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SERVICE OF LIGHT
Greeting/Invocation
Each evening this week, we light the First Candle on the Advent Wreath, and say or sing:
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
~Thanks be to God!
Let your face shine on us, O God;
~And we shall be saved.
ADVENT EVENING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of the Advent Evening Hymn
Our Love shall come when morning dawns and light triumphant breaks.
When beauty gilds the eastern sky and life to joy awakes.
Our Light shall come when morning dawns and earth’s dark night is past;
O haste the rising of that morn whose day shall ever last.
Our Life shall come when morning dawns as weary saints foretold
When love shall triumph over hate and truth will be extolled.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Refrain Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face
Psalm 23/24a
For Yours is the Earth and its fullness the world and all its peoples.
It is You who set it on the seas, on the waters you made it firm. (Refrain)
Who shall climb your mountain, Adonai, or stand in your holy place?
Those with clean hands and pure heart, who desire no worthless thing. (Refrain)
They shall receive blessings from your Love and reward from your saving Presence.
Such are the people who seek you, who seek the God of Jacob. (Refrain)
READING 2 Peter 3: 8b-9
In God’s eyes, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years are as a day. Our God does not delay in keeping a promise–though some consider it “delay.” Rather the Holy One shows you generous patience, wanting none to perish but all to wake up and turn to wisdom.
Silent Reflection
Responsory
R. You heavens, open from above, that clouds may rain the Just One.
Canticle of Mary Luke 1:46-55
Antiphon:
Out of Egypt I have called my Beloved,
who will come to save this people.
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 the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Out of Egypt I have called my Beloved,
who will come to save this people.
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany
How long the path which leads to you!
~ Come to meet us, be our way.
How heavy the burden of our misery!
~ Come to meet us, be our rest.
How darkly hard the journey to our Goal!
~ Come to meet us, be our light.
How lonely do we wander, stumbling together in the chaos!
~ Come to meet us, be our companion.
How long, Lord Jesus, do we wait for your return!
~ Come to meet us, be our hope’s fulfillment.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
O Wondrous Love, Holy Source of all this is, we praise you on this special feast remembering the life and the legends of St. Nicholas. May his example of unconditional love for children and the poor inspire us to share the gifts we receive with any who are in need. For yours is the glory and power of Love, now and forever. Amen.
All may make the sign of the Cross as we say:
May the peace of the Holy ONE+ which surpasses all understanding + guard our hearts and our minds in Jesus,+ our Emmanuel.
Let us bless the world with peace.
~Thanks be to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for Advent.
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. We ask, O Lord, that we who have been privileged to receive the Good News of the Incarnation of Christ, you Son, may be prepared through his passion and cross to approach also the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.