VERSION: 9 April 2002
FESTIVAL OF THE INNOCENTS, MARTYRS
(28 December)
THE INNOCENTS
The Innocents were the children of Bethlehem, two years old and under, killed by King Herod in his attempt to destroy the infant Jesus. Since they were killed for the sake of Christ, the church very early honoured these 'innocent' babies. (Information from Contemporary Worship 6: The Church Year, Calendar and Lectionary, 1973)
LITURGY
SENTENCES
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.
A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more. (Jer 31:15 NRSV)
OR
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise
because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
(Ps 8:2 NIV)
OR, use the standard Christmas Sentence in the document 'Christmas season', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.
OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.
PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Two collects could be used if observing this festival. After using one of the collects for Christmas Day, use one of these collects for the festival of the Innocents.
EITHER
Heavenly Father,
make us sensitive to injustice and cruelty.
Help us to defend the weak
from the tyranny of the strong.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who suffered for us
and who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
OR
Lord God,
your martyred innocents proclaimed your praise,
not by speaking but by dying.
Put to death all sin within us,
so that our lives may show the faith
that our lips declare.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
FIRST READING
Jeremiah 31:15-17 Rachel weeps for her children
PSALM
Psalm 124
Antiphon:
We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers.
(Ps 124:7 NRSV)
SECOND READING
1 Peter 4:12-19 Rejoice in sharing Christ's sufferings
ALLELUIA VERSE
Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice that you share in Christ's sufferings,
that you may also be glad and shout for joy
when his glory is revealed. Alleluia.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 2:13-18 Herod kills the children of Bethlehem
(Begin: 'After the wise men had left . . . ')
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The acclamations may be modified as follows.
Glory to you, O Lord, Light of the world.
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ, Light of the world.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
The tyranny of Herod continues to threaten the vulnerable in our world today. Let us pray to our Father that he would protect all who suffer innocently.
The regular response, OR:
Lord, hear the voice of your church,
as she weeps for her children.
Suggested petitions
*
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for the sick and the elderly who are vulnerable
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*
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for the poor and the weak
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*
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for those who are different or belong to minority groups
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*
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for all who live under tyrannical government
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Concluding prayer
Almighty God, the children of Bethlehem died unjust deaths under the tyranny of King Herod. May we always be alert to the injustice in the world, so that wherever the lives of one of your little ones is threatened, we may be instruments of your protecting love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
SEASONAL PREFACE
It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You have revealed your glorious presence to us
in a new way
through the mystery of the Word made flesh,
so that as we see you in your Son,
we are drawn to love you
whom we cannot see.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:
COMMUNION INVITATION
Jesus says: 'I am the living bread
that came down from heaven.
The bread that I will give you is my flesh,
which I give so that the world may live.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
For a post-communion prayer, see the document 'Christmas season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the following prayer.
Almighty God,
even from the lips of children and infants
you receive praise.
As we have been made clean
through the body and blood
of your Son, Jesus Christ,
may we always praise and glorify you
by living innocent lives.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
SEASONAL BLESSING
This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.
(May) Christ the Son of God give you joy and peace by his presence with you; . . .
HYMNS AND SONGS
FOR THE READINGS
Please note: * = Modernised version available
G3, G4 . . . = Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .
GS = Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH
First reading: Jeremiah 31:15-17
LHS
12
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Comfort, comfort ye My people* G4
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401
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When in the hour of utmost need G3
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406
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God still lives, and His compassion G7
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732
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Comfort, comfort all my people GS
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870
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Lord of all hopefulness G6
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AT
25
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Comfort, comfort all my people
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405
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Lord of all hopefulness
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TIS
613
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Lord of all hopefulness
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647
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Comfort, comfort all my people
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673
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I set the Lord before my eyes
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Second reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19
LHS
390
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Wait, my soul, with patience* G3
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395
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O for a faith that will not shrink* G7
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732
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Comfort, comfort all my people GS
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815
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O Christ, the healer, we have come G6
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AT
25
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Comfort, comfort all my people
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84
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I want Jesus to walk with me
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385
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If there was ever a time
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TIS
177
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In suffering love the thread of life
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638
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O Christ, the healer, we have come
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647
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Comfort, comfort all my people
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689
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Lord, hear my praying
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Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18
LHS
399
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In Thee, Lord, have I put my trust G7
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414
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God moves in a mysterious way G7
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481
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When children, young and tender G7
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788
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Lord, who left the highest heaven (vv 1,2)
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AT
38
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One by one you call us home
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404
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Let nothing trouble you
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TIS
126
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God moves in a mysterious way
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293
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Unto us a boy is born
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OTHER SONGS FROM 'TOGETHER IN SONG'
The following songs from Together in Song may also be appropriate for this day:
90
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I'll praise my maker while I've breath
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615
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Almighty God, lift up our eyes
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618
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What does the Lord require
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665
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Jesus Christ is waiting
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674
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Inspired by love and anger
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679
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God of Jeremiah, grieving
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680
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God! as with silent hearts we bring to mind
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690
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Beauty for brokenness
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PSALM 124
For musical settings of Psalm 124, see Music Packages 3, 4 and 6.
A metrical paraphrase of the psalm is given in TIS, no. 79 Now Israel.
The following metrical version of Psalm 124 by David Sch¸tz may be sung to either 'God is on our side' (ATN 21, LHS 861) by Peter Schmidt and David Schubert, or, omitting the chorus, to the tune St Magnus [Nottingham] (LH 169, TIS 378). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.
If God had not been on our side -
let Israel now say -
if God had not been on our side,
our foes had won the day!
If God is on our side,
God is on our side,
who can be against us?
They would have swallowed us alive,
with anger hot as flames;
they would have tossed us like a flood,
and drowned us in their waves!
So, blessed be the Lord our God,
who snatched us from their jaws!
We have escaped just as a bird
flies from the hunter's claws!
Our help is in God's holy name,
the Lord of Israel,
for he made all of heav'n and earth,
and he does all things well!
COVENTRY CAROL
The medieval Coventry Carol ('Lullay, thou little tiny child') is well suited for singing on this day. The text is as follows, and the tune may be found in Together at Christmas (LPH 1987), the Oxford Book of Carols, or a similar Christmas carol book.
Chorus:
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Lullay, thou little tiny child,
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by by, lully, lullay.
Lullay, thou little tiny child,
by by, lully, lullay.
Women:
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O sisters, too, how may we do,
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for to preserve this day -
this poor youngling, for whom we sing,
by by, lully, lullay.
Men:
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Herod the king, in his raging,
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charged he hath this day
his men of might, in his own sight,
all children young to slay.
All:
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Then woe is me, poor child, for thee!
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And ever morn and day,
for thy parting nor say nor sing
by by, lully, lullay.
BY ALL YOUR SAINTS
Horatio Bolton Nelson wrote this hymn, which has various middle verses for various minor festival occasions. It may be sung to the tune Nyland (LH 16), or to King's Lynn (TIS 249). The first and last verses given below are as they appear in Lutheran Worship and Lutheran Book of Worship; the middle verse is Nelson's original that has been slightly modernised.The first line of verse 1 could be changed to: 'By saints on earth who struggle'.
By all your saints in warfare,
for all your saints at rest,
your holy name, O Jesus,
for evermore be blest!
For you have won the battle
that they might wear the crown;
and now they shine in glory
reflected from your throne.
All praise for infant martyrs
whom your mysterious love
called early from their warfare
to share your home above.
O Rachel, cease your weeping;
they rest from earthly cares.
True innocence, Lord, grant us,
and crowns as bright as theirs.
Then let us praise the Father,
and worship God the Son,
and sing to God the Spirit,
eternal Three-in-one,
till all the ransomed number
fall down before the throne,
ascribing power and glory,
and praise to God alone.
OTHER
CANDLE-LIGHTING
If this day is used to commemorate those who have died innocent deaths (eg those who have been martyred or those who have died through abortion), it may be appropriate to light candles as an act of remembrance.
To do this, have a tray of sand placed on a table near the altar, or on the floor of the sanctuary. After an appropriate prayer of remembrance, which may include the reading of names, the people may be asked to come forward to light a candle and place it in the sand tray.
Alternatively, candles may be lit at the beginning of the service. If a specific number of deaths are being commemorated (eg if in remembrance of a particular tragedy), the number of candles could equal the number of lives lost.
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