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Service of Light
Greeting/Invocation
We light the Evening Candle and say or sing:
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
~Thanks be to God!
Stay with us Lord for it is evening,
~And the day is almost over.
Hymn for the Presentation in the Temple
Blest are the pure in heart, For they shall see our God;
The secret of our Love is theirs, Their soul is Christ’s abode.
Give ear, Monarchs, bow down, You rulers of the earth–
This, this is he–your newborn Priest, Your God and King by birth.
With joyful hymns of praise On Sion’s Love now wait:
In high procession passing on, He nears the temple gate.
The Word who left the throne Our life and peace to bring,
To dwell in lowliness with us, that God’s love we might sing.
As we your presence seek, we ask your grace impart:
Help us prepare a temple here, make us the pure of heart.
Text: John Keble (1819) alt. Tune: SWABIA, SM
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Evening Psalm
Antiphon/Refrain
Who is this Splendid Ruler? Adonai Sabbaoth!
Psalm 23/24b
O Gates, lift high your heads,
grow higher ancient doors.
Let the Glorious Sov’reign enter. Refrain
Who is this Splendid Ruler?
Adonai the mighty the valiant,
the One who conquers the chaos. Refrain
O Gates, lift high your heads,
grow higher ancient doors.
Let the Glorious Sov’reign enter. Refrain
Who is this Splendid Ruler?
Adonai of heaven’s glory.
This Splendid Ruler is our God! Refrain
Setting: Columba Kelley, OSB & Tobias Colgan, OSB, alt.
Reading Hebrews 10: 5-7
On coming into the world, Jesus said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; Holocausts and sin offerings did not delight you. Then I said, ‘As it is written in the book, I have come to do your will, O God.'”
Responsory
R. Christ, the image of God is the Good News of God’s glory; * Who has dawned upon us and brought us to light. V. Out of darkness God has made to shine within us the light of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. *Who has dawned upon us and brought us to light. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Breath of Love.
Gospel Antiphon
Simeon received the Child in his arms and proclaimed:
“A Light for the revelation of the Gentiles
and the glory of your people, Israel.” Alleluia!
Canticle from Philippians 2: 6-11
Refrain: Lord Jesus
Though he was in the form of God
Jesus did not snatch at equality with God. Lord Jesus
He emptied himself,
taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men. Lord Jesus
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death,
even death on a cross. Lord Jesus
Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him
the name that is above every name. Lord Jesus
That at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth. Lord Jesus
And every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.
Simeon received the Child in his arms and proclaimed:
“A Light for the revelation of the Gentiles
and the glory of your people, Israel.” Alleluia!
Service of Prayer
Litany of Intercession
Today, Jesus was presented in the temple.
Let us acknowledge his presence in our world and pray:
~ Let our eyes see your saving power.
Following the Torah and the traditions of Israel, you were presented in the Temple to acknowledge that every life belongs to God–may our observance of this feast and all our traditions express gratitude and reverence for all people and all living things.
~ Let our eyes see your saving power.
Simeon welcomed you in his arms and blessed God for the glory and light that your love was bringing into the world; help us to welcome you in all our sisters and brothers.
~ Let our eyes see your saving power.
Anna, the prophetess, spoke of you to all who were awaiting the redemption of Israel;
help us to proclaim with our lives your love for all who yearn for the fullness of life.
~ Let our eyes see your saving power.
Destined to be a sign that many would reject and still reject today; show us the way to follow you into the strongholds of injustice, oppression and evil where God’s compassion is needed most.
~ Let our eyes see your saving power.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
O Holy One, Source of Life and Light, after years of prayer and preparation, Simeon and Anna rejoiced at the coming of Jesus into the temple, and acknowledged the glory and light that he was bringing into the world. As we bless and light candles on this feast, fill us with the joy that comes from letting your Light shine in our hearts and guide our steps into the ways of justice and peace; We ask this in the name of your Word-made-Flesh who lives and loves with You in the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
May the God of light fill us with all peace and joy, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, + we may abound in goodness for all of creation. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai. ~And give thanks to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for this season.
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. Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may, by his Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of his Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.