Here is the service that I assembled using parts of the Small Blessing of the Waters...
Blessed
is our God always, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
PSALM 142
O Lord,
hear my prayer; give ear unto my supplication in Your truth; hear me in Your
righteousness and enter not into judgment with Your servant, for before, You
shall not any man be justified. For the enemy has persecuted my soul: he has
humbled my life to the earth. He has made me dwell in darkness like dead men of
old; and anguished within me is my spirit, and within me my heart is troubled.
I remembered the days of old, and I meditated on all Your works, I mused on the
creations of Your hands. I stretched forth my hands to You; my soul like a
waterless land thirsts for You. Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit has fainted
away; turn not Your face from me lest I be like them that go down into the pit.
Cause me to know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, for to You have I
lifted up my soul. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord; to You for refuge have I
fled‑, teach me to do Your Will, for
You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness. For
Your Name's sake, O Lord, shall You quicken me? In Your righteousness shall You
lead forth my soul out of tribulation, and in Your mercy shall you destroy my
enemies; and You shall cut off all them that afflict my soul, for I am Your
servant.
Priest:
The Lesson from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews. (Heb.
2:11-18)
Let us
attend.
Reader:
Brethren, he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin.
That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: "I will
proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will
praise you. And again: "I will put my trust in him." And again:
"Here am I, and the children God has given me." Since therefore the
children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same
nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death,
that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were
subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that he is
concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like
his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful
high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the
people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help
those who are tempted.
Priest:
Wisdom! Let us attend! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.
Peace be
to all.
People:
And to your spirit.
Priest:
The Holy Gospel according to St. John. Let us attend.
People:
Glory to You, O God; Glory to You.
Priest:
The Gospel
At that
time, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there
is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, which has
five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed,
waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel of the Lord went down at
certain seasons into the pool and troubled the water. And whoever stepped in
first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.
In peace
let us pray to the Lord.
For the
peace from above; 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 union of all; let us pray to the Lord.
For this
holy House; and for them that with faith, reverence, and the fear of God enter
therein; let us pray to the Lord.
For our
Archbishop ALEXIOS, for all the Clergy, and the people, let us pray to the
Lord.
For the
President of the United States and for all civil authorities; let us pray to
the Lord.
For the
First Responders here assembled and all first responders who place themselves
in harm’s way; let us pray to the Lord.
For this
city, for every city and land, for the faithful that dwell in them, let us pray
to the Lord.
For seasonable
weather; for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times; let
us pray to the Lord.
For all
them that travel by land or sea, or in the air; for the sick, and the
afflicted; for captives, and for their salvation; let us pray to the Lord.
That
this water might be hallowed by the might, and operation, and descent of the
Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
That
there may descend upon these waters the cleansing operation of the super
substantial Trinity; let us pray to the Lord.
That
this water may be to the healing of souls and bodies, and to the banishment of
every hostile power, let us pray to the Lord.
That
there may be sent down upon it the Grace of Redemption, the blessing of the
Jordan; let us pray to the Lord.
For all
of them who need God to help and give protection, let us pray to the Lord.
That He
will illuminate us with the Light of understanding of the Consubstantial
Trinity; let us pray to the Lord.
That the
Lord our God will show us forth as sons and daughters and heirs of His Kingdom
through the partaking and sprinkling of these waters; let us pray to the Lord.
That He
will deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray
to the Lord.
Help us;
save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by Your Grace.
Calling
to remembrance our all-Holy, pure, exceedingly blessed glorious Lady Theotokos
and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one
another and all our life to Christ our God.
For to
You do we send up all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Priest:
Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
O Lord
our God, Who are mighty in counsel and wondrous in all Your deeds: the Creator
of all things: Who keep Your Covenant and Your mercy upon all those who love
You and keep Your commandments: Who receive the devout tears of all that are in
distress: for this cause did You come in the similitude of a servant, scorning
not our image but giving true health to the body and saying, "Lo! You are
healed, sin no more." And with clay did make man's eyes whole, and having
commanded him to wash, made him by Your word rejoice in the light, putting to
confusion the floods of passions of enemies; and drying up the bitter sea of
life of the same, subduing the waves of sensual desires heavy to be endured: do
You, the same Lord and King Who loves mankind, Who has granted to us to clothe
ourselves in the garment of snowy whiteness, by water and by Spirit: send down
on us Your blessing, and through the partaking of this water, through
sprinkling with it, wash away the defilement of passions.
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. For You are the
sanctification of our souls and bodies, and to You do we send up all glory: to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to
the ages of ages. Amen.
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us.
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