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(c) 2010, Linda Witte Henke (www.lindahenke.com). All rights reserved. Posted here with permission of the artist.
*Ecce virgo concipiet, et pariet filium;
et vocabitur nomen eius Emmanuel.
We light four 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
Watchman, tell us of the night, What its signs of promise are.
Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s height, See that glory-beaming star.
Watchman, does its beauteous ray Aught of joy or hope foretell?
Traveler, yes! it brings the day, Promised day for Israel.
Watchman, tell us of the night, Higher yet that star ascends,
Traveler, blessedness and light, Peace and truth its course portends,
Watchman, will its beams alone Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveler, ages are its own, See it bursts o’er all the Earth.
Watchman, tell us of the night, for the morning seems to dawn.
Traveler, darkness takes its flight, Doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman, let thy wand’rings cease; Hasten to thy quiet home.
Traveler, lo, the Prince of Peace, Lo, the Son of God is come.
PSALMODY
Antiphon
On that promised day, all the peaks will drip with newest wine
and the hills will flow with milk and honey, alleluia!
Psalm 114/115
I love Adonai who has heard
the cry of my appeal;
and turns an ear to me
whenever I call!
Death had me in its grip,
the grave’s trap was set;
grief and anguish held me fast.
I called on the Holy Name:
“Adonai, my God,
rescue me and set me free!”
Kind and gracious is Adonai;
gentle and full of compassion:
God shelters those who are needy,
and raises me from the dust.
Rest once more, my heart
For you know how Adonai loves.
God rescued me from death,
wiped my tears and steadied my feet.
I will walk with Adonai, my God,
in the land of the living.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
On that promised day, all the peaks will drip with newest wine
and the hills will flow with milk and honey, alleluia!
READING Jeremiah 29: 11, 13
I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says Adonai, plans for your welfare, not for doom! plans to give you a future full of hope. When you look for me, you will find me, yes, when you seek me with all your heart.
Responsory
R. Waiting in the night I saw in a vision one like the Son of Man coming from afar.* And like a great cloud, his glory covered the Earth. R. Run out to meet him and say: Are you the one to come, the promised one? And like a great cloud, his glory covered the Earth.
Canticle of Zachary Luke 1:68-79
Gospel Antiphon:
Those who believe without seeing have no fear:
in a few days, our Lord will be coming.
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
Those who believe without seeing have no fear:
in a few days, our Lord will be coming.
.
Intercessory Prayer
Let us call out to the One who longs to be with us: ~Come Lord Jesus
To those in darkness who are waiting for the return of light, ~Come Lord Jesus
To those left out in the cold who are waiting for heat and warmth, ~Come Lord Jesus
To those strangers and immigrants, who are waiting for hospitality and welcome, ~Come Lord Jesus
To those sick or injured who are waiting for care, ~Come Lord Jesus
To those in prisons or nursing homes who are waiting for visitors, ~Come Lord Jesus
To those trafficked or enslaved who are waiting for freedom, ~Come Lord Jesus
To those marginalized and oppressed who are waiting for justice, ~Come Lord Jesus
To those caught up in consumerism who are waiting for simplicity, ~Come Lord Jesus
To those surrounded by noise who are waiting for silence, ~Come Lord Jesus
To those saddened by loss or death who are waiting for joy, ~Come Lord Jesus
To those nearing the end who are waiting for death, ~Come Lord Jesus
For all of these, we pray the words that you gave us:
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Creator and Redeemer of all creation, your prophets insisted that a young woman’s new born child would be called “Emmanuel”–for God is with us! As we make final preparations for celebrating the birth of our Emmanuel, deepen our desire for his appearance and make us ready to welcome him in the persons you send us to love. With all people and all creation, we cry out: “Come to save us all, O Lord, our God!” Amen.
May the justice and love of the + Holy ONE
prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus-Emmanuel. Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace. ~And give thanks to God.
*The chant at the beginning is the Communion Antiphon for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The text from Isaiah is well known: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and his name will be called: Emmanuel.