St Edburg's Church - Bicester

Collect of the Day

Almighty and everlasting God,
who stooped to raise fallen humanity through the child-bearing of blessed Mary:
grant that we, who have seen your glory revealed in our human nature and your love made perfect in our weakness, may daily be renewed in your image
and conformed to the pattern of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

 

First Reading

Genesis 3.8-15,20

8They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ 10He said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’ 11He said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’ 12The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.’ 13Then the LORD God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent tricked me, and I ate.’ 14The LORD God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.’ 20The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all who live. 

 

 

Psalm   Psalm 45.10-17

10               Hear, O daughter; consider and incline your ear; forget your own people and your father’s house.

11               So shall the king have pleasure in your beauty; he is your lord, so do him honour.  The people of Tyre shall bring you gifts; the richest of the people shall seek your favour. The king’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is embroidered cloth of gold.

14               She shall be brought to the king in raiment of needlework; after her the virgins that are her companions. With joy and gladness shall they be brought 
and enter into the palace of the king.  ‘Instead of your fathers you shall have sons whom you shall make princes over all the land.  ‘I will make your name to be remembered through all generations; therefore shall the peoples praise you for ever and ever.’

 

Second Reading

Acts 1.12-14

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

 

Gospel   Luke 1.26-38

26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ 34Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ 35The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.’ 38Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her. 

 

Post Communion Prayer

God most high,
whose handmaid bore the Word made flesh: we thank you that in this sacrament of our redemption you visit us with your Holy Spirit and overshadow us by your power; strengthen us to walk with Mary the joyful path of obedience and so to bring forth the fruits of holiness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):

Collect (Birth of Blessed Virgin Mary) ©  1980, 1986 Mowbray, a Cassell Imprint: Prayers for the Alternative Services comp. David Silk

Acts 1.12-14 ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA.  Genesis 3.8-15,20 ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA.  Luke 1.26-38 ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA.  Post Communion (Birth of Blessed Virgin Mary) ©  The Archbishops' Council 2000.  Psalm 45.10-17 ©  The Archbishops' Council 2000