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In medio Ecclesiae aperuit os ejus, et implevit eum Dominus
spiritu sapientiae, et intellectus; stolam gloriae induit eum.
Entrance Antiphon for St. John’s Day
Service of Light
Greeting/Invocation
We light the Christmas Candles and say or sing:
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord! ~Thanks be to God!
All the ends of Earth have seen, alleluia! ~The salvation of our God, alleluia!
CHRISTMAS HYMN — EVENING
From heav’n above to Earth I come To bring good news to ev’ryone!
Glad tidings of great joy I bring To all the world, and gladly sing:
To you this night is born a child Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
this newborn child of lowly birth Shall be the joy of all the Earth.
This is the Christ, God’s Son most high, Who hears your sad and bitter cry;
He will himself your Savior be And from all sin will set you free.
My heart for very joy now leaps; My voice no longer silence keeps;
I too must join the angel-throng To sing with joy his cradle-song:
“Glory to God in highest heav’n, who unto us the Son has giv’n.”
With angels sing in joyful mirth: A glad new year to all the Earth!
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALM 131/132
Antiphon
Adonai said to me: “You are my Son, this day have I begotten you.”
Adonai, remember David
and his patience through so many hardships,
the oath he swore to you,
O Mighty God of Jacob:
“I will not enter my home,
nor lie down on my bed to rest.
I will not close my eyes
nor will I enjoy my slumber
until I find a place for Adonai
a dwelling for the Strong One of Jacob.
At Ephrata we heard of the ark;
we found it in the fields of Yaarim.
“Let us go to God’s house,
Let us worship at God’s throne.”
Go up, Adonai, to your resting place,
you and the ark of your power.
Your priests robe with holiness for the feast;
your faithful prepare songs of joy.
For the sake of David your servant
do not reject your anointed.
Adonai swore an oath to David;
and will not go back on this word:
“Your child, the fruit of your body
will I set upon your throne.
“If your heirs adhere to my laws
and keep my covenant in truth,
their children also shall rule
from your throne forever and ever.”
For Adonai has chosen Zion,
has desired it as a home.
“This is my resting place forever,
here have I chosen to live.
“I will bless the produce of her fields
and the poor shall be filled with bread.
I will vest the priests with salvation
and the faithful will sing out their joy.
There I will make David’s stock flower,
and I will light a lamp for my anointed.
Enemies will be clothed with regret
but on the anointed a crown will shine.”
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Adonai said to me: “You are my Son, this day have I begotten you.”
READING — I John 1:2-4
We speak of the word of life. (This life became visible; we have seen and bear witness to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was present to the Abba and became visible to us.) What we have seen and heard we proclaim in turn to you so that you may share life with us. This community of ours is with the Abba and with the Word, Jesus Christ. Indeed, our purpose in writing you this is that our joy may be complete.
Silent Reflection
Responsory
R. The rain and snow from heaven do not return without watering our Earth, * it gives seed to the sower and bread to the hungry. V. Even so the Word that comes from the mouth of God does not return empty. * it gives seed to the sower and bread to the hungry..
Canticle of Mary Luke 1:46-55
The Word John heard and loved this is the Truth he preached and served.
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 WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
The Word John heard and loved this is the Truth he preached and served.
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
Let us pray to the One born of Mary: ~reveal again your kindness and compassion.
You are holy, yet wished to be born in the midst of our sins–
in order to make us holy; ~reveal again your kindness and compassion.
You are strong, yet wished to be born as a weak and vulnerable child–
in order to give us strength; ~reveal again your kindness and compassion.
You are immortal, yet emptied yourself into a mortal body–
in order to give us immortality: ~reveal again your kindness and compassion.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father…
Closing Prayer and Blessing.
God of endless love and compassion, we praise you for creating us in your own image and likeness and even more for restoring us in Christ Jesus, your living Word. As we celebrate his birth, may we live his gospel, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
All may make the sign of the Cross as we say:
May the birth of our God and Savior Jesus Christ + bring all humanity to salvation. Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace. ~And give thanks to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for Christmas.
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.