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SERVICE OF LIGHT
Greeting/Invocation
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
All may sing or alternate the verses .
Send, God, like dew to soothe our Earth,
Your promised Help, your Holy One;
And let him come, like spring’s new life,
Our Savior Christ, Your only Son.
Forgive our debts, forget our sins;
And though our hearts have turned away
From praise and love of you, O God,
Have mercy on our hearts we pray.
We lose your presence through our sin,
We chose our will and not your way;
We fall like leaves, we fall and die,
Send now, our Savior Christ we pray.
Look on our sorrow and our need,
Send Christ to save us and forgive;
Without his love we cannot love,
Without his life we cannot live.
We trust in You, for You are God,
We know your love, we need not fear;
The Lamb of God who takes our sins
Our promised Savior, Christ is near.
Text: Brian Foley, alt. Tune OAKLEY 8888
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
I will place salvation in Zion
and in Jerusalem my glory, Alleluia!
Psalm 121/122
I rejoiced when I heard them say:
“Let us go to God’s House!”
And now our feet are standing
within your gates O Jerusalem!
Jerusalem is built as a city–
Strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up,
the tribes of our God.
For Israel’s law it is
there to praise God’s Holy Name.
There were set the thrones of judgment
of the house of David.
For the peace of Jerusalem pray;
“Peace be to your homes!
Safety within your walls!
in every dwelling place, peace!”
For love of my family and friends
I say: “Peace upon you!”
For love of the house of Adonai
I pray for your good.
Glory to the ONE and the WORD
and the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore, Amen.
I will place salvation in Zion
and in Jerusalem my glory, Alleluia!
READING: 1 Corinthians 4:5
Stop passing judgment before the time of the Lord’s return. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.
Silent Reflection
Responsory
R. Holy God, send the one you are sending * see the affliction of your people.
V. Come as you have promised, come to deliver us. * see the affliction of your people.
V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Mary Luke 1:46-55
Antiphon:
“Are you the Expected One, or must we look for another?”
“Tell John what you have seen: light to the blind,
life to the dead; and Good News preached to the poor. Alleluia!”
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
“Are you the Expected One, or must we look for another?”
“Tell John what you have seen: light to the blind,
life to the dead; and Good News preached to the poor. Alleluia!”
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany
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 Dear Abba in heaven …
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 Holy ONE who makes joy to rain down from the heights
+ shower this Earth with justice and peace. 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, you Son, may be prepared through his passion and cross to approach also the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.