ARMISTICE DAY LITURGY

 ✠ SERVICE OF COMMEMORATION ✠

FOR VETERANS’ DAY / ARMISTICE DAY

According to the Use of the Ancient Church of the West and the Anglican Vicariate of the Orthodox Archdiocese of America 

✠ THE OPENING COLECT ✠

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

O Almighty God, who makest wars to cease and upholdest them that fight for truth and righteousness: Grant, we beseech Thee, that the memory of those who have laid down their lives for the cause of justice and peace may stir us up to a holy purpose, that we may ever seek Thy will and love our neighbour as ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN OR CHANT

(Suggested: “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” or “For All the Saints.”)

✠ THE LITURGY OF THE WORD ✠

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON

Isaiah 2:2–5

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

V. The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

PSALM 46

Deus noster refugium

God is our hope and strength, *

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, *

and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea.

The LORD of hosts is with us; *

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

EPISTLE

Romans 12:9–21

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

V. The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

HOLY GOSPEL

John 15:9–17

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

V. ✠ The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John.

R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

V. The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

✠ THE LITANY OF REMEMBRANCE ✠

V. Let us remember before God those who have given their lives for our country and for the cause of freedom.

(A period of silence is kept.)

V. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

R. We will remember them.

V. Almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant, we beseech Thee, that we, following the good examples of all those who have fought the good fight and finished their course, may with them be made partakers of Thy heavenly kingdom; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

✠ THE COMMEMORATION OF THE FALLEN ✠

(Names of the fallen or departed veterans may be read aloud.)

V. Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord.

R. And let light perpetual shine upon them.

V. May they rest in peace.

R. Amen.

✠ PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL ✠

For the Nations:

O Lord God Almighty, who makest the nations of the earth to be of one blood, and hast willed that peace and righteousness should dwell among all people: bless, we beseech Thee, our land and all nations, and grant unto all in authority wisdom and humility, that they may seek peace and ensue it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Those Who Serve:

O Lord of Hosts, stretch forth Thy mighty arm to strengthen and protect all who serve in the armed forces. Endue them with courage and loyalty, defend them from the perils of body and soul, and bring them in safety to their homes and families; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Wounded and the Bereaved:

O God, whose love is stronger than death, comfort and sustain all who mourn, and heal those who are wounded in body, mind, or spirit, that they may know the peace which passeth understanding, and the hope of Thy eternal kingdom; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

✠ THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS ✠

V. Remember, O Lord, Thy servants who have departed this life in faith and fear of Thee.

R. Grant them rest in the place of light and peace, where sorrow and sighing are no more.

Invoking the prayers of St. Michael and St. Gabriel, who defend the people of God; of St. Paul the Apostle, who fought the good fight; of St. John the Evangelist, who bore witness to the Word of Life; of St. Benedict, who taught peace and labor under the Cross; and of the Most Holy Theotokos, who stood beneath the Cross of her Son:

V. Let us commend all souls to the mercy of God, our King and Redeemer.

R. Amen.

✠ THE COLLECT OF COMMEMORATION ✠

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Captain of our salvation, who by Thy Cross hast triumphed over death, and by Thy Resurrection hast proclaimed peace to them that are afar off and to them that are nigh: Grant that we, remembering with thanksgiving those who have laid down their lives in the service of freedom and righteousness, may be so faithful in our own generation that we too may be found worthy to enter into Thy rest; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

✠ THE BENEDICTION ✠

The Priest or Bishop says:

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,

and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty,

✠ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.

✠ DISMISSAL ✠

V. Let us go forth in peace.

R. In the Name of Christ. Amen.