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Welcome and Intro: Jim
Opening Prayer: Deb
Like our ancestors, we honor the cycles and the seasons that remind us of the ever-changing flow of life. Ritual acts give life meaning—they honor and acknowledge the unseen web of Life that connects us all.
[as Steve lights the fourth candle, Deb continues]
We light this fourth candle and remember that we are called to create, share and be light in all our ways of relating to all of Creation and commit ourselves to work for peace and justice in our world. And so, we respond: Let us kindle the light of love!
Opening Song: O Come, O Come Emmanuel -Anna Hawkins (Hebrew & English)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD-jBLZSZNU
O come, o come, Emmanuel
To free your captive Israel
Chazor, chazor Immanu-El
Ufde asirei Israel
Shebagola ne'enachim
Ad ki tavo Ben Elohim
Simchu! Simchu! Immanu-El
Yavo lachem bnei-Israel
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high
And order all things far and high
To us the path of knowledge show
And calls us in her ways to go
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel
O come, desire of nations, bind
All people sing one heart and mind
Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease
Fill the whole world with heavens peace
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel
To you shall come Emmanuel
Emmanuel
Ooh-ooh
Emmanuel
Aah-aah
EmmanuelTo you shall come Emmanuel
Liturgy of Word
First Reading: from the prophet Isaiah 7:10-14 [The Message Bible]
God spoke again to Ahaz. This time he said, “Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything. Be extravagant. Ask for the moon!” But Ahaz said, “I’d never do that. I’d never make demands like that on God!”
So Isaiah told him, Then listen to this, government of David! It’s bad enough that you make people tired with your pious, timid hypocrisies, but now you’re making God tired. So, God is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll bear a son and name him Emmanu-el (God-With-Us).
These are inspired words from the prophet Isaiah, and we affirm them by saying: Amen!
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24 [Inclusive Bible]
This is how the birth of Jesus came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, an upright person unwilling to disgrace her, decided to divorce her quietly. This was Joseph’s intention when suddenly the angel of God appeared in a dream and said, “Joseph, heir to the house of David, don’t be afraid to wed Mary; it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this child. She is to have a son, and you are to name him Jesus—‘Salvation’—because he will save the people from their sins.”
All this happened to fulfill what God has said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and give birth, and the child will be named Emmanu-El—a name that means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of God had directed, and they went ahead with the marriage.
These are inspired words from the evangelizer Matthew, and we affirm them by saying: Amen!
Homily Starter: Jim
Sung response to Word by community: Celtic Alleluia
Statement of Faith
We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist.
We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.
We believe that We are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.
We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.
We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.
Liturgy of Eucharist
Deb: As bearers and birthers of hope, peace, joy, and love, let us bring to the table our blessings and cares as well as the concerns of our world, beginning with the words: I bring to the table…
[Deb will close with] We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen!
Steve: With open hearts and hands, let us pray our Eucharistic prayer as one voice:
[written by Jay Murnane]
Source of all that is, we seek you in this season, when the earth is resting and preparing for new life. Like the earth, we long for new life and hopeful beginnings. This is the time of the pregnant woman, filled with life and hope powerful enough to topple structures of oppression. This is the time of her song of fidelity and celebration.
During this gentle season of Advent, we recognize that you have made us capable of bringing forth justice, like a rising sun. One with all who have gone before us, we sing a song of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here In This Place -Christopher Grundy
HOLY ONE, may your presence here open our minds
may your Spirit among us help us to find you are rising up now
like a fountain of grace from the holy ground
here in this place, here in this place.
Holy, holy, holy God of love and majesty
the whole universe speaks of your glory
from the holy ground here in this place, here in this place.
We thank you for those in times past who believed the good news, and lived what they believed.
Blessed is Isaiah and every visionary who insisted on a better future that would break through the deception, disaster and broken promises of the age in which they lived.
Blessed is John, in the stark desert of careful focus, inviting the people to be born again in your love.
Blessed is Miriam, who believed the words of Isaiah and opened herself up to the unbelievable.
And blessed is her child Jesus, who felt the sorrows of humankind in his soul, and responded with deep and tender compassion.
[extend hands in blessing]
We are grateful for your Spirit at our Eucharistic Table and for this bread and wine which reminds us of our call to be the body of Christ in the world.
On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly with them, he bent down and washed their feet.
[lifting bread plate]
When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying: Take and eat, this is my very self. [pause]
[lifting the cup]
Then he took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink. Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you. [pause]
As we share communion we will become communion, both love’s nourishment and love’s challenge. Be mindful as you receive that “You are (I am) the face of the Divine.”
Communion Meditation: Light Of The World (Lyric Video) by Lauren Daigle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cLhaZIBSpo
The world waits for a miracle
The heart longs for a little bit of hope
Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel
A child prays for peace on Earth
And she's calling out from a sea of hurt
Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel
And can you hear the angels singing
Glory to the light of the world
Glory, the light of the world is here
The drought breaks with the tears of a mother
A baby's cry is the sound of love
Come down, come down, Emmanuel
He is the song for the suffering
He is Messiah, the Prince of Peace has come
He has come, Emmanuel
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
For all who wait
For all who hunger
For all who've prayed
For all who wonder
Behold your Kin
Behold Messiah
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
Behold your Kin
Behold Messiah
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
The world waits for the miracle
The heart longs for a little bit of hope
Oh come, oh come Emmanuel
Prayers after Communion
O Emmanuel, strengthened by Word, Sacrament and your indwelling Spirit, may we
re-create the living presence of a love that does justice, of a compassion that heals and liberates,
of a joy that generates hope and a light that confronts the darkness of every injustice and inequity. By living this way, we give honor and glory to you, O Holy One, now and forever. Amen!
Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
O Holy one who is within, around and among us.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come; your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us, the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us, now and forever, Amen.
(Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter)
Blessing [extending hands in blessing]
As we go forth, may Emmanuel continue to bless us. May our living and loving this week be peaceful and filled with joy, bringing hope to all we meet. Amen!
Closing Song: Let Your Light Shine - Kathy Sherman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ6cawf4lik
Let your light shine in us (3x) and we will be light for the world.
Let your light shine in us (3x) and we will be light for the world.
We will be one and the kin-dom will come.
Let your heart beat in us (3x) and we will be love for the world.
We will be one and the kin-dom will come.
Let your joy sing in us (3x) and we will be hope for the world.
We will be one and the kin-dom will come.
Let your peace live in us (3x) and we will be one for the world
We will be one and the kin-dom will come.
Let your light shine in us (3x) and we will be light for the world.
Let your light shine in us (3x) and we will be light for the world.
We will be one and the kin-dom will come.
God photo by Isaac Quesada
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