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Video caelos apertos, et Jesum stantem a dextris virtutis Dei:
Domine Jesu, accipe spiritum meum,
et ne statuas illis hoc peccatum, quia nesciunt quid faciunt.
Communion Antiphon for St. Stephen’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
Antiphon
A beacon in the night for the upright,
this one is generous, merciful and just.
Psalm 111/112
Happy are those who love God
and delight in the whole of Torah!
Their children shall be blest,
strong and upright in the land.
The households of the just will flourish
their integrity stands firm forever.
A light shines from them for others
for they are generous, merciful and just.
The good lend freely to others
and conduct their affairs with honor.
They never waver from doing what is right
their justice is remembered forever.
They do not fear evil news
with strong hearts they trust in God.
Steadfast and without fear
they will watch the wicked crumble.
Open-handed they share with the poor;
their integrity stands firm forever.
this strength will bring them honor.
But hatred devours the wicked
who grind their teeth and depart;
their hopes all turn to ashes.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
A beacon in the night for the upright,
this one is generous, merciful and just.
READING — Colossians 1: 12-17
Let us give thanks to the Abba for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints in light. God rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us into the Reign of the beloved Son, Through whom we have redemption,
and forgiveness of our sins. Christ is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creatures. In him everything in heaven and on earth was created, things visible and invisible. All were created through him; all were created for him.
He is before all else that is. In him everything continues in being.
Silent Reflection
Responsory
R. The Word was made flesh, Alleluia, Alleluia! V. And lived among us. * Alleluia, Alleluia! V. Glory to the Abba and to the Word and to the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Mary Luke 1:46-55
I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of the power of God:
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, for I am coming to you.
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
I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of the power of God:
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, for I am coming to you.
.
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 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, as you have already blessed humankind through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary, grant that we may further enjoy the fruitful prayers of her through whom we are related to the very Author of Life, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Amen.