If Stephen is not commemorated on Wednesday 29 December
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170

https://almanac.oremus.org/2021-12-29

White / red

Exciting Holiness
Ecclesiasticus 51.1-8
Psalm 54.1-4, 6, 7
Hebrews 13.10-16
Matthew 10.28-33

Holy Communion
1 John 2.3-11
Psalm 96.1-4
Luke 2.22-35

Morning Prayer
Psalms 19, 20
Jonah 1
Colossians 1.1-14

Evening Prayer
Psalms 131, 132
Isaiah 57.15-end
John 1.1-18

Additional Weekday Lectionary
Micah 1.1-4, 2.12-13
Luke 2.1-7

Collect

Lord God,
who gave grace to your servant Thomas Becket
to put aside all earthly fear
and be faithful even to death:
grant that we, disregarding worldly esteem,
may fight all wrong,
uphold your rule,
and serve you to our life’s end;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Post Communion

God our redeemer,
whose Church was strengthened by the blood of your martyr Thomas Becket:
so bind us, in life and death, to Christ’s sacrifice
that our lives, broken and offered with his,
may carry his death and proclaim his resurrection in the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(or)

Eternal God,
who gave us this holy meal
in which we have celebrated the glory of the cross
and the victory of your martyr Thomas Becket:
by our communion with Christ
in his saving death and resurrection,
give us with all your saints the courage to conquer evil
and so to share the fruit of the tree of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.