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St. Nicholas (270-343) was born in what is today southwestern Turkey and was elected bishop of Myra, capital of the province, where he gained a reputation for holiness, charity, and pastoral zeal. (See ST. NICHOLAS )
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Blest is the One who comes in the NAME of our God
~Hosanna in the highest!
ADVENT MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of an Advent Morning Hymn—this one translated anew from the monastic version of Vox Clara. The traditional melody or any familiar Long Meter hymn tune may be used, e.g. On Jordan’s Bank.
A herald’s voice is calling out, rebuking darkness with a shout:
Throw all those nightmares far away, Christ comes with dawn to wake the day!
The lazy mind, the sordid heart, are roused to waken with a start;
Come watch the New Star at its rise; it shines upon the morning skies.
The Lamb is sent from heights above, to show this people how to love;
So let us rise, fling off the night, and join Christ in the ways of light.
Though greed and loneliness appear to have an upper hand this year,
Give us a voice that all may hear the Good News that your Reign is near! Amen.
PSALMODY
Those who wish may sing alternate verses with the cantor.
Antiphon
Seek Adonai, while Adonai may be found.
Call out to God when God is near.
Psalm 1
If you would be happy and blest:
Walk hand in hand with goodness,
Be a companion of virtue,
Sit in the seat of truth.
Delight in the study of Torah–
Ponder both day and night.
Then, like a tree that is planted
Beside a flowing stream,
You will bear fruit in due season
Your leaves will never fade,
All that you do will prosper
With plenty of life to share.
This is not true for the wicked,
Like chaff they are blown by the wind;
Turning from the Heart of Love,
They will know suffering and pain;
Wisdom guards the way of the upright,
The way of foolishness leads to doom.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Seek the Lord, while the Lord may be found.
Call out to God when God is near.
Reading: Isaiah 26:1-6
On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city: You set up walls and ramparts to protect us. Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for it trusts in you.”
Responsory:
R. Waiting in the night I saw in a vision one like the Son of Man coming from afar. *And like a great cloud, his glory covered the earth.
V. Run out to meet him and say: are you the one to come, the promised one? *And like a great cloud, his glory covered the earth.
Gospel Canticle of Zachary Luke 1:68-79
Stand as you are able. The Gospel Canticle is preceded and followed by an antiphon based on the feast or Gospel of that day.
Antiphon:
Adonai will rise in your midst, O Jerusalem, and God’s glory will appear in your land.
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
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
Adonai will rise in your midst, O Jerusalem, and God’s glory will appear in your land.
Intercessory Prayer
Lord Jesus, our light in days of darkness, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, our hope in times of struggle, Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, our promise from God on high, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Gathering our prayers and praise into one, we pray as Jesus taught the disciples:
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Stir up your love, O Jesus, and come. As a mother hen spreads her wings to gather her brood, extend your arms to gather and protect us. Free us to bring the warmth of your love to a world freezing in loneliness and fear. For yours is the glory and power of Love, now and forever. Amen.
May the peace of the Holy ONE which surpasses all understanding + guard our hearts and our minds in Jesus-our Emmanuel. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~Thanks be to God.