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Invitation to Worship
Christ is born to us; come, let us adore him!
Light Christmas Candles and say or sing:
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Glory to God in the highest
~And peace to God’s people on Earth.
CHRISTMAS MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Christmas Morning Carol .
From brink of dawn to farthest edge Let earth resound let voices sing
At birth of Virgin Mary’s child, The Christ, the long-awaited King.
From Mary’s womb Emmanuel In “House of Bread” at Bethlehem:
The Word, received, a temple made, And all the earth Jerusalem.
The source of food for poor-humankind At human breast is humbly fed;
And draws the strength to give at length Himself as flesh, Himself as bread.
“All glory be to God above And on the Earth let there be peace
To all who long to share God’s love Till time itself shall come to cease.”
Text: St. Meinrad, 1967, adpt. Tune: A Solis Ortus Cardine, Plainsong.
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Today a new day has dawned;
a day of redemption, forgiveness and joy.
Psalm 23/24
Stretch toward heaven you gates,
open high and wide.
Let the glorious sovereign enter.
Who is this splendid ruler?
Adonai, Adonai Sabaoth
The One who conquers the chaos.
Stretch toward heaven, you gates.
open high and wide.
Let the glorious sovereign enter.
Who is this splendid ruler?
Adonai of heaven’s glory
This splendid ruler is God.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Today a new day has dawned;
a day of redemption, forgiveness and joy.
READING Isaiah 42:4-7
Thus says Adonai, the God who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads out the earth with its crops, Who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk on it: “I, Adonai, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations. To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. ”
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. The light has pierced the darkness * and darkness did not prevail. V. The Word was made flesh. and darkness did not prevail. V . Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Breath of Love. R. The light has pierced the darkness * and darkness did not prevail.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
Our God has come to this people and set them free.
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 through the WORD
In the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Our God has come to this people and set them free.
Litany of Intercession
Son of God and Son of Mary, you brought us the Good News of God’s unconditional and liberating love, ~ may we love others into freedom.
Sun of Justice and Brightness of God’s face, ~illumine this day and this new year with the Light of truth that ends the power of oppression.
Suffering Servant, compassion moved you to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and identify with those despised and rejected by power and privilege, ~fill our lives with your compassion.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One, Source of all light and life for all creatures, through your eternal Word you illumined the Universe on the first day of creation, and you enlighten all peoples with the wisdom of love. As we celebrate this Tenth Day of Christmas and begin this New Year, enlighten our minds with the radiance of His Light, that our lives may be filled with his peace who lives and reigns 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.