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image  (c) 2010, Linda Witte Henke (www.lindahenke.com). All rights reserved. Posted here with permission of the artist.

We light three Candles on the Advent Wreath. Signing our lips with 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

Creator of this winter Earth, You promised Father Abraham

That he would be the seed of birth To yield a people for a land.

 

The laughing Sarah bore a child Whom you gave back in sacrifice.

Then you remembered Rachel’s plight and made her son the source of life.

 

You drew your first born from the Nile To give the Chosen law and land.

Anointed then the youngest son And seated him at your right hand.

 

Remember now our wintertime, Raise up a savior from the Earth,

From Jordan’s waters call the Lamb To sign those chosen with new birth.

 

Praise God the Abba of us all, and Jesus Christ Emmanuel,

Together in the Spirit’s life Praise God, the God of Israel.  Amen!

Tune: Vox Clara, Antiphonale Monasticum. Text: St. Meinrad, 1971, alt.

 

 

PSALMODY

Antiphon

Now behold Adonai coming soon, and all the saints shall follow,

and there will be a shining light on that day, alleluia!

Psalm 18/19a

The heavens proclaim the glory of God,

and the firmament shows for the work of God’s hands.

Day unto day takes up the story

and night unto night makes the message known.

 

No speech, no word, no voice is heard

yet their span extends through all the Earth,

their words to the utmost bounds of the world.

 

There God has placed a tent for the sun;

it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent,

rejoices like a champion to run its course.

 

At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun;

to the furthest ends of the sky is its course.

There is nothing concealed from its burning heat.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

And to 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!

 

READING   I Thessalonians 3:12-13

May God make you overflow with love for one another and for all people, even as our love does for you.  May God strengthen your hearts, making them blameless and holy before our God and Abba at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all the holy ones.

Responsory

R. Jerusalem, lift up your eyes: * the glory of Adonai will shine upon you.

V. Your Savior comes to you, to loosen your bonds.

* the glory of Adonai will shine upon you.

 

 

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:

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your word.”

 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 and to the WORD

And to the BREATH of Love!

As always before,

so now and evermore.  Amen

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your word.”

 

 

Intercessory Prayer

 

For spouses who await the return of one they will never see again…

For parents who await the return of a child…

For prisoners who await the return of their freedom…

For the sick who await the return of their health…

For the lonely who await the return of companionship…

For the weary and exhausted who await the arrival of rest…

For the oppressed who await the arrival of justice…

For the hungry who await the arrival of bread…

For the dying who await the arrival of peace…

 

For all of these, we pray the words that Jesus gave us:

Our Father …

 

Closing Prayer & Blessing

 

Creator and Redeemer of humankind, the eternal Word through whom you gave the Torah to Moses,  took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and extended his arms on the cross to welcome all in his embrace.  Fill us with the fire of his Love which fulfills the Law and restores your image in each of us.  We ask this through the same Incarnate Word who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.  Amen.

 

May the wisdom and might of the + Holy ONE

strengthen our hearts and our minds in Jesus-our Emmanuel. Amen.

 

Let us bless the world with peace.   ~And give thanks to God.