Brotherhood Celebration of the Lord's Day

Brotherhood Celebration of the Lord’s Day

1 INTRODUCTION This Ceremony resembles the Sabbath Ceremony actually used by Jewish families for beginning the Sabbath. The ceremony is usually performed before the dinner meal. In this Meal, we make use of the Jewish form of thanking God for His blessings, which is called \"The Berakah\" (Blessed are You, O Lord, King of the Universe, Who, etc.) As the first Christians were Jews, well-founded in Old Testament tradition, they made use of this form of blessing in their prayers, (Eph. 1:3-14) and Liturgy. Jesus Himself would have been familiar with this blessing as He would have heard Joseph praying and blessing the bread and wine on the Sabbath. Mary His Mother, also, like the Jewish women of her time, would have begun the celebration by the lighting and blessing of the Sabbath light. The Family Saturday Meal PREPARATION FOR SATURDAY MEAL CELEBRATION Have available: ● Table set with dinner cloth and flowers ● Sabbath Ceremony booklets ● Bible ● Candle ● Wine Cup ● Wine (may be broken down with water) ● Loaf of bread (recommended home-made) ● Cheese (olives, nuts, etc., optional) ● Meal already prepared and kept warm in the oven. 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. BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER

2 ABOUT THE CELEBRATION ● The meal normally begins around sunset and later on Saturday evening. ● 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 normally takes place around the dining room table. If done in the living room, a small table for candle, wine, bread, etc., should be provided. There are two parts to this celebration. 1. THE LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE 2. THE BLESSING OF THE MEAL It is appropriate to sing and worship the Lord at different times during the celebration. BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER

3 The Lord's Day Ceremony Note: The entire ceremony is the blessing (grace) before the meal. No more grace is said when the meal proper begins. THE LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE SONG (e.g. Let Your Glory Fill this House) (Opening song to be selected according to the festive season. Everybody stands. After the song, everybody sits down. This is not a prayer meeting, but the opening ceremony of a festive meal. We sit for our meals. Please remain seated throughout. The Leader and his wife or assistant should also be seated and may opt to stand when reciting texts). READING: (One of the following can be selected) ● John 1:1-18 ● John 1:1-5 ● Ephesians 1:3-14 ● Colossians 1:15-20 WIFE OR WOMAN ASSISTANT: 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 Lord's Day, even as it is written: \"And you shall call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy day of the Lord honorable.\" May the effect of our fulfilling this commandment be, 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 continue 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. ALL: Amen BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER

4 RESPONSORIAL PRAYER (The Wife or Woman Assistant leads; Extending her hands toward the unlit candle) WIFE/WOMAN ASSISTANT: Let us welcome the Lord's Day. ALL: May its radiance illuminate our hearts as we enkindle this candle. WIFE/WOMAN ASSISTANT: Light is the symbol of the Lord Jesus. ALL: The Lord is my light and my salvation. WIFE/WOMAN ASSISTANT: Light is the symbol of the Lord's presence with us. ALL: He is the true light that enlightens every one. WIFE/WOMAN ASSISTANT: Light is the symbol of the Lord's purpose and ways. ALL: His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. WIFE/WOMAN ASSISTANT: Light is the symbol of the mission to which the Lord has called us. ALL: You are the light of the world; let Your light so shine before all that they may see Your good works and give glory to Your Father in heaven. BLESSING OF THE LORD’S LIGHT WIFE/WOMAN ASSISTANT: Therefore remembering the Lord Jesus who is the source of all light and life; and united with all our brothers and sisters in the BCBP and with all the angels and saints, we enkindle this light. (She lights the candle. Then with hands extended over the candle, she says the following blessing) BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER

5 Blessed 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 Lord's Day. SONG (e.g. the Light of Christ; Isaiah 60; etc.) LEADER (Husband): Father, You have glorified the world by the light of Your risen Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him You sent Your Spirit BLESSING OF THE WINE into the world to enkindle in us the fire of Your love. Grant LEADER: that we who are gathered in His Name may so live together in the light of His truth that our love for one another may continue to grow each day. 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 Lord's Light shines forth to tell all who see that the Divine Spirit of Love abides within our home and community. In this light all our blessings are enriched, all our griefs and trials are softened. At this hour, God's messenger of Peace comes and turns our hearts towards one another, strengthening the bond of devotion to that pure and lofty ideal of brotherhood and sisterhood that is found in Holy Scripture. LEADER: (The Leader pours wine into the cup. Raising the cup, he recites the following prayer.) Lord, through Your Goodness we have this wine, symbol of joy. As we enter into this Lord's day celebration, we thank You for the blessing of this past week; for life, health and strength; for home and community love and friendship; for the discipline of our trials and temptations through which we are strengthened; for the fruit that has come out of our labors. You have ennobled us, O Lord, by the blessing of BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER

6 work, and in Your love and kindness You have made us holy by the blessing of rest according to Your commandment; \"six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is devoted to the Lord our God.\" ALL: Amen (The Leader raises the wine cup and prays the traditional blessing) LEADER: Blessed are You, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who has created the fruit of the vine. (The cup is now passed around) BLESSING OF THE BREAD (Holding the bread in his hands, the leaders says) LEADER: Lord, through Your Goodness we have this bread. It is a ALL: 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 share this one bread, may we ålso share completely our lives together through the power of Your Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life. Amen LEADER: (Continuing to hold up the bread, the leader says the traditional blessing) Blessed 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.) BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER

7 THANKSGIVING (As each person takes a portion of the bread, he/she may give thanks for a particular blessing he/she received during the past week. The bread is not eaten until all [those who are seated together in the table] have given thanks.) Examples: ● \"I thank the Lord for this good day with my family.\" ● \"I thank the Lord for our community the BCBP.\" Or, in the form of a blessing ● \"Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has given us (my family, the BCBP...) (At this point, blessing of the spouse, and if applicable the children [when celebrated at home] may now be done.) HUSBAND TO WIFE: God has given you, (name of spouse), to me as a special (VICE-VERSA) gift. He calls you to be a true child of God. He calls you to live a life that is truly Christ-like. So that you may experience the fullness of the life of Jesus Christ, I now call upon the blessing which God commanded that Aaron should pray over the chosen people: (Spouse's name), the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. PARENTS TO CHILD: God has given you, (name of child), to us as a special gift. He calls you to be a true child of God. He calls you to live a life that is truly Christ-like. So that you may experience the fullness of the life of Jesus Christ, We now call upon you the blessing which God commanded that Aaron should pray over the chosen people: (Child's name), may the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER

8 THE LORD'S DAY GREETING (After Thanksgiving prayers are said, all eat the bread together while the Leader says the Lord's Day Greeting.) LEADER: This is the Lord's Day. Let us be glad and rejoice in it. ALL: Amen [Wine, bread, cheese, and olives, etc. served as hors d'oeuvres for the meal. It is also a time of sharing the blessings of the past week. After a suitable time, the meal is served. Please note there is no more blessing, the ceremony itself is an elaborate blessing of the meal. The meal begins with the lighting of the candles that is why we are all seated already.] GRACE AFTER THE MEAL (After dessert has been served and everyone has finished, grace after the meal is said) LEADER: In the Book of Deuteronomy we read: \"When you have eaten and are satisfied you shall thank the Lord your God for the good land which he has given you.\" (8: 1 0) Praised be the Lord, our God, Father of all, who sustains the world with goodness and gives us the food of the earth. ALL: We thank You, Lord our God, for the good land which You have given to our ancestors, for the countless blessings of our lives, for redeeming us in Jesus Christ, for giving us Your word, and for the life of grace and loving kindness which You have graciously bestowed upon us, and for the food we eat with which You nourish and sustain us at all times. (A final cup of wine is filled.) LEADER: Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. (ALL DRINK THE LAST CUP OF WINE) BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER

9 LEADER: (The Leader extends his hands over the group) May the Lord bless us and keep us; the Lord make His face to shine upon us and be gracious to us; the Lord lift up His countenance upon us and give us peace. ALL: Amen NOTE: This ends the Lord's Day Ceremony. The following Closing Ceremony can be omitted, since hardly any family or group celebrates the closing of the Lord's Day on Sunday evening at the evening meal). We are however printing the Closing Ceremony here so that it may be used by those who may need it for their particular purpose). The Closing Ceremony SUNDAY EVENING Have available: ● Bible ● Lit Candle ● Wine cup ● Wine (may be broken down with water) ● Meal prepared beforehand THE CEREMONY (The Leader should introduce the Closing Ceremony with a song. He then reads The 'Benedictus\" (Luke 1:68-79) (The Leader takes the cup of wine and says): LEADER: \"Blessed are you, O Lord our God. King of the Universe, who has created the fruit of the vine\". BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER

LEADER: 10 LEADER: RESPONSE: (Spreading his hands towards the light he says): LEADER: \"Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who RESPONSE: has created the light of the fire\". LEADER: (The Leader passes the cup around and prays one of the following prayers) \"Sovereign of the Universe, Father of Mercy and forgiveness, grant that we may begin the working days which draw near to us in peace; freed from all sin and transgression; living in the joy of Your Holy Spirit and clinging to the study of Your teaching and to the performance of good deeds. Through Christ our Lord \". Amen. OR \"Sovereign of the Universe, Father of Mercy and forgiveness, cause us to hear in the coming week, news of joy and gladness. May there not arise in the heart of any man malice towards us nor in us, malice toward any man. May all who devise against your people plans which are not for good, O frustrate them and make their designs to no effect. As it is said: ‘Take counsel together but it will come to nothing, speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us’. Through Christ Our Lord.\" Amen. OR \"Father of mercies and Lord of forgiveness, open to us in this week and in the weeks to come, the gates of light and blessing, of redemption and salvation, of heavenly help and rejoicing, of holiness and peace, of the study of Your teaching and prayer. BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER

11 We give you thanks and praise for saving us through Your Son Jesus. and calling us by name to be numbered among Your people. May we work for the building of the kingdom until the day of Your coming. We make our prayer to you, Father through Christ our Lord.\" RESPONSE: Amen. (The Leader extinguishes the Sabbath candle and says): LEADER: \"The Lord's Day has ended.\" RESPONSE: Let us praise and serve the Lord. Amen. (The Meal is then served.) BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER

12 YOUR CHALLENGE Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi for Peace Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. BROTHERHOOD OF CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMEN & PROFESSIONALS ALABANG CHAPTER