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SERVICE OF PRAISE
Greeting/Invocation
Each evening this week, we light three Candles on the Advent Wreath, and say or sing:
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord! ~Thanks be to God!
Let your face shine on us, O God; ~And we shall be saved.
ADVENT EVENING HYMN
Redeemer of the nations Make known your wondrous birth
Which so befits your grandeur And sanctifies the earth.
A virgin was your mother, O holy mystery!
Let all creation marvel At that nativity.
The root of Jesse blossomed, Her spotless womb conceived,
And she brought forth Salvation To all who have believed.
For, rising out of Mary As from a cloudless sky,
You came to bring to captives Redemption from on high.
Proceeding from your Abba, According to the plan,
You blessed our human nature, Becoming Son of Man.
And having by your passion, Redeemed the human race,
You reign now with the Holy ONE, Our source of life and grace.
To you, Lord Jesus, glory And praise with one accord;
We earnestly implore you To be our saving Lord,
That you to whom our weakness and sinfulness are known,
May sanctify our nature Which you have made your own.
Text: Ambrose of Milan, Veni Redemptor Gentium; 2008). Tune: ROCKPORT T. Tertius Noble, 1938.
See the Morning Hymn for Morning Prayer Sunday Advent I for Martin Luther’s melody for his German translation of this hymn.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
An Advent Antiphon may be sung with the Evening Psalm.
Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Jerusalem; behold, your Love is coming to you.
Zion, do not be afraid; your salvation is near at hand
Psalm 83/84
How glorious is your dwelling place,
O Adonai Sabbaoth!
My soul longs, yes aches,
yearning for the courts of Adonai.
My body and soul ring out their joy
to the Living Heart of Love!
As the sparrow herself seeks a home
and the swallow a nest for her brood,
I am eager to rest near your altars,
Adonai Sabbaoth! My God and my Love!
To live in your presence is joy,
to praise you and never stop.
Those you bless with strength and courage,
will bless you with grateful hearts.
When they cross the Valley of Thirst
they find the ground spaced with springs,
blessed with the rains of autumn.
They travel with growing excitement
to reach the God of gods in Zion.
Hear me, Adonai Sabbaoth!
Heed me, O God of Jacob!
Turn your eyes, O God, our Shield,
behold the face of your anointed.
One day within your courts
is worth a thousand spent elsewhere!
I would rather stand outside your Gates
than dwell in splendor with the wicked.
God is our support and our shield,
the giver of grace and glory.
Adonai never fails to bless
those who walk with integrity.
How blest, Adonai Sabbaoth,
are all those who trust in you!
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And tothe BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Jerusalem; behold, your Love is coming to you.
Zion, do not be afraid; your salvation is near at hand
READING: Philippians 3:20-21.
We eagerly await the coming of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will give a new form to this lowly body of ours and remake it according to the pattern of his glorified body, by his power to subject everything to himself. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsory:
R. Soon the Lord and ruler will come * and he shall be called Emmanuel.
V. Justice shall flower in his days and profound peace. * and he shall be called Emmanuel.
Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
All generations will call me blessed, because the One who is mighty
has done great things for me, alleluia!
My heart + is radiant with the Lord,
My whole being delights in God my Savior.
All people now will call me blessed
For God has loved this humble handmaid.
The Almighty has shown me great favor
Holy is the NAME,
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
From one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God,
Scatters the proud in their own conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones
While lifting up the lowly:
Fills the famished with bounty,
And reveals the emptiness of riches.
Rescues lowly Israel
Sharing such loving kindness,
As promised to our ancestors
To Abraham and Sarah, and their descendants forever.
Glory to the ONE through the WORD
In the BREATH of Love!
As always before, so now and evermore. Amen
All generations will call me blessed, because the One who is mighty
has done great things for me, alleluia!
SERVICE OF PRAYER
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 ancient times, you consoled those grieving from the loss of their land and loved ones;
Comfort us today, and surround all those who mourn with consolation and peace.
In these last days, you taught us to pray
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Prepare us, O God of Love, for the coming of Jesus Christ.
May he find us waiting in expectant prayer for the full revelation of the children of God, and the flourishing of all creation. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
May God bless us and keep us. Amen
May the Light of God’s face shine on us. Amen
May God be gracious to us + and give us peace. Amen
Let us bless the world with peace. ~And give thanks to God.
Those who wish may complete Evening Prayer with the Marian Antiphon for the Season.