Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr

http://almanac.oremus.org/2020-12-26

Red

Principal Service
2 Chronicles 24.20-22
Psalm 119.161-168
Acts 7.51-60
Matthew 10.17-22

(or)
Acts 7.51-60
Psalm 119.161-168
Galatians 2.16b-20
Matthew 10.17-22

Third Service
Jeremiah 26.12-15
Acts 6
Morning Psalms
Psalms 13, 31.1-8, 150

Second Service
Genesis 4.1-10
Matthew 23.34-39
Evening Psalms
Psalms 57, 86

Collect

Gracious Father,
who gave the first martyr Stephen
grace to pray for those who took up stones against him:
grant that in all our sufferings for the truth
we may learn to love even our enemies
and to seek forgiveness for those who desire our hurt,
looking up to heaven to him who was crucified for us,
Jesus Christ, our mediator and advocate,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Post Communion

Merciful Lord,
we thank you for the signs of your mercy
revealed in birth and death:
save us by the coming of your Son,
and give us joy in honouring Stephen,
first martyr of the new Israel;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect on the Eve of Christmas 1

Almighty God,
who wonderfully created us in your own image
and yet more wonderfully restored us
through your Son Jesus Christ:
grant that, as he came to share in our humanity,
so we may share the life of his divinity;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

BCP Collect

Grant, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth, for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Spirit, may learn to love and bless our persecutors, by the example of thy first Martyr Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those that suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate.