Worship Resources

The materials listed below are for use at faith-oriented events--church and prayer services, vigils, and related gatherings. For educational materials including prayer cards also see Further Reading and Instructional Materials and the Links page. Topics and ideas for March 25 related sermons can also be found in the samples from sermons and commentaries in various faith traditions included in the An Ecumenical Celebration page.

General: The Bible--New Testament--Luke 1:13-15, 30-38, 39-44

Anglican/Catholic/Episcopal--The Angelus

Lutheran--(Bulletin Insert, Sample Sermon, Worship Service, and other materials)

Roman Catholic--1994 “Catechism of the Catholic Church”

General: The Bible--New Testament:

Luke 1:13-15 (Annunciation of the Baptist)

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zachary, for thy petition has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great before the Lord; he shall drink no wine or strong drink, AND SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT EVEN FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB.

Luke 1:30-38 (Annunciation of the Savior)

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And when the angel had come to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.” When she had heard him she was troubled at his word, and kept pondering what manner of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. Behold, THOU SHALT CONCEIVE IN THY WOMB AND SHALT BRING FORTH A SON; AND THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he shall be king over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How shall this happen, since I do not know man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “THE HOLY SPIRIT SHALL COME UPON THEE AND THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW THEE; AND THEREFORE THE HOLY ONE TO BE BORN SHALL BE CALLED THE SON OF GOD. And behold, Elizabeth thy kinswoman also has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month; for nothing shall be impossible with God.” But Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.” And the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:39-44 (The Visitation--First Prenatal meeting of Christ & the Baptist)

Now in those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town of Juda. And she entered the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, WHEN ELIZABETH HEARD THE GREETING OF MARY, THAT THE BABE IN HER WOMB LEAPT. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb! And how have I deserved THAT THE MOTHER OF MY LORD should come to me? For behold, the moment that the sound of thy greeting come to my ears, THE BABE IN MY WOMB LEAPT FOR JOY.”

[Note: New Testament quotations are from the Confraternity Edition (A Revision of the Challoner-Rheims Version Edited by Catholic Scholars under the Patronage of the Episcopal Committee of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine), 1957, N.Y.: Catholic Book Pub. Co.]

Anglican/Catholic/Episcopal:

The Angelus

The Angelus is a devotion in memory of the Incarnation. The full text can be read at http://www.stmatthewsanglican.org/angelus.html. Note that in the portion that appears below, the prayer makes it clear that the appearance of the angel, Mary’s consent, and the conception by the Holy Spirit are understood together as part of the same event in which “the Word was made flesh.”

THE ANGELUS

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. [Recite the Hail Mary]

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word. [Recite the Hail Mary]

V. And the Word was made flesh.

R. And dwelt among us. [Recite the Hail Mary]

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Lutheran:

Lutherans For Life:

As the feast date approaches visit the Lutherans For Life home page for info on their Annunciation materials (some are available free of charge or for nominal cost):

Bulletin Insert — (“The Miracle of the Incarnation”/"The Miracle of the Annunciation") -- Click here to order print copies and/or click the downloads tab at the ordering page to access a link to save a text version at no cost). The site includes this description of the insert: "The Miracle of the Incarnation -- The path to the cross did not begin in Bethlehem but in Nazareth! March 25 is the most appropriate time to celebrate the Incarnation. God became man at Jesus’ conception in Mary. Since our beginnings were sinful (Psalm 51:5), Jesus had to take our place from that very moment. Part of the redemptive process was for Jesus to pass through all stages of our development. What powerful implications for the value of human life from the very beginning! Jesus’ divinity and humanity at the moment of conception attest to our humanity from that moment."

For a sample sermon, worship service, brochure and other items including Annunciation poster and print, click here for the Annunciation search page (most relevant items will display first) or click the direct links below for the most popular items:

Brochure — (“The Annunciation and Abortion”) by Rev. Edward Fehskens — offers a historical review and addresses the pro-life implications of the Annunciation and Visitation of Mary and the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Click here for more. Click the link to order brochures on-line.

Sample Sermon — Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb’s sermon “Pregnant with God” (based on Luke 1:26-38) uses Scripture, Reformation Era writings, the Lutheran Confessions, and quotes from more recent scholars and theologians (Dr. Edward Koehler, Francis Pieper) to highlight the Incarnational and pro-life significance of Christ’s conception. Click here for access to a free download of the sermon.

Worship Service — A sample worship service for the Annunciation. Click here for access to a free download of the service.

Celebrate Life Service — Lutherans For Life suggests a "Celebrate Life" Service for March 25 in the "Speaking Through Worship" section of its "How You Can Speak" page.

Bible-Based Study Guide (including Annunciation) — Offers the "God's Word for Life" Bible-based study guide including a section on The Annunciation and the Beginning of Life. In the Topical Index, under the "Beginning of Life" section you will find the subtopic "The Annunciation and the Beginning of Life."

Other Annunciation-themed materials offered in the past that may be available from Lutherans For Life include:

Article — (“Womb and Tomb”) by Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb

Roman Catholic:

Relevant Passages from the ‘94 “Catechism of the Catholic Church” (Liguori Pub.):

Passage 717 on the prenatal meeting of Jesus and John the Baptist: "John was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Lk 1:,15, 41) by Christ himself, whom the Virgin Mary had just conceived by the Holy Spirit. Mary's visitation to Elizabeth thus became a visit from God to his people."

Passage 495 highlights the fact that Elizabeth calls Mary "the mother of my Lord" even before Jesus was born--just shortly after his conception in fact--meaning that even as a tiny, barely visible newly conceived embryo--Jesus was Lord.

Passage 486 explains that Jesus was the "Christ" from His conception in Mary's womb, but that the revelation or manifestation of this to the world took place gradually--and this progressive manifestation to the world is what we celebrate in remembering and celebrating these important events that took place after Christ's conception--from the Visitation revealing the presence of the Word made Flesh to Elizabeth and the unborn John, to the birth in Bethlehem when God incarnate was unveiled, to the visit of the shepherds who saw God face to face for the first time, to Epiphany when Christ was revealed to representatives of the nations.

The Knights of Columbus’ “Day of the Unborn Child” WebPages and Resources:

The Knights of Columbus commitment to promoting the Annunciation feast day as the “Day of the Unborn Child” is expressed through their many events and pro-life masses for the day sponsored by local councils and via their website which offers several “Day of the Unborn Child” resources and the KofC recommendations for church-based activities including an Overview, several Action Steps, various Support Materials, as well as a .pdf file of Suggested Intercessions. Also enter "day of the unborn" in the search box on the KofC website for more ideas and information on how to observe the day.

“The Feast of the Annunciation Church/School Program: Jesus’ Journey In The Womb Teaches The Sanctity Of All Preborn Children”--by the Diocese of Peoria Respect Life Board. Churches of many denominations have used this program focused on Spiritual Adoption since its launch in 2006. To order the Annunciation Church/School Program booklet, or the companion Lenten Reflection (described below) on conception as the start of Christ’s earthly Passion, contact the Family Resources Center at 309-637-1713

“A Lenten Reflection On The Beginning of the Passion Of Christ”--by the Diocese of Peoria Respect Life Board. This companion piece to the Annunciation Church/School Program described above stresses the sacrificial nature of Christ’s entire earthly life from conception. To order the booklet, contact the Family Resources Center at 309-637-1713.

“Life Is a Miracle: Families Celebrate March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation,” by the Diocese of Peoria Respect Life Board. This booklet is a collection of ideas, reflections and suggestions for celebrating the feast. It includes books, songs, videos, prayers and more. The booklet can be ordered on-line here or call the Family Resources Center at 309-637-1713.

The Nebraska Catholic Conference Home Page -- Pro-Life Annunciation Novena

Scroll down their home page and at the far right click the Annunciation Novena link to download.

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities has developed an “Annunciation Novena” to promote “openness to life”

Right-click to download the text of the pro-life Annunciation novena: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/nfp/AnnunciationNovena.pdf

Right-click to download the Spanish text for the Annunciation novena: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/programs/rlp/LitGuideSp.pdf

Hard copies can be purchased by calling their toll free number: 1-866-582-0943

Multilingual Prayer to “Jesus in Mary’s Tabernacle” from www.rioporlavida.net

Read the text of the prayer in English, Spanish (Español), German (Deutsch), or Portuguese