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We light the First and Second Candles on the Advent Wreath.
Signing our lips with a small sign of the Cross we say or sing:
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Blest is the One who comes in the NAME of our God
~Hosanna in the highest!
ADVENT MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of an Advent Morning Hymn—such as
Throughout a world in shadow, John’s urgent voice we hear:
Prepare for Christ your Savior! the Son of God is near.
He gives a new beginning To those who turn from sin,
Who answers love with loving By turning back to him.
His veiled but certain splendor Begins to shine from far;
He comes, his saints around him: The bright and morning star.
With all who wait with longing, Give thanks that never cease,
For him whom God is sending To visit us in peace.
PSALMODY
Psalm 50/51 is often sung on Fridays throughout the year. Please join in singing the refrain as you are able.
Antiphon
If you cleanse me O God I will be like new
and your Light will make me brighter than snow.
Psalm 50/51
Have mercy on me, O God, in your loving kindness;
in your compassion blot out my offenses.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin. (Antiphon)
I know full well my misdeeds,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, against you have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight. (Antiphon)
Yet you look for truth in my in most being,
and teach me wisdom in my heart.
Purify me that I may be clean,
wash me, make me brighter than snow. (Antiphon)
Create in me a pure heart O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your holy Spirit from me. (Antiphon)
Deliver me from death, O God my Savior,
that my tongue may sing of your justice.
O Love, open my lips,
and my mouth will proclaim your praise. (Antiphon)
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love;
as it was in the beginning, is now
and will be forever. Amen (Antiphon)
Setting: Jan Michael Joncas, Praise God In Song (GIA, 1979), adpt. Refrain, J. Leonard.
READING Isaiah 29: 18-21
On that day the deaf will hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will obtain fresh joy in Adonai, and those poor of the Earth will exult in the Holy One of Israel. For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone.
Responsory
R. We shall never forsake you again: * give us life that we may call upon your Name. V. O Adonai, remember us out of the love you have for you people: come to us, O Love, with your help. * give us light that we may call upon your Name.
Gospel Canticle of Zachary Luke 1:68-79
Canticle may be preceded and followed by an antiphon based on the feast celebrated that day.
Gospel Antiphon:
Now behold Adonai coming soon and all the saints shall follow
and there will be a shining light on that day, alleluia!
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house and family of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine on us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To Guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE through the WORD
In the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Now behold Adonai coming soon and all the saints shall follow
and there will be a shining light on that day, alleluia!
Intercessory Prayer
In ancient times you freed those enslaved in Pharaoh’s empire;
Liberate us today, from our slavery to self-centeredness and greed.
In ancient times you fed people in the desert with manna from heaven;
Use us today to feed migrants and refugees fleeing from poverty and war.
In ancient times you gave thirsty people water springing from a rock;
Quench our thirst today, as we join the struggle for justice.
In ancient times you revealed your truth at Sinai with the precepts of the covenant;
Give us the strength this day, to fulfill the whole law with your Love.
In these last days, you taught us to pray
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Stir up your joy in our hearts, O God of Gladness!
May we bring the light of your presence and the warmth of your love to a world freezing in darkness and fear. For yours is the glory and power of Love, now and forever. Amen.
May the peace of the Holy ONE which surpasses all understanding + guard our hearts and our minds in Jesus-our Emmanuel.
Let us bless the world with peace. ~And give thanks to God.