Advent Morning Prayer. Week

Transcription

1 Advent Morning Prayer Week This prayer resource is offered to you as an assistance to prayerful preparation for our celebrating the birth of the infant Jesus at Christmas. What you will need These are aids but are not absolutely necessary. A quiet space Some music and a way to play it. A candle, ideally an Advent candle set. Add other items to your prayer space. The format each day Each prayer sheet: Starts with a focus for the week. Begins with an invitation to God; Creator, Son and Spirit, to be with us in our prayer. Lighting of the candle. A piece of music to settle yourself. A Psalm A passage from Scripture Suggested reflections on the Scripture passage. The Benedictus the song of Zacariah An invitation to intercessory prayer prayer for you and others arising from your time of reflection. The Our Father A piece of music again A concluding prayer. A Blessing You can use all or part of it as best suits your time and needs. It is referred to as morning prayer, primarily as it follows the format of the morning prayer of the church, which includes recitation of the Benedictus. You can choose to use this prayer at anytime of the day. Ideally use it in the earlier part of the day and then put some time aside at night to reflect back on what came up for you in the prayer earlier in the day and how that impacted your day. How you found God in your day. You could use the following simple examen at the end of the day format.

2 Simple Examen at the End of the Day Take a few moments to settle yourself. Sit comfortably and just become aware of your breathing. Don t change it, become aware of it. For three in breaths and out breaths, be aware of how it feels in your body. Invite yourself to be in the presence of your God, acknowledging that God is present to you at all times, whether you are aware of God s presence or not. A Prayer to God God, thank you. I thank you, God, for always being with me, but especially I am grateful that you are with me right now. God, send your Holy Spirit upon me. God, let the Holy Spirit enlighten my mind and warm my heart that I may know where and how we have been together this day. God, let me look at my day. God, where have I felt your presence, seen your face, heard your word this day? God, where have I ignored you, run from you, perhaps even rejected you this day? God, let me be grateful and ask forgiveness. God, I thank you for the times this day we have been together and worked together. God, I am sorry for the ways that I have offended you by what I have done or what I did not do. God, stay close. God, I ask that you draw me ever closer to you this day and tomorrow. God, you are the God of my life thank you.

3 Advent Morning Prayer Week 3 Monday 17 th December 2012 Our week begins with Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means rejoice in Latin. We prepare this week by feeling the joy. Each morning this week, in that brief moment we are becoming accustomed to, we want to light a third inner candle. Three candles, going from expectation, to longing, to joy. They represent our inner preparation, or inner-perspective. In this world of conflict and division, we begin each day this week with a sense of liberating joy. O God Come to our aid, O Lord, make haste to help us. All: Glory be to God our Creator, to Jesus the Christ, and to the Holy Spirit who dwells in our midst, both now and forever. Amen. Lighting of Advent wreath; (The Rose Candle) Almighty God, your promise of salvation fills us with joy and hope. We long for its fulfilment in our own time. Hear the cries of your people and let your justice be evident in our world, that we and all people may have ever new reasons to rejoice in your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Play some appropriate music. Psalm 25 (24) Lord, make me know your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Make me walk in your truth, and teach me; For you are God my saviour. Remember your mercy, Lord, And the love you have shown from of old. In your love remember me, Because of your goodness, O Lord. The Lord is good and upright. He shows the path to those who stray, He guides the humble in the right path; He teaches his way to the poor. Focus: We are invited to notice that what God brings is worth waiting for. But so often this is difficult, we can feel like we need God now. We want God to turn up in our lives in a clear and powerful way, it can be very difficult to remain patient, particularly when our lives are difficult or confusing or when we see violence in the world. At other times we are like the lost sheep wandering off on our own unaware of our effect on those around us. Yet in all these situations we are invited to consider how God is inviting us to choose those things which give life, waiting in hope and not despair, returning to God in joy and not shame, saying our yes to God despite our fears and concerns for those who are suffering or experiencing violent situations. Matthew 1:1-17 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

4 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. Prompts for reflection This genealogy creates a link for us from the readings of Isaiah in the past two weeks to the readings from Matthew and Luke we will be considering this week. Isaiah has said that The Saviour has blossomed from our land and from the chosen race of Israel. Jesus takes root in our human race. The list here is His inheritance from Joseph and He will now hand on this spiritual inheritance to His own people, the Church. I reflect now on my genealogy. What is the lineage of people who have gone before me? Who are the people coming after me? Name them, bring them here to this time of Prayer. I consider my spiritual inheritance. Who are the significant ones who handed the faith to me? To whom do I hand it on? There are 4 women mentioned in this genealogy. They are mentioned as they played a pivotal role within the history. Who are the women who have played a pivotal role in your heritage? As you come to an end of this time of reflection, can you sense the power brought into your space this morning through the inclusion of these people. Talk to God about them now, of your reaction this morning, of how much you belong within this spiritual inheritance. Benedictus Ant: The Lord, the ruler of the universe, will come from heaven in great majesty. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people and redeemed them. He has raised up for us a mighty saviour in the house of David his servant, as he promised by the lips of holy ones, those who were his prophets of old. A saviour who would free us from our foes, from the hands of all who hate us. So his love for our forebears is fulfilled and his holy covenant remembered. He swore to Abraham our father to grant us, that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes, we might serve him in holiness and justice all the days of our life in his presence. As for you, little child, you shall be called a prophet of God, the most High; You shall go ahead of the Lord to prepare his ways before him. To make known to his people their salvation through forgiveness of all their sins, the loving kindness of the heart of our God who visits us like the dawn from on high. He will give light to those in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death, and guide us into the way of peace. Ant: The Lord, the ruler of the universe, will come from heaven in great majesty. Prayers of Intercessions / Our Father / Music Concluding Prayer: In your love, Father, listen to our prayer; may your Son at his coming dispel by his grace the darkness of our hearts. We make our prayer through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen The Lord Bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

5 Advent Morning Prayer Week 3 Tuesday 18 th December 2012 Our week begins with Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means rejoice in Latin. We prepare this week by feeling the joy. Each morning this week, in that brief moment we are becoming accustomed to, we want to light a third inner candle. Three candles, going from expectation, to longing, to joy. They represent our inner preparation, or inner-perspective. In this world of conflict and division, we begin each day this week with a sense of liberating joy. O God Come to our aid, O Lord, make haste to help us. All: Glory be to God our Creator, to Jesus the Christ, and to the Holy Spirit who dwells in our midst, both now and forever. Amen. Lighting of Advent wreath; (The Rose Candle) Almighty God, your promise of salvation fills us with joy and hope. We long for its fulfilment in our own time. Hear the cries of your people and let your justice be evident in our world, that we and all people may have ever new reasons to rejoice in your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Music Psalm 34 (33) I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad. Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called; the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress. The Lord turns his face against the wicked to destroy their remembrance from the earth. The just call and the Lord hears and rescues them in all their distress. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; those whose spirit is crushed he will save. The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants. Those who hide in him shall not be condemned. Focus What is God s glory if not God s presence and God s grace made known. Looking around you at yourself and your fellow travellers, can you make out God s glory in those around you, can you make out God s presence here? Scripture: Matthew 1:18-24 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel" which means, "God is with us." When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. Prompts for reflection

6 Today we will focus on this scene of Joseph s dream. Consider the background to the scene. Mary is found to be pregnant, the trouble and tension this discovery probably caused between the families. Imagine how Joseph might have been feeling as he lay down to sleep that night. Now imagine the scene of Josephs dream. Concentrate on what you can see. What is the place like? What does Joseph look like? What does the Angel look like? What else can you see? Now listen to the Angel telling Joseph not to be afraid but to take Mary as his wife. Perhaps Joseph says something in response, what do you hear? Now consider what it is they are doing, Joseph and the Angel. The Angel carrying the news of the birth of this Saviour, Joseph accepting the role he was given, the beginnings of the unfolding of God s great saving plan. Reading is repeated Finally reflect on yourself and how you are involved in all of this. Speak to God about what you have learned or felt or noticed during this time. Benedictus Ant: Awake, awake, rise up, Jerusalem; throw away your bonds, captive daughter of Sion. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people and redeemed them. He has raised up for us a mighty saviour in the house of David his servant, as he promised by the lips of holy ones, those who were his prophets of old. A saviour who would free us from our foes, from the hands of all who hate us. So his love for our forebears is fulfilled and his holy covenant remembered. He swore to Abraham our father to grant us, that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes, we might serve him in holiness and justice all the days of our life in his presence. As for you, little child, you shall be called a prophet of God, the most High; You shall go ahead of the Lord to prepare his ways before him. To make known to his people their salvation through forgiveness of all their sins, the loving kindness of the heart of our God who visits us like the dawn from on high. He will give light to those in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death, and guide us into the way of peace. Ant: Awake, awake, rise up, Jerusalem; throw away your bonds, captive daughter of Sion. Prayers of Intercessions / Our Father / Music Concluding Prayer: Father, through your Son you have made us a new people. Look on us now as the new creation of your love and by the coming of your Son cleanse us from every state of sin. We make our prayer through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen The Lord Bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

7 Advent Morning Prayer Week 3 Wednesday 19 th December 2012 Our week begins with Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means rejoice in Latin. We prepare this week by feeling the joy. Each morning this week, in that brief moment we are becoming accustomed to, we want to light a third inner candle. Three candles, going from expectation, to longing, to joy. They represent our inner preparation, or inner-perspective. In this world of conflict and division, we begin each day this week with a sense of liberating joy. O God Come to our aid, O Lord, make haste to help us. All: Glory be to God our Creator, to Jesus the Christ, and to the Holy Spirit who dwells in our midst, both now and forever. Amen. Lighting of Advent wreath; (The Rose Candle) Almighty God, your promise of salvation fills us with joy and hope. We long for its fulfilment in our own time. Hear the cries of your people and let your justice be evident in our world, that we and all people may have ever new reasons to rejoice in your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Music Psalm 85 Show us, Lord, your love; grant us your salvation. I will listen for the word of God; surely the Lord will proclaim peace to his people, to the faithful, to those who trust in him. Near indeed is salvation for the loyal; prosperity will fill our land. Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss. Truth will spring from the earth; justice will look down from heaven. The Lord will surely grant abundance; our land will yield its increase. Luke 1:8-25 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both well advanced in years. Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." The angel said to him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time."

8 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people." Prompts for reflection Imagine Zechariah entering the sanctuary. Imagine the sounds and the smells, that of incense perhaps; what is he wearing? what colour is his hair? What does the sanctuary look like? The angel appears which frightens him, but the angel tells him not to be afraid, his wife is to bear a son, to be called John, to be great in the sight of God. In your imagination, listen and hear all the wonderful things the angel says about John. Zechariah is reluctant to believe that such great news could be true. For a moment imagine his feelings, not daring to believe the good news. Zechariah doubts the Angels words and is struck dumb, unable to speak. He emerges from the sanctuary still unable to speak and has to motion to the people. Imagine them speaking to him, but getting no reply except for his gestures. Elizabeth conceives and says "The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown His favour and taken away my disgrace among the people." Can you see her face, the joy in her face and the joy in her voice as she says this? Reflecting now on yourself, speak to God about how you have responded to this story, how you are part of this story of salvation. Benedictus Ant: Be comforted, my people, be comforted, says your God. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people and redeemed them. He has raised up for us a mighty saviour in the house of David his servant, as he promised by the lips of holy ones, those who were his prophets of old. A saviour who would free us from our foes, from the hands of all who hate us. So his love for our forebears is fulfilled and his holy covenant remembered. He swore to Abraham our father to grant us, that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes, we might serve him in holiness and justice all the days of our life in his presence. As for you, little child, you shall be called a prophet of God, the most High; You shall go ahead of the Lord to prepare his ways before him. To make known to his people their salvation through forgiveness of all their sins, the loving kindness of the heart of our God who visits us like the dawn from on high. He will give light to those in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death, and guide us into the way of peace. Ant: Be comforted, my people, be comforted, says your God. Prayers of Intercessions / Our Father / Music Concluding Prayer: Almighty God and Father, by our celebration of the coming feast of your Son s birth heal our present ills and lead us to eternal joy. We make our prayer through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen The Lord Bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

9 Advent Morning Prayer Week 3 Thursday 20 th December 2012 Our week begins with Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means rejoice in Latin. We prepare this week by feeling the joy. Each morning this week, in that brief moment we are becoming accustomed to, we want to light a third inner candle. Three candles, going from expectation, to longing, to joy. They represent our inner preparation, or inner-perspective. In this world of conflict and division, we begin each day this week with a sense of liberating joy. O God Come to our aid, O Lord, make haste to help us. All: Glory be to God our Creator, to Jesus the Christ, and to the Holy Spirit who dwells in our midst, both now and forever. Amen. Lighting of Advent wreath; (The Rose Candle) Almighty God, your promise of salvation fills us with joy and hope. We long for its fulfilment in our own time. Hear the cries of your people and let your justice be evident in our world, that we and all people may have ever new reasons to rejoice in your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Music Psalm 30 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favour is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved. You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul* may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you for ever Focus From the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is great among the nations. As I come into prayer this morning, I recognise the greatness of God who makes the sun rise and set; God who created me and all the people here around me; God who encompasses the whole world form east to west in a loving embrace and I allow myself to accept that loving embrace.. Scripture Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail."

10 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me according to your word." Then the angel left her. Prompts for reflection Try to imagine this scene. What can you see? Where does this take place? What is the place like; is it indoors or outdoors? What time of day is it? What is Mary wearing? What does she look like? What does the Angel Gabriel look like? What else can you see? Now imagine what they are saying. Listen to the conversation. Hear the amazing news that Gabriel tells Mary and her response. What do you hear? Now consider what they are doing. What is taking place? Gabriel carrying God s message to Mary, Mary placing herself at God s service to bring God s son into the world, the fulfilment of God s promise to send us the saviour we yearn for. Reading is repeated Reflect now on yourself on what you have felt and experienced during this time. Speak to God about this, telling the Lord about your own feelings and desires as you witness the unfolding of the Divine plan. Benedictus Ant: Arise, arise Lord, and show us your might. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people and redeemed them. He has raised up for us a mighty saviour in the house of David his servant, as he promised by the lips of holy ones, those who were his prophets of old. A saviour who would free us from our foes, from the hands of all who hate us. So his love for our forebears is fulfilled and his holy covenant remembered. He swore to Abraham our father to grant us, that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes, we might serve him in holiness and justice all the days of our life in his presence. As for you, little child, you shall be called a prophet of God, the most High; You shall go ahead of the Lord to prepare his ways before him. To make known to his people their salvation through forgiveness of all their sins, the loving kindness of the heart of our God who visits us like the dawn from on high. He will give light to those in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death, and guide us into the way of peace. Ant: Arise, arise Lord, and show us your might. Prayers of Intercessions / Our Father / Music Concluding Prayer: With sorrow Lord, we confess our sins, unworthy servants that we are. Heal us and bring us joy by the coming of your only Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen The Lord Bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

11 Advent Morning Prayer Week 3 Friday 21 st December 2012 Our week begins with Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means rejoice in Latin. We prepare this week by feeling the joy. Each morning this week, in that brief moment we are becoming accustomed to, we want to light a third inner candle. Three candles, going from expectation, to longing, to joy. They represent our inner preparation, or innerperspective. In this world of conflict and division, we begin each day this week with a sense of liberating joy..o God Come to our aid, O Lord, make haste to help us. All: Glory be to God our Creator, to Jesus the Christ, and to the Holy Spirit who dwells in our midst, both now and forever. Amen. Lighting of Advent wreath; (The Rose Candle) Almighty God, your promise of salvation fills us with joy and hope. We long for its fulfilment in our own time. Hear the cries of your people and let your justice be evident in our world, that we and all people may have ever new reasons to rejoice in your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Music Psalm 66 (65) O God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shed its light upon us. So will your ways be known upon earth and all nations learn your saving help. Let the nations be glad and exult for you rule the world with justice. With fairness you rule the peoples, you guide the nations on earth. The earth has yielded its fruit for God; our God, has blessed us, May God still give us his blessing till the ends of the earth revere him. Focus Let nothing trouble you or make you afraid. Those who have God will lack nothing, God alone is enough. Luke 1:39-45 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!"

12 Prompts for reflection This is a touching scene, the meeting of the two cousins. How do you imagine it? Can you picture the scene? What does the Judean hill country look like? Are the hills steep or gently? Is the land green or dry and dusty? What is Zechariah s house like? Can you picture Elizabeth and Mary, the looks on their faces as they meet? What else can you see? Now imagine what they say, hear them say it, Mary s greeting, Elizabeth s praise and delight for her young cousin. Can you imagine the warmth of the embrace they most likely had for each other? The love and the joy expressed in it. Consider what they are doing, what is happening here, two women, two faithful servants of God carrying in their wombs John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ. How through these two women who put themselves at God s service, God s plan continues to unfold. Reading is repeated Reflecting on this, speak to God as you would to a friend, what you noticed about this scene, how you respond to it, how it moves you to desire or to do. Benedictus Ant: Observe what is right, and do what is just: for my salvation will come soon. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people and redeemed them. He has raised up for us a mighty saviour in the house of David his servant, as he promised by the lips of holy ones, those who were his prophets of old. A saviour who would free us from our foes, from the hands of all who hate us. So his love for our forebears is fulfilled and his holy covenant remembered. He swore to Abraham our father to grant us, that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes, we might serve him in holiness and justice all the days of our life in his presence. As for you, little child, you shall be called a prophet of God, the most High; You shall go ahead of the Lord to prepare his ways before him. To make known to his people their salvation through forgiveness of all their sins, the loving kindness of the heart of our God who visits us like the dawn from on high. He will give light to those in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death, and guide us into the way of peace. Ant: Observe what is right, and do what is just: for my salvation will come soon. Prayers of Intercessions / Our Father / Music Concluding Prayer: Let your grace, Lord, light our pilgrim way to the end. Support us now and always as we wait, longing with all our hearts, for the coming of Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen The Lord Bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.