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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!
The glory of Adonai is now revealed,
~ And all nations see the glory of our God.
EVENING HYMN for Christmas Eve
Of the Father’s love begotten ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending he,
Of the things that are that have been, And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore.
O that birth forever blessed, When the virgin full of grace,
By the Holy Spir’t conceiving, Bore the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer, First revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore.
This is he whom seers in old time, Chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets Promised in their faithful word;
Now he shines, the long-expected; Let creation praise its Lord,
Evermore and evermore.
Christ to thee with God our Abba, And O Holy Spirit to thee,
Hymn and chant and glad thanksgiving, And unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory and dominion, And eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore. Amen.
Text: Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-413); Tune: 13th Century Plainsong
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1
Jacob was the father of Joseph, and Joseph was the husband of Mary;
of her was born Jesus, the anointed of the Lord.
Psalm 145/146
My soul, sing praise to Adonai
I will praise Adonai all my days;
make music to my God while I live.
Never depend on rulers:
born of earth, they cannot save.
They die and turn to dust.
and all their plans simply crumble.
They are wise who depend on God,
who look to the Adonai of Jacob,
creator of heaven and earth
maker of the teeming sea.
Adonai keeps faith forever,
and is just to all who are oppressed,
the One who gives bread to the hungry
and sets all the prisoners free.
Adonai gives sight to the blind,
raises those whose bodies are bent,
protects refugees and strangers,
upholds and comforts widows and orphans.
Adonai is the One who loves the just
and blocks the path of the wicked.
Adonai will reign forever
Zion’s God from one generation to the next..
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Jacob was the father of Joseph, and Joseph was the husband of Mary;
of her was born Jesus, the anointed of the Lord.
Antiphon 2
Joseph was a just man, and the angel of the Lord told him:
do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.
the child she bears is of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 146/147
How good to sing God praise!
Sing to the One who is loving!
We cannot help but shout this praise!
Adonai rebuilds Jerusalem
and gathers the exiles of Israel;
healing the broken-hearted,
and binding up all of their wounds.
God fixes the number of the stars
and calls each one by its name.
Adonai is great and almighty;
wise beyond all telling:
For the Holy One raises the lowly and the poor,
while the wicked are humbled to the dust.
O sing to Adonai, giving thanks,
Sound the harp with psalms for our God,
Who stretches the heavens with clouds,
preparing rain for the Earth,
making mountains green with grass
and plants to serve everyone’s needs.
Adonai provides food for our cattle
and for young ravens when they call.
They are not impressed by the power of horses
nor by the strength and speed of a warrior.
For Adonai takes delight in the reverent;
and those who trust God’s compassion.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Joseph was a just man, and the angel of the Lord told him:
“Joseph do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.
the child she bears is of the Holy Spirit.”
Antiphon 3
The shepherds went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,
with the child cradled in a manger.
Psalm 147
O Praise Adonai, Jerusalem,
Zion, praise the Holy One.
God’s-Love gives strength to the little ones,
And courage to face their fears.
Peace to be their sure refuge,
Golden wheat to share at the feast.
God’s-Word cuts through the resistance
That fosters greed and conceit;
Sends snow heavy as wool
And scatters frost like ashes;
Hurls down hail like crumbs,
Freezes the waters with Winter.
God’s-Word melts them with Spring,
God’s-Breath makes the waters flow.
The Word is written on our hearts
To guide us with wisdom and justice;
That together we may share with all people
God’s ways of justice and truth.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
The shepherds went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,
with the child cradled in a manger.
READING — 2 Corinthians 8:9
You are well acquainted with the favor shown you by our Lord Jesus Christ: how for you sake he made himself poor though he was rich, so that you might become rich by his poverty.
Silent Reflection
Responsory
R. This day true peace has come upon us. *Glory to God in the highest and peace to all people on Earth. V. Today the Word of God was Virgin-born for us, today a new day of redemption has dawned. *Glory to God in the highest and peace to all people on Earth.
Canticle of Mary Luke 1:46-55
The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem unknown to his parents.
Only after a day’s journey, they frantic’lly looked for him among the friends and relations.
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 boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem unknown to his parents.
Only after a day’s journey, they frantic’lly looked for him among the friends and relations.
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God full of grace and truth, ~hear our prayer.
You are the Word of your Abba ~ reveal God to us today.
Through You, all creation came into being ~ awaken our wonder and awe today.
You are the light that shines in the darkness ~ enlighten us today.
You have come into the midst of your own ~ help us recognize you today.
You give us the power to be children of God ~ make us live as brothers and sisters today.
You became flesh and set up a dwelling among us ~stay with us today.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father…
Closing Prayer and Blessing.
God of endless love and compassion, you gave us a model of life in the holy family of Nazareth. May all of our families be guided by mutual love, respect and generosity as we strive to live simply and sustainably with deep gratitude for all you have done. We ask this in the name of your Incarnate Word who 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 Jesus, the light and life of the world + bless us and free us to love. 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 Advent.
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.