This document provides instructions for conducting a Lord's Day ceremony, including: lighting a candle while reciting responsive prayers; blessing wine and bread while giving thanks; and concluding with a greeting. The ceremony is meant to celebrate the Sabbath through prayer, scripture readings, and shared communion in order to welcome the Lord's presence and blessings.

1. LORD’S DAY

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

3. The Lord’s Day
Ceremony

4. 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

5. 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 Lord’s day, even as it is written:
“ you shall call the Sabbath a delight and
the holy day of the Lord honorable”,

6. Leaders Prayer:
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.

7. 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.

8. RESPONSORIAL PRAYER
(Leader extends his hands toward unlit candle during this prayer)
LEADER: Lets us all welcome the Lord’s
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.

9. RESPONSORIAL PRAYER
(Leader extends his hands toward unlit candle during this prayer)
LEADER: Light is the symbol of the Lord’s
presence with us.
RESPONSE: He is the true light that
enlightens every man.
LEADER: Light is the symbol of the Lord’s
purpose and ways.
RESPONSE: His word is a lamp unto my
feet and a light for my path.

10. 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.

11. Blessing of the Lord’s Day
Light

12. 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 Lord’s Day.
Song: (e.g. Light of Christ; Isaiah 60 etc..)

13. 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.

14. Blessing of the Wine

15. 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 Lord’s 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.

16. At this a hour, God’s 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 pour the wine into the cup.
Holding the cup, be recites the following
prayer.)

17. 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 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.

18. 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

19. (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.)

20. Blessing of the Bread

21. 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

22. 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.)

23. 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…”

24. The lord’s Day Greeting
(After thanksgiving prayer are said, all eat the bread together while
the leader says the Lord’s Day greeting.)
“This is the Lord’s Day—let us be glad
and rejoice in it.