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SERVICE OF LIGHT
Greeting/Invocation
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
All may sing or alternate the verses of the Advent Evening Hymn
Earth hurtling into dark’ning dusk,
Our future running out.
The WORD, kept sounding from the past,
Isaiah made it shout.
A faithful few could feel the warmth,
As precious promise grew;
Joy flooded those who hear the Word,
As Mary made it true.
Refresh your remnant in these wilds
who, left must surely grope;
Unfold the pledge with plenitude
For lives still holding hope.
O Abba, ever lasting care
Is your for Earth you own;
Your Word your Spirit flourish now!
And leave us not alone! Amen.
Text: St. Meinrad, 1967; Tune: WALSALL C.M.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Psalmody
John appeared in the dessert and said:
“One more powerful is coming and I am unfit to tie his shoes.
He will baptize in the Holy Spirit.”
Psalm 134/135: 1-7, 12-21
Praise the Name of Adonai,
sing praise, servants of our God,
who stand in the courts of God’s dwelling
gathered in the house of Adonai.
Sing hymns, for God is good,
Sing a psalm to the Name of Love.
For Adonai has chosen this people,
Israel, as a precious treasure.
I know Adonai is great,
surpassing every god and idol.
Whatever God wills, God does
in heaven, on earth, in the seas.
God blankets the Earth with clouds,
strikes lightning to produce the rain,
from the storehouse releases the winds.
God gave us the lands of the nations
a gift that we should treasure.
Your name, Adonai, stands for ever,
your glory will never be forgotten
for you give your people justice
and attend to each of their needs.
Many people worship silver and gold:
idols that mortals have crafted.
Their mouths cannot speak,
their eyes do not see.
Their ears can hear no sound,
no breath is ever on their lips.
Those who make and rely on things
become hollow like the idols themselves.
Bless God, O house of Israel.
House of Aaron, bless Adonai,
House of Levi, sing God’s praises
with everyone who reveres the Holy One:
Blest be Adonai of Zion
who calls Jerusalem home.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore, Amen.
John appeared in the dessert and said:
“One more powerful is coming and I am unfit to tie his shoes.
He will baptize in the Holy Spirit.”
Reading: 2 Peter 3:8b-9
In God’s eyes, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years are as a day. Our God does not delay in keeping the promise – though some consider it delay. Rather, God shows you generous patience, wanting none to perish but all to come to repentance.
Silent Reflection
Responsory
R. You heavens, open from above, that clouds may rain the Just One.
Canticle of Mary Luke 1:46-55
Antiphon:
I baptize with water,
but the One who will come after me
will baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit.
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
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 and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
I baptize with water,
but the One who will come after me
will baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit.
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany
How long the path which leads to you!
~ Come to meet us, be our way.
How heavy the burden of our misery!
~ Come to meet us, be our rest.
How dark the journey to our Goal!
~ Come to meet us, be our light.
How lonely do we wander, stumbling together in the chaos!
~ Come to meet us, be our companion.
How long, Lord Jesus, do we wait for your return!
~ Come to meet us, be our hope’s fulfillment.
Prayer of Jesus
Let us pray together as our Lord, Jesus Christ has taught us to pray:
Our Dear Abba …
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
All may make the sign of the Cross as we say:
May the peace of the Holy ONE+ which surpasses all understanding + guard our hearts and our minds in Jesus,+ our Emmanuel. ~Amen
Let us bless Adonai.
~Thanks be to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for Advent.
Marian Antiphon
Loving Mother of our Savior, holding open heaven’s only hope, Star for steerage in this vastness, rise to help us, save the sinking. Nature’s greatest Wonder: you have borne your own true Maker, giving human life to him. Virgin ever, before and after, that Good News from Gabriel, Word of Life for living, tell it now: mercy to all people!
The angel of the Lord brought the message to Mary. ~ And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray. We ask, O Lord, that we who have been privileged to receive the Good News of the Incarnation of Christ, your Word, may be prepared through his passion and cross to approach also the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.