Service for the Start of Any Private Endeavor
DEACON
Master, give the blessing.
PRIEST
Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
Mode 4.
O God of our Fathers, since You always deal with us in accordance with Your gentleness, do not withdraw Your mercy from us, but at their fervent entreaties, pilot our life in peace. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Mode pl. 4.
All-holy Virgin Theotokos, guide aright the works of our hands, we pray; and ask for the remission of our offenses, as we chant now the hymn of the Angels. [SD]
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. [GOA] (3)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
DEACON
Dynamis.
CHOIR
Dynamis. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
DEACON
Let us be attentive.
READER
Prokeimenon.
Man shall go out to his work and to his labor until evening.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul. [SAAS]
PRIEST
Wisdom.
READER
The reading is from Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians.
PRIEST
Let us be attentive.
READER
2 Th. 3:6 – 18
Brethren, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, we did not eat any one’s bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living. Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing. If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. [RSV]
PRIEST
Peace be with you the reader.
CHOIR
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
DEACON
Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.
PRIEST
Peace be with all.
( And with your spirit. )
PRIEST
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
DEACON
Let us be attentive.
( Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. )
PRIEST
( Lk. 5:1 – 11 )
At that time, while Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. [RSV]
( Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. )
DEACON
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR (after each petition):
Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
For our Archbishop (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
( For our country, for the president, and for all in public service, let us pray to the Lord. )
That this water become holy by the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
That divine grace be abundantly sent down on our endeavors, let us pray to the Lord.
That our God collaborate and assist us in the good things that we might do in accordance with His divine illumination, let us pray to the Lord.
For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
( To You, O Lord. )
PRIEST
For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
( Amen. )
DEACON
Let us pray to the Lord.
( Lord, have mercy. )
The Priest says the following prayer:
PRIEST
Lord our God, in the days of Moses, You made the bitter water sweet for the people; in the days of Elisha You healed the bad waters with salt. You also sanctified the River Jordan at Your immaculate epiphany. And now, Master, we pray You sanctify this water, by the action and descent of Your Holy Spirit. Make it be for all who draw and drink it a source of blessing, the cure for ailments, sanctification of homes, and protection against any assault, seen or unseen.
For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
( Amen. )
PRIEST
Peace be with all.
( And with your spirit. )
DEACON
Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
( To You, O Lord. )
PRIEST (in a low voice)
Bow down Your ear and listen to us, O Lord, Who deigned to be baptized in the river Jordan, and there sanctified the water. Bless us all who by the bowing of our heads do show forth our apprehension that we are Your servants. Grant that we may be filled with Your sanctification through the partaking of this water, and let it be for us, O Lord, for the health of soul and body.
PRIEST (aloud)
For You are the sanctification of our souls and bodies, and to You we offer up glory, thanksgiving, and worship with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
( Amen. )
The Priest dips the holy Cross into the water and sings the following hymn three times.
Mode 1.
Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth. [GOA]
Then he sprinkles in the sign of a cross and sings:
Mode 2.
Make us worthy of your gifts, O Virgin Theotokos, disregarding our transgressions and bestowing healing, through faith, upon those who receive your blessing, O immaculate one. [SD]
DEACON
Let us pray to the Lord.
( Lord, have mercy. )
The Priest says the following prayer.
PRIEST
Master Lord Jesus Christ our God, in Your ineffable love for humanity You visited the human race, and You gave Your blessing to all who prayed for it. We pray and entreat You, look kindly now on Your servant (name), who, relying on the power of Your might, has chosen to pursue this profitable endeavor, and bless him and his works. Keep him untouched by any evil. Shower him and those who work here with peace, love, harmony, and justice. Grant Your rich mercies to this Your servant, and direct his steps in every good deed. For You are the God of mercy, compassion, and love for humankind, and we offer up glory to You and Your Father, who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
( Amen. )
DISMISSAL
PRIEST
Glory to You, O God our hope, glory to You.
DEACON
Glory. Both now. Lord, have mercy. (3) Holy father, give the blessing!
PRIEST
May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
CHOIR
Amen.