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Hymn: O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appears
REJOICE! REJOICE! O ISRAEL!
TO YOU SHALL COME EMMANUEL.
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…..
O Come, O Dayspring from on high and cheer us by your drawing night:
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice…
O Come, Desire of nations bind in one the hearts of humankind.
Make all our sad divisions cease, and be for us the King of Peace.
Rejoice…
Psalm 84 Ant. The Lord shall come with peace and favor.
1. O God, you once favored your land and revived the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the guilt of your people and covered all their sins.
You averted your rage and calmed the heat of your anger.
2. Revive us now, God, our helper! Put an end to your grievance against us.
Will you be angry with us forever!
1. Will you not restore again our life that your people may rejoice in you?
Let us see, O God your mercy and give us your saving help.
2. I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace--
peace for people and God’s friends and for those who turn to God in their
hearts. His help is near for those who fear him and his glory will dwell in our
land.
1. Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven.
2. The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him and pace shall follow his steps. Glory…
READING: ISAIAH 35 1-3
Thirsty deserts will be glad; barren lands will celebrate and blossom with flowers. Deserts will bloom everywhere and sing joyful songs. They will be as majestic as Mount Lebanon, as glorious as Mount Carmel or Sharon Valley. Everyone will see the wonderful splendor of God!
RESPONSE: Come to Set Us Free (Bernadette Farrell)
Come to set us free, come to make us your own.
Come to show the way to our people, your chosen.
Open our lives to the light of your promise.
Come to our hearts with healing, come to our minds with power,
come to us and bring us your life.
You are light which shines in darkness, Morning Star which never sets.
Open our eyes which only dimly see, the truth which sets us free. Come…
You are hope which brings us courage, you are strength which never fails.
Open our minds to ways we do not know, but where your Spirit grows.
Come
You are promise of salvation, you are God in human form.
Bring to the world of emptiness and fear the Word we long to hear. Come…
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
ANT. YOU COME, O JESUS, WITHOUT DELAY. YOU WILL REVEAL THINGS KEPT HIDDEN AND SHOW YOURSELF TO ALL, ALLELUIA!
LEADER: Praise the Lord, the God of Israel who has come to save us!
Our God has given us a mighty Savior from the family of David his servant!
ALL: Long ago God promised by the words of his holy prophets to save us from our enemies and from everyone who hates us. God said he would be kind to our people and keep his sacred promise.
LEADER: God told our ancestor, Abraham, that he would rescue us from all our enemies. Then we could serve him without fear by being holy and good for the rest of our lives.
ALL: You my son, will be a prophet of God. You will go ahead of the Lord to get everything ready for him. You will tell his people they can be saved when their sins are forgiven.
LEADER: God’s love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky. On us who live in the dark shadow of death, this light will shine to guide us into a life of peace. GLORY…
INTERCESSIONS
LEADER: Let us pray to our gracious God who wants to dwell among us.
That all those who cannot see the way ahead may be redeemed, we pray.
ALL: Come, Lord Jesus.
That those who have become hardened in their prejudices or who are filled with hatred, may be healed, we pray:
Come, Lord Jesus.
That those whose hearts have ceased to trust others may be set free, we pray:
Come, Lord Jesus.
That those who are oppressed and crushed by war and violence may have hope, we pray:
Come, Lord Jesus.
That those who look for strength in weapons and violence be saved.
Come, Lord Jesus.
OUR FATHER…
PRAYER: O God, the perfect joy, you are the source of the happiness of heaven and earth, yet you cried like an infant child and rested in the arms of Mary. We praise you and ask that you come to us and all whom we pray for and minister to in a special way this season. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
MARIAN PRAYER:
ALL:
Holy Mary, mother and companion, in your friendship and care for us, fly to our side and stand close with us. Hear the cries of your sisters and brothers throughout the world. Gently move us all to a courageous faith and help us by your example to surrender our lives to Christ, Jesus, the Word. AMEN.
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