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(c) 2010, Linda Witte Henke (www.lindahenke.com). All rights reserved.
O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
Service of Light
Greeting/Invocation
We light three Candles 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
We sing the appropriate verse from this well-known and beloved Advent Carol
O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law, in cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Wisdom from on high, Who orders all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
The Law shall come forth from Zion,
and from Jerusalem, the Word of Adonai!
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,
that 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
The Law shall come forth from Zion,
and from Jerusalem, the Word of Adonai!
READING: Micah 4:2-3
In the days to come, many nations shall come, and say, “Come let us climb the Mount of Adonai, to the House of the God Jacob, That God may instruct us in the ways of truth and we may walk in the paths of justice.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of Adonai from Jerusalem. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.
Silent Reflection
Responsory
R. I saw coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man; * and children of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
V. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, his reign shall never be destroyed; * and children of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
Canticle of Mary Luke 1:46-55
O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel ,
you appeared to Moses in the fire of the flaming bush
and gave him the Law on Mount Sinai!
Come to gather us in your welcoming embrace.
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 through the WORD
In the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel ,
you appeared to Moses in the fire of the flaming bush
and gave him the Law on Mount Sinai!
Come to gather us in your welcoming embrace.
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany
We pray to the one who rescues us from darkness
and in hope we cry out: ~ Come Lord Jesus
Heal those who suffer from illness or injury. ~Come Lord Jesus.
Comfort those who grieve the loss of loved ones. ~Come Lord Jesus.
Gather into one family all the peoples of the Earth. ~Come Lord Jesus.
Find those who have lost their way. ~Come Lord Jesus.
Renew again your covenant with all creation. ~Come Lord Jesus.
Teach us to pray…
Our Father …
Final Prayer and Blessing
Creator and Redeemer of humankind, the eternal Word through whom you gave the Torah to Moses, took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and extended his arms on the cross to welcome all in his embrace. Fill us with the fire of his Love which fulfills the Law and restores your image in each of us. We ask this through the same Incarnate Word who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
All may make the sign of the Cross as we say:
May the One who makes peace to rain down from the heights,
+ shower us and all on Earth with wisdom and compassion. 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 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.