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Service of Light
Greeting/Invocation
We light the Christmas Candles and say or sing:
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
~Thanks be to God!
Glory to God in the highest
~and peace to all creatures on Earth!
CHRISTMAS EVENING HYMN
A child is born in Bethlehem, alleluia;
O come rejoice, Jerusalem, alleluia, alleluia.
Refrain:
Let grateful hearts now sing
A song of joy and holy praise
To Christ now let us bring.
Though found within a manger poor, alleluia;
His Reign will last forevermore, alleluia, alleluia.
Refrain:
As brother in the flesh he came, alleluia;
Our Joy whose name we now proclaim, alleluia, alleluia.
Refrain:
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Mary treasured these words and pondered them in her heart.
Psalm 18/19b
The law of Adonai is perfect,
it revives the soul.
God’s teachings can be trusted
they give wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of Adonai are right,
they delight the heart.
The commands of God are clear,
they sharpen our vision.
Reverence for God is holy,
it abides forever.
The truth of these decrees
are revealed in their justice.
They are worth more than gold,
than the purest of gold
and their taste richer than honey,
than honey from the comb.
Keeping them is our reward,
for through them we walk in light.
Yet sins remain within us,
forgive my hidden faults.
Keep my pride in check
break the grip of my arrogance.
Then I shall be free of blame
and from deadly sin.
May the words of my mouth
and the thoughts of my heart
remain in your good grace,
My rescuer and my rock!
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Mary treasured these words and pondered them in her heart.
Reading Acts 10: 37-38
I take it you know what has been reported all over Judea about Jesus of Nazareth, beginning in Galilee with the baptism John preached; of the way God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good works and healing all who were in the grip of evil, and God was with him.
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.
Gospel Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
We have found Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
He is the one of whom Moses and the prophets wrote.
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
My heart + is radiant with the Lord,
My whole being delights in God my Savior.
All people now will call me blessed
For God has loved this humble handmaid.
The Almighty has shown me great favor
Holy is the NAME,
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
From one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God,
Scatters the proud in their own conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones
While lifting up the lowly:
Fills the famished with bounty,
And reveals the emptiness of riches.
Rescues lowly Israel,
Sharing such loving kindness,
As promised to our ancestors
To Abraham and Sarah, and their descendants forever.
Glory to the ONE and to WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
We have found Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
He is the one of whom Moses and the prophets wrote.
Service of Prayer
Litany of Intercession
Incarnate Word of God and Son of Mary of Nazareth,
~In your compassion, hear our prayer.
Gabriel brought the invitation to your Mother, 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.
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 mark the renewal of all creation.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One, Source of all light and life, you have made known your salvation in the simplicity of Jesus’ birth and the compassion of his life among us. As we celebrate this tenth day of Christmas and the beginning of a new year, strengthen our resolutions to live out the values of his Gospel and carry his light and peace to the rest of the world. We ask this and all things in the name of your Incarnate Word, our Emmanuel. Amen.
May the Word Made Flesh + full of grace and truth, bless us and keep us. Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace. ~And give thanks to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for Christmas.
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.