The Annunciation
Today’s feast commemorates how God made known to a young Jewish woman that she was to be the mother of his Son, and how Mary accepted her vocation with perfect conformity of will. It has been said, “God made us without us, and redeemed us without us, but cannot save us without us.” Mary’s assent to Gabriel’s message opened the way for God to accomplish the salvation of the world. It is for this reason that all generations are to call her “blessed.” Mary’s self-offering in response to God’s call has been compared to that of Abraham, the father of believers. Just as Abraham was called to be the father of the chosen people, and accepted his call, so Mary was called to be the mother of the faithful, the new Israel. She is God’s human agent in the mystery of the Incarnation. Her response to the angel, “Let it be to me according to your word,” is identical with the faith expressed in the prayer that Jesus taught, “Your will be done on earth as in heaven.” HWHM
Antiphon1
Ant. Skies, let the Just One come forth like the dew, *
let him descend from the clouds like the rain.
The earth will open up and give birth to our Savior.
V. The heavens declare the glory of God, *
and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.
Day unto day conveys the message, *
and night unto night imparts the knowledge. Isaiah 45; Psalm 19
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires, known,
and from whom no secrets are hid:
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Music: https://tinyurl.com/ufxekitx
God, come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
HYMN: Roland F Palmer ©
Tune: Pleading Saviour https://tinyurl.com/3w3khc26
1. Sing of Mary, pure and lowly, virgin mother undefiled;
sing of God’s own Son most holy, who became her little child.
Fairest child of fairest mother, God the Lord who came to earth,
Word made flesh, our very brother, takes our nature by his birth.
2. Sing of Jesus, son of Mary, in the home at Nazareth,
toil and labor cannot weary love enduring unto death.
Constant was the love he gave her, though he went forth from her side,
forth to preach, and heal, and suffer, till on Calvary he died.
3. Glory be to God the Father; glory be to God the Son;
glory be to God the Spirit; glory to the Three in One.
From the heart of blessed Mary, from all saints the song ascends,
and the Church the strain re-echoes unto earth’s remotest ends.
PSALMS
Psalm 119:33-72 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/uzj6wj2)
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes *
and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law *
yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments *
for therein is my desire.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies *
and not to covetousness.
37 O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity *
and quicken thou me in thy way.
38 O stablish thy word in thy servant *
that I may fear thee.
39 Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of *
for thy judgements are good.
40 Behold, my delight is in thy commandments *
O quicken me in thy righteousness.
41 Let thy loving mercy come also unto me, O Lord *
even thy salvation, according unto thy word.
42 So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers *
for my trust is in thy word.
43 O take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth *
for my hope is in thy judgements.
44 So shall I alway keep thy law *
yea, for ever and ever.
45 And I will walk at liberty *
for I seek thy commandments.
46 I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings *
and will not be ashamed.
47 And my delight shall be in thy commandments *
which I have loved.
48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved *
and my study shall be in thy statutes.
49 O think upon thy servant, as concerning thy word *
wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust.
50 The same is my comfort in my trouble *
for thy word hath quickened me.
51 The proud have had me exceedingly in derision *
yet have I not shrinked from thy law.
52 For I remembered thine everlasting judgements, O Lord *
and received comfort.
53 I am horribly afraid *
for the ungodly that forsake thy law.
54 Thy statutes have been my songs *
in the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I have thought upon thy Name, O Lord, in the night-season *
and have kept thy law.
56 This I had *
because I kept thy commandments.
57 Thou art my portion, O Lord *
I have promised to keep thy law.
58 I made my humble petition in thy presence with my whole heart *
O be merciful unto me, according to thy word.
59 I called mine own ways to remembrance *
and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60 I made haste, and prolonged not the time *
to keep thy commandments.
61 The congregations of the ungodly have robbed me *
but I have not forgotten thy law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee *
because of thy righteous judgements.
63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee *
and keep thy commandments.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy *
O teach me thy statutes.
65 O Lord, thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant *
according unto thy word.
66 O learn me true understanding and knowledge *
for I have believed thy commandments.
67 Before I was troubled, I went wrong *
but now have I kept thy word.
68 Thou art good and gracious *
O teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud have imagined a lie against me *
but I will keep thy commandments with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as brawn *
but my delight hath been in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been in trouble *
that I may learn thy statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is dearer unto me *
than thousands of gold and silver.
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.
Psalm 119:33-40 (http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-119e.mp3)
Refrain: Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees;
then I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law
and I’ll obey with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your com-mands,
for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word. [Refrain]
Fulfill your pro-mise to your servant,
so that you may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread,
for your laws are good.
How I long for your precepts!
Preserve my life in your righteousness. [Refrain]
Psalm 119:41-48 (http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-119f.mp3)
May your unfailing love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;
then I will answer the one who taunts me,
for I trust in your Word.
Do not take the word of truth from my mouth,
for I have put my hope in your laws.
Refrain:
I will always obey your law,
forever and forever.
I will walk about in your freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts.
I will talk about your statutes before kings
and I will not be put to shame.
For I delight in your commands, O Lord,
because I love them.
I lift up my hands to your commands,
which I love, and I meditate
and I meditate, meditate on your decrees. [Refrain]
Psalm 119:49-56 (http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-119g.mp3)
Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this:
your promise has given me life.
The arrogant mock me without restraint,
but I do not turn from your law.
I remember your ancient laws, O Lord,
and I find comfort in them.
Indignation grips me because of the wicked,
who have forsaken your law.
Your decrees are the theme of my song
wherever, wherever I lodge.
In the night I remember your name, O Lord,
and I will keep your law.
This has been my practice
This has been my way:
I obey your precepts. I obey your precepts.
Psalm 119:57-64 (http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-119h.mp3)
You are my portion, O Lord;
I have promised to obey your words.
You are my portion, O Lord;
I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
you are my portion, O Lord;
I have considered my ways
and I have turned my steps toward your statutes.
I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands.
Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
I will not forget your law.
At midnight I will arise
to give you thanks for your righteous laws.
I am a friend to all who fear you,
to all who follow your precepts.
The earth is filled with your love,
O Lord; teach me your decrees.
Psalm 119: 65-72 (http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-119i.mp3)
Do good to your servant
according to your word, O Lord.
Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I believe in your commands.
Before I was afflicted, I went astray,
but now I obey your word.
You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.
Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
I keep your precepts with all my heart.
Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
but I delight in your law.
It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.
The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and of gold.
You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.
The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and of gold.
PRAYER
Guide us, O God,
by your Word and Spirit,
that in your light we may see light,
in your truth find freedom,
and in your will discover your peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Isaiah 7:10-14
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.’
HYMN: attr. Ambrose of Milan; trans. Martin Luther; trans. William M Reynolds
Tune: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland https://tinyurl.com/baphfers
1 Savior of the nations, come,
virgin’s Son, make here thy home!
Marvel now, O heav’n and earth,
that the Lord chose such a birth.
2 Not of flesh and blood the Son,
offspring of the Holy One;
born of Mary ever blest,
God in flesh is manifest.
3 Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
of the Virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
still to be in heav’n enthroned.
4 From the Father forth he came
and returneth to the same,
captive leading death and hell,
high the song of triumph swell!
5 Thou, the Father’s only Son,
hast o’er sin the vict’ry won.
Boundless shall thy kingdom be;
when shall we its glories see?
6 Praise to God the Father sing.
Praise to God the Son, our King.
Praise to God the Spirit be
ever and eternally.
God didn’t put the world that is coming (the world we are talking about) under the angels’ control. Instead, someone declared somewhere,
What is humanity that you think about them?
Or what are the human beings that you care about them?
For a while you made them lower than angels.
You crowned the human beings with glory and honor.
You put everything under their control.
When he puts everything under their control, he doesn’t leave anything out of control. But right now, we don’t see everything under their control yet. However, we do see the one who was made lower in order than the angels for a little while—it’s Jesus! He’s the one who is now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of his death. He suffered death so that he could taste death for everyone through God’s grace.
It was appropriate for God, for whom and through whom everything exists, to use experiences of suffering to make perfect the pioneer of salvation. This salvation belongs to many sons and daughters whom he’s leading to glory. This is because the one who makes people holy and the people who are being made holy all come from one source. That is why Jesus isn’t ashamed to call them brothers and sisters when he says,
I will publicly announce your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you in the middle of the assembly.
He also says,
I will rely on him.
And also,
Here I am with the children whom God has given to me.
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he also shared the same things in the same way. He did this to destroy the one who holds the power over death—the devil—by dying. He set free those who were held in slavery their entire lives by their fear of death. Of course, he isn’t trying to help angels, but rather he’s helping Abraham’s descendants. Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way. This was so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, in order to wipe away the sins of the people. He’s able to help those who are being tempted, since he himself experienced suffering when he was tempted.
HYMN: Thomas à Kempis; trans. Benjamin Webb
Tune: Eisenach https://tinyurl.com/3h7rdzue
1. O love, how deep, how broad, how high!
It fills the heart with ecstasy,
That God, the Son of God, should take
Our mortal form for mortals’ sake.
2. He sent no angel to our race
Of higher or of lower place,
But wore the robe of human frame
Himself, and to this lost world came.
3. For us he was baptized, and bore
His holy fast, and hungered sore;
For us temptations sharp he knew;
For us the tempter overthrew.
4. For us he prayed, for us he taught,
For us his daily works he wrought,
By words, by signs, and actions, thus
Still seeking not himself, but us.
5. For us to wickedness betrayed,
Scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death;
For us at length gave up his breath.
6. For us he rose from death again,
For us he went on high to reign,
For us he sent his Spirit here
To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.
7. To him whose boundless love has won
Salvation for us through his Son,
To God the Father, glory be
Both now and through eternity.
READING: Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He 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. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The 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. And 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. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then 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.
CANTICLE Rory Cooney; based on Luke 1:46-55
(Performed by The Gentle Wolves https://tinyurl.com/ybox4ctg)
1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
So from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?
2. Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn.
3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
ev’ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
There are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn.
4. Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
‘Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around.
THE PRAYERS Katherine Smith
Let us pray in faith to God, our Father, for whom nothing is impossible and who hears the prayers of all his children in love and compassion.
Heavenly Father, we pray for your church throughout the world. For you, nothing is impossible. We ask that through the power of your Spirit our divisions may be healed so that, in heartfelt unison, we can call each other brother and sister and together seek to bring your kingdom upon earth.
Heavenly Father, we pray for the needs of our troubled world. For you, nothing is impossible. We ask that through the power of your Spirit the leaders of this, and all nations, will seek to govern with integrity in your ways of peace and justice for all people.
Heavenly Father, we pray for the needs of our own communities. For you, nothing is impossible. We ask that through the power of your Spirit you will be present in the lives of families under pressure and stress; in the lives of those suffering with addictions and poverty and in the lives of children who don’t have the security of a loving home and family.
Heavenly Father, we pray for all who are living in pain or in fear. For you, nothing is impossible. We ask that through the power of your Spirit you will bring healing and comfort to all who suffer both physically and mentally. Let them know that you are with them and will stay by their side.
(Plainsong Mode 2: https://tinyurl.com/yctqq8cf)DL
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the bread of life;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord,
that we who have known
the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ,
announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary,
may by his cross and passion
be brought to the glory of his resurrection;
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen. BCP79
Music: https://tinyurl.com/y9efvwm5
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14
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BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
Katherine Smith https://tinyurl.com/kf9v5j7v
1 Adam Bartlett, Simple English Propers; audio from https://musicasacra.com/additional-publications/sep-practice-videos/ ©
BCP79 The Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church
The three main scripture readings are from the The New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Edition, The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The traditional version of the psalms is from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern versions of Psalm 119 are © 2007-2019 Tom Quinlan. http://www.zcpress.org/music/psalm-119/
Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.
Compilation © 2025 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.
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