Presentation of Mary

PresentMary

November 21 — Presentation of Mary in the Temple

Invitation to Worship

The cause of our joy today is this Feast of the Virgin Mary!

Let us join her in singing the praise of God!

We make the Sign of the Cross over our  lips as we begin.

O Holy ONE + open my lips,

~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

 

My soul magnifies Adonai;

~ my spirit dances with joy in God my savior!

 

MORNING HYMN HONORING MARY

All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn .

O Mother of our Loving God, Forever blest in all your ways,

Give us your own tranquility, And strength and comfort in our days.

 

You are a strong and lovely tree, The fruit of which is purest gold,

Whose branches spread to shelter us, Whose quiet leaves all peace unfold.

 

Pray for us now, and when we die, That we may live and ever praise

The Abba, Word, and Spirit blest In endless light and timeless days. Amen.

 

 

PSALMODY

 Antiphon

O Mary, book of the living Word, chamber of Light,

gate that opens to the Rising Sun,

pray for us, O Mother of God!

Psalm 45/46

The Holy One is for us both refuge and strength,

Our  Helper close at hand, whenever we’re in trouble:

So we can stand unshaken, when solid earth is cracked,

when volcanoes slide into the depths of the sea,

when its waters rage and foam

and mountains tremble in the swell.

 

Adonai Sabbaoth is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

 

The waters of a river give joy to God’s city,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

With God dwelling there, it cannot be shaken;

God will help it at the dawning of each day.

Nations rage and empires fall,

God speaks, the earth melts and shrinks away.

 

Adonai Sabbaoth is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

 

 Come! Behold the wonders of Adonai

the amazing things God does across the Earth:

Stopping  wars all over the globe,

smashing and crushing all the weapons of war.

“Be silent and know that I am God,

supreme over your nations, supreme on Earth.

 

Adonai Sabbaoth is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

and to the BREATH of Love;

as always before,

so now and evermore, Amen.

O Mary, book of the living Word, chamber of Light,

gate that opens to the Rising Sun,

pray for us, O Mother of God!

Reading   Isaiah 7:10-14

Adonai spoke to Ahaz:  Ask for a sign from Adonai, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!  But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt Adonai!”

Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary mortals, must you also weary my God?  Therefore Adonai indeed will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel–for “With us is God!”

 

 

Silent Prayer

 

Responsory

R. Who is she that comes forth like the sun, and as lovely as Jerusalem? *Around Her, as in springtime, are roses and lilies of the valley.  V. She has budded forth as a rose planted by a running stream * Around Her, as in springtime, are roses and lilies of the valley. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.

 

 

Canticle of Zachary–  Luke 1:68-79

 Antiphon

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.

Benedicta tu in mulieribus et Benedictus Fructus ventris tui, Jesus.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

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 upon us

To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow

To Guide our feet on the way of peace.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

and to the BREATH of Love!

As always before,

so now and evermore.  Amen

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.

Benedicta tu in mulieribus et Benedictus Fructus ventris tui, Jesus.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Intercessory Prayer

Prayer of Jesus

Our Father …

 

May your mercy embrace all the faithful,

~From one generation to the next.

 

Reveal the power of your arm,

~scatter our pride and conceit.

 

Dethrone the power of our arrogance

~empty our hoarding of riches.

 

Lift up the lowly,

~And fill the hungry with good things. 

 

Rescue your servants from suffering,

 ~Show us your loving kindness.

 

Send forth your Spirit and they will be created;

~And you will renew the face of the earth.

 

 

Gracious God, you showed great favor to Mary of Nazareth and asked her to bring your eternal Word into the world, to stand with him in his passion and death, and to rejoice in his resurrection.  May we follow her example  and  carry your liberating Word into a world that still longs for the poor to be lifted up, and the hungry to be filled with good things.  May all who celebrate her feast this day work together for the freedom and flourishing of all people and the whole of creation.   We ask this through Jesus, the Incarnate Word, who lives and loves with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen

 

 

 Blessing

May the Word of God, born of Mary of Nazareth, bless us with her courage and strength.   ~Amen.

 

Let us bless Adonai.

~Thanks be to God.