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We light two Candles on the Advent Wreath. Signing our lips with a small sign of 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 O Day of God, Draw Nigh
O day of God draw nigh In beauty and in power,
Come with your timeless judgment now to match our present hour.
Bring to our troubled minds, Uncertain and afraid,
The quiet of a steadfast faith, Calm of a call obeyed.
Bring justice to our land That all may dwell secure,
And firmly build for days to come Foundations that endure.
Bring to our world of strife Your sovereign word of peace.
That war may haunt the Earth no more and desolation cease.
O day of God draw nigh As at creation’s birth;
Let there be light again, and send Your Justice to the Earth.
Text: R. B. Young Scott, (1899-1987), alt. Tune: OPTATUS VOTIS OMNIUM, S.M.
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Our Love, and Ruler, will come from heaven,
and near at hand, dominion and power.
Psalm 92/93
It is good to give thanks to Adonai,
to make music to your Name, O Most High,
to proclaim your love in the morning
and your truth in the watches of the night,
on the ten-stringed lyre and the lute,
with the murmuring sound of the harp.
Your deeds, Adonai, have made me glad;
for the work of your hands I shout for joy.
Adonai, how great are your works!
How deep are your designs!
The foolish cannot know this
and the silly cannot understand.
Though the wicked spring up like weeds
and those who do evil seem to thrive:
their choices lead to destruction.
But you, Adonai, are eternally on high.
See how those without love do perish;
those filled with hatred destroy themselves.
Your love makes me strong as an ox;
Your spirit anoints me with purest oil.
My eyes witnessed the destruction of the oppressors;
my ears heard the news of their demise.
The just flourish like palm trees
and grow mighty like the cedars of Lebanon.
Planted in your house, Adonai,
they will flourish in your courts, Gracious God,
still full of sap, still green,
to proclaim that You, Adonai are just.
In you, my rock, there is no wrong.
Glory to the One and to the Word,
and to the Breath of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Our Love, and Ruler, will come from heaven,
and near at hand, dominion and power.
READING: Ephesians 3:18-19
May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Responsory:
R. Be ready for action with belts fastened and lamps alight;
* be like those who wait for their Master’s return.
V. Hold yourselves ready then, because the One-you-await
will come at the time you least expect. * be like those who wait for their Master’s return. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary–Luke 1:68-79
Gospel Antiphon:
The Savior of the world will arise like the sun;
and as mysteriously as the dew will descend to the Virgin’s womb, alleluia!
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 upon 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
The Savior of the world will arise like the sun;
and as mysteriously as the dew will descend to the Virgin’s womb, alleluia!
Intercessory Prayer
Let us pray to the Christ, the joy of all who wait for his coming:
~Come Lord Jesus
As God’s eternal Word, You existed before the ages of ages:
~Come and save us in the present age.
You made the world and all it contains:
~ Come and save the work of your hands.
You assumed our humanity, in all its mortality:
~Come and save us from the bonds of the grave.
You came forth from the freshness of the Virgin Mary
~Come and give fresh life to a world in decay.
Prayer of Jesus
You taught us to pray…
Our Dear Abba …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Stir up your joy in our hearts, O God of Gladness!
May we bring the light of your presence and the warmth of your love to a world freezing in darkness and fear. For yours is the glory and power of Love, now and forever. Amen.
May the Holy ONE who makes joy to rain down from the heights
+ shower this Earth with justice and peace. Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~ Thanks be to God.