Podcast: Play in new window | Download
SERVICE OF LIGHT
Greeting/Invocation
We light the First and Second Candles on the Advent Wreath, and say or sing:
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
~Thanks be to God!
My soul magnifies Adonai; ~
My spirit dances in God my Savior.
MARIAN EVENING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of Ave Maris Stella–an ancient Marian Hymn.
Star of steady guidance, safe and welcome haven,
with our song we greet you, God’s own Virgin Mother.
Gabriel’s great greeting now our salutation
Changes “Eve” to “Ave” Hail, our Virgin Mother!
Health with peace and pardon Gain for us from Jesus;
Prove your reputation: show yourself our Mother!
Sing with us now glory To the Word and Abba
And the Spirit binding all together ever. Amen!
Text: Ave Maris Stella, tr. St. Meinrad (1968); Tune: AVE MARIS STELLA Plainsong, Mode 1
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon:
I will greatly rejoice in God my Savior, who has clothed me
with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a garment of justice, alleluia!
Psalm 144a/145a
I will exalt you, O God, my God,
I will bless your Name forever.
I will bless you day after day
and praise your Name forever.
Adonai, you are great, beyond our praise,
we are moved to silence and awe.
Age to age proclaims your wonders,
recounts your mighty deeds;
They speak of your splendor and glory
declare your greatness and might.
They recall your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
Gracious are you and full of compassion,
granting us freedom, abounding in love.
How kind you are to all creation,
compassionate to all you have made.
Glory to the ONE through the WORD
In the Breath of Love,
As always before so now and evermore, Amen.
I will greatly rejoice in God my Savior, who has clothed me
with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a garment of justice, alleluia!
READING: Romans 5:20-21
Despite the increase of sin, grace has far surpassed it, so that as sin reigned through death, grace may reign by way of justice leading to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord..
Silent Reflection
Responsory
R. Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! Adonai is with you.
V. God’s blessing is on you above all women, and this blessing is on the fruit of your womb. * Adonai is with you.
Canticle of Mary Luke 1:46-55
Antiphon:
All generations will call me blessed,
because the One who is Mighty has done great things for me, alleluia.
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
My heart + is radiant with Adonai,
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 the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
All generations will call me blessed,
because the One who is Migthy has done great things for me, alleluia.
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Intercessory Prayer
May your mercy embrace all the faithful,
~From one generation to the next.
Reveal the power of your arm,
~scatter our pride and conceit.
Dethrone the power of our arrogance
~empty our hoarding of riches.
Lift up the lowly,
~And fill the hungry with good things.
Rescue your servants from suffering,
~Show us your loving kindness.
Maranatha!
~ Come, Our Savior, Come!
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba
Closing Prayer and Blessing
Gracious God, you showed great favor to Mary of Nazareth and asked her to bring your eternal Word into the world, to stand with him in his passion and death, and to rejoice in his resurrection. May we follow her example and carry your liberating Word into a world that still longs for the poor to be lifted up, and the hungry to be filled with good things. May all who celebrate her feast this day work together for the freedom and flourishing of all people and the whole of creation. We ask this through Jesus, the Incarnate Word, who lives and loves with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
May the One who makes justice to rain down from the heights, + shower us and all on Earth with compassion and peace. Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~Thanks be to God.
All may make the sign of the Cross as we say:
May the peace of the Holy ONE+ which surpasses all understanding + guard our hearts and our minds in Jesus,+ our Emmanuel.
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.