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November 21 — Presentation of Mary in the Temple
Invitation to Worship
The cause of our joy today is this Feast of the Virgin Mary!
Let us join her in singing the praise of God!
We make the Sign of the Cross over our lips as we begin.
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
My soul magnifies Adonai;
~ my spirit dances with joy in God my savior!
MORNING HYMN HONORING MARY
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn .
O Mother of our Loving God, Forever blest in all your ways,
Give us your own tranquility, And strength and comfort in our days.
You are a strong and lovely tree, The fruit of which is purest gold,
Whose branches spread to shelter us, Whose quiet leaves all peace unfold.
Pray for us now, and when we die, That we may live and ever praise
The Abba, Word, and Spirit blest In endless light and timeless days. Amen.
PSALMODY
Antiphon
O Mary, book of the living Word, chamber of Light,
gate that opens to the Rising Sun,
pray for us, O Mother of God!
Psalm 45/46
The Holy One is for us both refuge and strength,
Our Helper close at hand, whenever we’re in trouble:
So we can stand unshaken, when solid earth is cracked,
when volcanoes slide into the depths of the sea,
when its waters rage and foam
and mountains tremble in the swell.
Adonai Sabbaoth is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
The waters of a river give joy to God’s city,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
With God dwelling there, it cannot be shaken;
God will help it at the dawning of each day.
Nations rage and empires fall,
God speaks, the earth melts and shrinks away.
Adonai Sabbaoth is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come! Behold the wonders of Adonai
the amazing things God does across the Earth:
Stopping wars all over the globe,
smashing and crushing all the weapons of war.
“Be silent and know that I am God,
supreme over your nations, supreme on Earth.
Adonai Sabbaoth is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore, Amen.
O Mary, book of the living Word, chamber of Light,
gate that opens to the Rising Sun,
pray for us, O Mother of God!
Reading Isaiah 7:10-14
Adonai spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from Adonai, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt Adonai!”
Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary mortals, must you also weary my God? Therefore Adonai indeed will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel–for “With us is God!”
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Who is she that comes forth like the sun, and as lovely as Jerusalem? *Around Her, as in springtime, are roses and lilies of the valley. V. She has budded forth as a rose planted by a running stream * Around Her, as in springtime, are roses and lilies of the valley. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus et Benedictus Fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
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
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus et Benedictus Fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Intercessory Prayer
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
May your mercy embrace all the faithful,
~From one generation to the next.
Reveal the power of your arm,
~scatter our pride and conceit.
Dethrone the power of our arrogance
~empty our hoarding of riches.
Lift up the lowly,
~And fill the hungry with good things.
Rescue your servants from suffering,
~Show us your loving kindness.
Send forth your Spirit and they will be created;
~And you will renew the face of the earth.
Gracious God, you showed great favor to Mary of Nazareth and asked her to bring your eternal Word into the world, to stand with him in his passion and death, and to rejoice in his resurrection. May we follow her example and carry your liberating Word into a world that still longs for the poor to be lifted up, and the hungry to be filled with good things. May all who celebrate her feast this day work together for the freedom and flourishing of all people and the whole of creation. We ask this through Jesus, the Incarnate Word, who lives and loves with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
Blessing
May the Word of God, born of Mary of Nazareth, bless us with her courage and strength. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~Thanks be to God.