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Descendit Jesus cum eis, et venit Nazareth, et erat subditus illis.
(Communion Antiphon from Feast of the Holy Family)
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!
EVENING HYMN for CHRISTMASTIDE
O Christ, Redeemer of our race, And brightness of your Abba’s face,
Of whom and with whom forever One, Ere times and seasons had begun.
You are the very Light from light, Unfailing hope in darkest night,
Hear now the prayers your people pray The wide world o’er this Christmas day.
Remember, Lord of life and grace, How once in love you saved our race,
And did our human flesh assume In Mary’s virgin-mother womb.
Your Abba’s love sent you to come, to call us wayward children home.
On Earth let joy and praises ring, as with the saints your birth we sing.
All glory then we sing to you the Promised One the Virgin bore;
To Abba and the Spirit Blest, the Three-in-One forever more. Amen.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1
On the third day, they found Jesus in the temple,
seated in the midst of the doctors, listening and asking them questions.
Psalm 109/110
Adonai, to the One who will reign:
“Come and be My companion;
We will undo selfishness and sin.”
The Spirit will bring from Zion
The power and strength to save:
Love changing foes into friends.
Precious from the day of your birth
on the holy mountain;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
The Promise holds true forever:
Your ministry is Loving-Kindness–
A priest like Melchizedek of old.
Companions of the Most High are ready
To liberate all who suffer from evil.
The One who calls us to justice
Invites us to join in the struggle:
Enlightening all who are unaware of the truth.
Drink from streams of Living Water,
Lift up your head and celebrate the feast.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before, so now and evermore. Amen
On the third day, they found Jesus in the temple,
seated in the midst of the doctors, listening and asking them questions.
Antiphon 2
Jesus returned with Mary and Joseph to Nazareth.
Psalm 110/111
I will thank Adonai with all my heart
wherever the just meet or assemble.
Great are your works O my God;
a delight to explore and ponder.
Your creation is majestic and glorious
Your justice remains forever.
Who can forget your wonders!
filled with compassion and love!
You give food to all the faithful,
ever-mindful of your sacred covenant.
You revealed your strength to this people
by giving them land among the nations.
You rule with justice and truth;
Your decrees are helpful and certain;
each law reveals you can be trusted
and can be lived with faith and assurance.
Adonai has delivered this people
and established a covenant for ever.
Your holy Name fills us with awe!
Reverence for the Holy One is the beginning of wisdom,
wise are those who know how to live it!
Praise Adonai forever!
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Jesus returned with Mary and Joseph to Nazareth.
Antiphon 3
Jesus grew in wisdom, in stature and in favor with God and everyone.
Canticle from Philippians 2: 6-11
Refrain: Lord Jesus
Though he was in the form of God
Jesus did not snatch at equality with God. Lord Jesus
He emptied himself,
taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men. Lord Jesus
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death,
even death on a cross. Lord Jesus
Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him
the name that is above every name. Lord Jesus
That at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth. Lord Jesus
And every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.
Jesus grew in wisdom, in stature and in favor with God and everyone.
READING — Ephesian 1: 9-10
God has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of the Divine will, according to the purpose set forth in Christ Jesus; the plan for the fullness of time is to unite all things in Christ: things in heaven and things on earth.
Silent Reflection
Responsory
R. Here are words in which you can trust *Christ Jesus came to save sinners.
V. Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Abba and from the Lord–
*Christ Jesus came to save sinners.
Canticle of Mary Luke 1:46-55
Why did you look for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Abba’s house?
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
Why did you look for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Abba’s house?
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God full of grace and truth, ~hear our prayer.
You are the Word of your Abba ~ reveal God to us today.
Through You, all creation came into being ~ awaken our wonder and awe today.
You are the light that shines in the darkness ~ enlighten us today.
You have come into the midst of your own ~ help us recognize you today.
You give us the power to be children of God ~ make us live as brothers and sisters today.
You became flesh and set up a dwelling among us ~stay with us today.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father…
Closing Prayer and Blessing
God of endless love and compassion, when you touch our hearts we open our lives and our homes to create a great diversity of families. May this feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth on this 5th day of Christmas, strengthen our resolve to love each other deeply and to welcome into our circle of concern those excluded from their own families, those oppressed by injustice, and those whose lives are threatened by poverty, violence or war.
We ask this in the name of your 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 birth of our God and Savior Jesus Christ + bring all humanity to salvation. 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. 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.