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Invitation to Worship
We celebrate the Motherhood of the Virgin Mary;
Let us adore her Son, Christ the Lord.
Light Christmas Candles and say or sing:
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Hail Holy Queen who gave birth to the King, alleluia!
~Who rules heaven and earth forever, alleluia!
MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Christmas or Marian Carol .
Behold a Mystical Rose From thorny stem has sprung;
Of David’s lineage God chose To give to the world the Son.
All hail, O House of Gold, Of whom ancient prophets foretold;
Your royal praises we sing; Your womb was the Court of our King.
Behold the Mother of God, Yet lowliest daughter of Eve;
At whose assenting nod God’s Word in her womb was conceived.
All hail, O Morning Star, Who brought Blessed Light from afar,
Dispel the darkness of night, Illumine our path with your Light.
Behold the Cause of our Joy, Who bore the infinite Child,
The reign of greed to destroy, And all to God reconcile.
All hail, O Gate of Heav’n, Through you all graces are giv’n:
Through you Salvation came; All praised and blessed is your name.
Text: Richard Cross, alt. Tune: Old Breton Air
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1
A flower has appeared from the root of Jesse: a star has risen out of Jacob;
a Virgin has given birth to the Savior. Let us praise our God.
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.
A flower has appeared from the root of Jesse: a star has risen out of Jacob;
a Virgin has given birth to the Savior. Let us praise our God.
Antiphon 2
Behold, Mary has borne us a Savior — Him whom John saw and proclaimed:
“There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Alleluia!
Psalm 62/63
O my God, I long for you from early morning;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body aches for you
like a dry, worn out and waterless land.
So I gaze on You in your holy place:
a vision of strength and glory.
Your love is better than life,
my speech is full of praise.
I will worship you all my days
lifting my hands in your Name.
My soul shall feast as at a banquet
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you.
I think of you throughout the night.
For you have been my help
I rejoice beneath your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love.
As always before
so now and evermore. Amen.
Behold, Mary has borne us a Savior — Him whom John saw and proclaimed:
“There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Alleluia!
Antiphon 3
A new wonder appears on Earth today: to the Virgin’s honor
is added a mother’s joy as she bears the eternal Word. Alleluia!
Psalm 150
Praise God in the holy place,
praise in the mighty heavens.
Praise God’s powerful deeds
praise the surpassing greatness.
O praise with sound of trumpet,
praise with lute and harp.
Praise with timbrel and dance,
praise with strings and pipes.
O praise with resounding cymbals,
praise with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that lives and that breathes
give praise to Adonai, Alleluia!
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love.
As always before
so now and evermore. Amen.
A new wonder appears on Earth today: to the Virgin’s honor
is added a mother’s joy as she bears the eternal Word. Alleluia!
READING Galatians 4:4-6
When the fullness of time had come, God sent the Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because your are children, God has sent the Spirit of the Son into our hearts crying, “Abba! Papa!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
Responsory
R. The Word was made flesh, Alleluia, alleluia. V. And lived among us, Alleluia, alleluia!
CANTICLE OF ZACHARY– LUKE 1:68-79
Antiphon
Great Mystery of generation: a virginal womb becomes the sanctuary of God;
and he taking flesh there, takes on no human sin.
All nations will come to Him singing: Glory to You, O Lord!
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
Great Mystery of generation: a virginal womb becomes the sanctuary of God;
and he taking flesh there, takes on no human sin.
All nations will come to Him singing: Glory to You, O Lord!
Litany of Intercession
Incarnate Word of God and Son of Mary of Nazareth,
~In your compassion, hear our prayer.
Gabriel brought the invitation to Mary;
~ give us her courage to say “Let your will be done.”
She conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit;
~may your Spirit make us bearers of the Word.
You and your parents were migrants and refugees from violence;
~may we welcome all those who flee poverty and war.
Simeon and Anna recognized you in the temple and foretold the suffering your love would entail; ~help us to recognize you in others and comfort those whose hearts are pierced with sorrow.
You entrusted your Mother to the Beloved disciple; ~may we include all who suffer loss in our circle of prayer and concern.
Your coming on Earth marked the beginning of a new age;
~may this New Year’s Day mark the renewal of all creation.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One, Source of all light and life, the virgin Mary conceived and bore a Son who is called Wonderful God and Prince of Peace. May her bold consent and “Let it be” inspire all of us to say “yes” when you call, and bring the Word to birth each day of this new year. We ask this and all things in the name of your Incarnate Word, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in the power of love, one God forever and ever. Amen.
May the Word Made Flesh of the Virgin Mary + full of grace and truth, bless us and keep us. Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace. ~And give thanks to God.