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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 salvation, alleluia!
~The salvation of our God, alleluia!
CHRISTMAS HYMN — EVENING
What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds’ watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, Hail, the Word made Flesh
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high
The Virgin sings her lullaby;
Joy, Joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Text: William Chatterton Dix, Tune: GREENSLEEVES
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Canticle from Colossians 1:1-12
Antiphon
Beginning all, before all times the Word was God;
the Same today is born to us, the Savior of the world!
Refrain
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Let us give thanks to our Abba
who has made us worthy
to share in the heritage of the saints in light. (Refrain)
God has taken us out of the power of darkness
and created a place for us
in the Community of the Beloved One,
in whom we have redemption: the forgiveness of our sins. (Refrain)
Christ is the image of the unseen God
and the first-born of all creation;
for in Christ were created all things
whether in heaven or on earth,
everything seen and unseen. (Refrain)
Thrones, Dominions, Sovereignties and Powers
–all things were created through Christ and for Christ.
Before anything was created, Christ existed,
and in Christ all things hold together. (Refrain)
Now the Church is Christ’s body,
Christ is our head.
And as Christ is the beginning,
he was the first to return from the dead,
so that he might be first in every way. (Refrain)
For in Christ all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell
and through Christ to reconcile all things,
whether on Earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross. (Refrain)
Glory to the ABBA and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Beginning all, before all times the Word was God;
the Same today is born to us, the Savior of the world!
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
Today a new day has dawned;
a day of redemption, forgiveness and joy.
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
Today a new day has dawned;
a day of redemption, forgiveness and joy.
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 Dear Abba…
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 the fifth day of Christmas, 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 Adonai.
~ Thanks be 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. O Holy One, you have blessed humankind through the fruitful virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; may we follow her example of strength and courage and so bring your Word into the world of today. Amen.