Lords Day Ceremony The Lightning of the Candle Song: (Opening Song) Reading: JOHN 1:1-18 JOHN 1:1-5 EPH 1:3-14 COL 1 15-20 Leaders Prayer: 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 Lords day, even as it is written: you shall call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable, and may 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 continues your loving kindness towards 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. RESPONSORIAL PRAYER (Leader extends his hands toward unlit candle during this prayer) LEADER: Lets us all welcome the Lords 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 Lords presence with us. RESPONSE: He is the true light that enlightens every man. LEADER: Light is the symbol of the Lords 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 en that they may see Your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven. Blessing of the Lords Day Day Light Leader: Therefore, remembering the Lord Jesus Who is the source of all light and life, and united with all our brother and sisters and with all the angels and saints, we enkindle this light. Assistant: (Wife now lights the candle) Blesses are You, o Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has hallowed us by Your loving word and taught us to kindle the light for the Lords Day. Song: (e.g. Light of Christ; Isaiah 60 etc..) 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 n His Name may so live together in the light of His truth that our love for one another may continue to grow each day. Blessing of the Wine Leader: Come let us welcome the day of the Lord in joy and peace. Like a Bride, radiant and joyous, comes the day of the lord. It brings blessings to our hearts, workday thoughts and cares are put aside. The brightness of the Lords Day light shines forth to tell that the Devine Spirit of Love abides within our home. In that light our grief and trials are softened. At this a hour, Gods messenger of Peace comes and turns our heart towards one another, strengthening the bond of devotion to that pure and lofty ideal of brotherhood and sisterhood that is found in Holy Scripture. (Here the leader pours the wine into the cup. Holding the cup, be recites the following prayer.) Lord, through Your Goodness we have this wine, symbol of joy. As we enter into this Lords Day celebration, we thank You for the blessing of this past few week; for life, health and strength; for home, love and friendship; for the discipline of our trials and temptations through which we are strengthen; for the fruit that has come of our labors. You have ennoble

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 commandments: Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Response: Amen (The leader now raises the wine cp and prays the traditional blessing) Blesses are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has created the fruit of the wine. (The cup is now passed around.) Blessing of the Bread Leader: (Holding the bread in his hand, 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 of your Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life. Response: Amen Leader: (Holding up the bread, says the traditional blessing) Blesses 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.) 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: Blesses are You, O Lord our God, King of he Universe who has given us The lords Day Greeting (After thanksgiving prayers are said, all eat the bread together while the leader says the Lords Day greeting.) This is the Lords Daylet us be glad and rejoice in it. Response: Amen. (Cheese may be passed around now. The ceremony concludes with a song of praise or any other appropriate song.)