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Invitation to Worship
Come, let us sing to Adonai, let us praise the God of all creation!
O Holy One,+ open my lips.
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Let everything that lives and that breathes-
~give praise to Adonai, alleluia!
Sunday Morning Hymn
God whose almighty Word, Chaos an darkness heard,
And took their flight, Hear us we humbly pray,
And where the Gospel-day sheds not its glorious ray, Let there be light!
Savior, who came to give Those who in darkness live Healing and sight,
Help those who seek to find, Heal those whose hearts are blind,
And in each humble mind Let there be light!
Spirit of truth and love, Life-giving Holy Dove,
Speed forth your flight: Move on the water’s face, Bearing the Lamp of grace
And in earth’s darkest place Let there be Light!
Holy and Blessed Three, Glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might: Boundless as ocean’s tide Rolling in fullest pride,
Through this Earth far and wide Let there be light!
Text: John Marriott (1780-1825) alt. Tune MOSCOW 664 6664
PSALMODY
Antiphon
O gates lift high your heads
and let our Splendid Ruler enter in!
Psalm 23/24b
O Gates, lift high your heads,
grow higher ancient doors.
Let the Glorious Sov’reign enter.
Who is this Splendid Ruler?
Adonai the mighty the valiant,
the One who conquers the chaos.
O Gates, lift high your heads,
grow higher ancient doors.
Let the Glorious Sov’reign enter.
Who is this Splendid Ruler?
Adonai of heaven’s glory.
This Splendid Ruler is our God!
Glory to the ABBA and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.
O gates lift high your heads
and let our Splendid Ruler enter in!
READING Hebrews 2: 9-11
Brothers and sisters:
Christ “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels, ”
that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he,
for whom and through whom all things exist,
in bringing many children to glory,
should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.
He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated
all have one origin.
Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers.”
Responsory
R. How great is your Name Adonai Elohim, through all the earth. V. Your majesty is praised above the heavens. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachariah
Antiphon
Let the little children come to me, do not hinder them
for to such belongs the realm of heaven.
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
Let the little children come to me, do not hinder them
for to such belongs the realm of heaven.
Litany of Intercession
That all who have been called and gifted to follow Christ may be ambassadors of reconciliation, forgiving each other and working for the reconciliation of all who are in conflict, let us pray… Hear us O God.
That we may listen today and hear God’s voice call us from hardness of heart to compassion and joy, let us pray…~ Hear us O God.
For those oppressed by racism, sexism, and classism and for those who are working to dismantle the structures and institutions that keep people from freedom and flourishing, let us pray… ~ Hear us O God.
That the sacredness of all life and the rights of all human and all earthly beings may be upheld in the hearts and in the laws of all peoples and nations, let us pray…
~ Hear us O God.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
O Holy One, Source, Guide and Goal of all that is, You sent Jesus to proclaim forgiveness and to announce a new way of living in the world. Through his example and preaching, make us ambassadors of forgiveness and reconciliation and thus prepare the way for your reign on Earth as it is in heaven where yours is the power and glory of love now and forever. Amen.
May the Spirit of God + kindle in our hearts the love of God and neighbor that is the fulfillment of the law. ~Amen
Let us bless Adonai. ~Thanks be to God.