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A BEAD AND A PRAYER FOR ADVENT
Sunday, November 28—Friday, December 24
CROSS
In God alone is our life.
In God alone we worship.
In God alone we find our peace.
In God alone we seek justice.
Come, O God, and be with us
as we prepare to greet you anew
in your Christmas birthing.
INVITATORY
O God, our Creating, Redeeming, Reconciling, and Perfecting One,
Ruler of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, "Come, O God, to help us.
Make haste to deliver us, O God.
Amen.
—Henri J.M. Nouwen (adapted)
CRUCIFORM—Psalm 24
The earth and everything on it—
the world and all who live in it—
belong to God-Of-Hosts, Most High.
God-Of-Hosts, Most High, built it on the deep waters,
laying its foundations in the ocean depths.
Who has the right to ascend God-Of-Hosts, Most High’s mountain?
Who is allowed to enter God-Of-Hosts, Most High’s holy place?
Those whose hands are clean
and whose hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols, or make false promises.
God-Of-Hosts, Most High will bless them;
God their savior will declare them innocent.
Such are the people who seek YHWH,
who seek your face, God of our ancestors.
Fling wide the gates,
open the ancient doors,
and the Glorious Liberator will come in!
Who is this “Glorious Liberator”?
God-Of-Hosts, Most High, strong and mighty,
God-Of-Hosts, Most High, victorious in battle!
Fling wide the gates,
open the ancient doors,
and the Glorious Liberator will come in!
Who is this “Glorious Liberator”?
The God-Of-Hosts, Most High, is this “Glorious Liberator”.
—The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. (adapted)
WEEK I
■ O come, Thou Wisdom from on high
And order all things, far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
■ O come, O come, Thou God of might
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud, and majesty and awe
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
■ O come, desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all humankind
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease
And be Thyself our Sov'reign One of peace
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
■ O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
■ O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from evil's tyranny
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
■ O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel.
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
■ O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel.
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the One of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
CRUCIFORM—Psalm 98
Sing a new song to God-Of-Hosts, Most High,
who has worked wonders,
whose right hand and holy arm
have brought deliverance!
God-Of-Hosts, Most High, has made salvation known
and shown divine justice to the nations,
and has remembered in truth and love
the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Most High, all the earth,
break into joyous songs of praise!
Sing praise to the God-Of-Hosts, Most High,
with the harp, with the harp and melodious singing!
With trumpets and the blast of the shofar,
raise a shout to God-Of-Hosts, Most High, Ruler of All.
Let the sea and all within it thunder;
the world and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills ring out their joy
before God-Of-Hosts, Most High,
who comes to judge the earth,
who will rule the world with justice
and its peoples with equity.
—The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.(adapted)
WEEK II
■ Wisdom
▪ Sirach 24:3
“I am the word come forth from the mouth of YHWH; I enveloped the earth like a mist.
▪ Wisdom of Solomon 8:16
Eternal God, your Word of wisdom goes forth and does not return empty: Grant us such knowledge and love of you that we may perceive your presence in all creation and every creature; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, now and for ever. Amen.
▪ Prayer
O Wisdom, your words spoken in the beginning of creation generated a world of beauty and goodness: Come and instruct us in the way of prudence, that we may care for your world with justice and compassion; through the one whom we know as the Wisdom of the Ages, your Beloved and Anointed One. Amen.
■ Adonai
▪ Exodus 3. 2–6
There the angel of God appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Sarah, Hagar and Abraham, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, and the God of Rachel, Leah, and Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
▪ Exodus 20. 1-2
Then God spoke all these words: I am the One your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.
▪ Prayer
O Adonai, ruler of the house of Israel, you rescued remnants of your people from slavery and exile: Come and with great might deliver us from all that binds us to sin and alienates us from you, through the one whom we know as Mighty Savior of all, your Beloved and Anointed One. Amen.
■ Sovereign Of All/Desire Of The Nations
▪ Psalm 99. 1, 4
God of Hosts, Most High, is Sovereign; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justiceand righteousness in Rachel and Jacob.
▪ Haggai 2. 6-7
For thus says the God of Hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the God of hosts.
▪ Romans 15. 11-12
“Praise God, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise the Holy One . . . The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in that One the Gentiles shall hope.”
▪ Revelation 11. 15, 15. 3
“The Kin-Dom of the world has become the Kin-Dom of our God and of God's Beloved and Anointed One, and that Realm shall be forever and ever.”
▪ Prayer
O Sovereign of the Nations, you defend the cause of the poor and raise up the oppressed of the earth: Come and build us into a world community where all are valued and the vulnerable protected, through the One whom we know as the chief cornerstone, your Beloved and Anointed One. Amen.
■ Root Of Jesse
▪ Jeremiah 33. 14-15
“The days are surely coming, says God-Of-Hosts-Most-High, when I will bestow on Israel and Judah all the blessings I promised them. In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous branch from the line of David, who will bring justice and integrity to the land."
▪ Isaiah 11. 1-2
Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
▪ Prayer
O Root Of Jesse, you reach deep into our hearts, drawing forth our longing for justice: Come and plant within us a passion for your Kin-Dom; through the One whom we know as the Root of all righteousness, your Beloved and Anointed One. Amen.
■ Key of David
▪ Isaiah 22. 22
I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open.
▪ Revelation 3. 7
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
▪ Prayer
O Key of David, you open and no one closes; you close and no one opens: Come and liberate us from captivity to our past, that we may face your future's promise with boldness and purpose; through the One whom we know as the Son of David, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
■ Morning Star
▪ Isaiah 60. 1
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
▪ Luke 1. 76-79
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
▪ Prayer
O Rising Dawn, you chase away the shadows of the night: Come and enlighten our darkness with visions of reconciliation, that we who are alienated one from another may seek fullness of life together; through the One whom we know as the Light of the world, your Beloved and Anointed One. Amen.
■ Emmanuel
▪ Isaiah 7. 14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
▪ Matthew 1. 23
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear A Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
▪ Prayer
O Emmanuel, God with us, you dwell beyond our farthest reach, yet are nearer to us than we are to ourselves: Come among us in these days of expectation, that we may give birth to what is true, just, beautiful, and good; for you are the One whom we know as our Savior, and with the Creator and the Holy Spirit, you abide with us, one God, now and forever. Amen.
CRUCIFORM—Psalm 72
O God, give your anointed one your judgment—
and your justice.
Teach your chosen one to govern your people rightly
and bring justice to the oppressed.
The mountains will bring the people peace
and the hills justice!
Your anointed will defend the oppressed among the
people,
save the children of the poor,
and crush the oppressor.
The reign of your anointed will endure
as long as the sun and moon—
throughout all generations.
The rule of the chosen one will be
like rain coming down on the meadow,
like showers watering the earth.
Justice will flower through the days, and profound
peace,
until the moon be no more.
Your anointed will rule from sea to sea,
and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
The desert tribes will bow before the throne
and
the enemies of your chosen one will lick the
dust.
Tarshish and the Isles will offer gifts;
Arabia and Sheba will bring tribute.
All rulers will pay homage,
and all the nations will serve your anointed.
Your anointed will rescue the poor when they cry
out,
and the oppressed when there is no one to help
them.
Your chosen one
will take pity on the lowly and the poor,
and will save their lives.
Your chosen one
will rescue them all from violence and oppression,
and will treat their blood as precious.
Long live the anointed one!
Bring a tribute of gold from Sheba!
Let the ruler be prayed for continually,
and blessed day after day!
Let there be an abundance of grain upon the earth—
let it rustle on the mountaintops!
Let the crops flourish like the forests of Lebanon;
let them thrive like the grass of the fields.
May the name of your anointed one endure forever,
and continue as long as the sun.
In your chosen the nations of earth will be blessed,
and they will bless the anointed in return.
Blessed be the God-Of-Hosts-Most-High, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds!
And blessed forever be God’s glorious Name;
may the whole earth be filled with God’s glory. Amen, amen!
—The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. (adapted)
WEEK III
■ O Day of God draw nigh
In beauty and in power,
Come with your timeless judgment now
To match our present hour.
■ Bring to our troubled minds,
Uncertain and afraid,
The quiet of a steadfast faith
Calm of a call obeyed.
■ Bring justice to our land,
That all may dwell secure,
And finely build for days to come
Foundations that endure.
■ Bring to our world of strife
Your sov’reign word of peace,
That war may haunt the earth no more
And desolation cease.
■ Bring healing's reconcile
A people of one mind
In concord live inclusively
A humble love resigned.
■ O Day of God draw nigh
As at creation’s birth,
Let there be light again, and set
Your judgments in the earth.
CRUCIFORM
▪ Call To Confession
Jesus said, Do not let your hearts be weighed down by the sins and worries of this life, but watch and pray for the grace of God, who will save you in your time of trial. With confidence in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin.
—Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C.
▪ Prayer Of Confession
O God, have mercy on us. We are not ready for your coming. We live in sin, as though there were no justice. We live in fear, as though there were no grace. Forgive us, O God. Show us your mercy and steadfast love. Lead us in your truth, and teach us your paths, for you are the God of our salvation. Amen.
—Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C.
▪ Declaration Of Forgiveness
Friends, believe the good news: In Gods-Chosen-And-Anointed-One you are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
May God guide your way, strengthen you in all holiness, and make you abound in love for one another and for all.
—Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C.
WEEK IV
■ May God's Anointed One, the Wisdom of God, Discerner-Of-Just-Peace; keep us in your Spirit and Truth, knowing and serving You in the example of your servant Jesus.
■ May God's Anointed One, the Sovereign, Merciful-In-Compassion; keep us in the providence of the covenant wherein your healing and wholeness is found, and our brokenness becomes a transformation of reconciliation.
■ May God's Anointed One, the Keeper-Of-The-Realm, Desire-Of-The-Nations; keep us in the Way of God's Kin-Dom's will.
■ May God's Anointed One, the Root-Of-Jesse, Branch-Of-Hope; keep us growing and becoming the people you created and redeemed us to be.
■ May God's Anointed One, the Key of David, Opening-Door-Of-The-Kin-Dom; keep us within the Realm where justice and peace know no end.
■ May God's Anointed One, the Sun of Righteousness, DaySpring-Of-Each-New-Dawn; perfect us in love's hope, faith, joy and peace.
■ May God's Anointed One, the Emmanuel, God-With-Us, the Incarnate-One; continually bring to our remembrance and living the body in which we are a community of inclusion where each person belongs and where our diversity in unity is a blessed gift.
And the blessing of the Holy Trinity, One God, be upon you this day and for ever. Amen.
CRUCIFORM
O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High and reach from beginning to end, mightily and sweetly ordering all things. Behold and bless your people everywhere, even those with the saints above. Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Beloved and Anointed One of God, in wisdom you order all things peaceably, and where you are sovereign justice prevails; so form our minds and rule our hearts that we may freely show your care in perfect service toward the common good; now and for ever. Amen.
▪ Silence . . .
O God, you gave your law that righteousness might abound: Put it into our hearts to love justice for others as much as we desire it for ourselves, that, as we know you to be our judge, so we may welcome your reign as it is manifested through your Beloved and Anointed One, our Savior; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.
▪ Silence . . .
O Sovereign of the Nations and their Desire, you are the cornerstone that makes us one: We lift up all who are suffering and in need. Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous and help us minister to them in your love. Come and save us whom you have fashioned out of clay. Blessed are You and blessed in your Kin-Dom, world without end. Amen.
▪ Silence . . .
O Root of Jesse, you stand as an ensign to humankind; before you rulers will shut their mouths, and nations bow in worship: We pray for your peace and justice in every nation and throughout the world; be present to all whose lives are ravaged by war and strife. Guide the leaders of this and every land into the paths of peace and goodwill. Come save us and do not delay.
▪ Silence . . .
O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, you open and no one can shut, you shut and no one can open: Guide us in opening the doors of opportunity for the unemployed, for the homeless, for prisoners, and for all who are oppressed; and lead us in closing the doors that lead to poverty, bigotry, and injustice. Come and bring the captives out of the prison house.
▪ Silence . . .
Beloved and Anointed One, in your resurrection you appeared as the Morning Star that knows no setting: Dawn upon the darkness of the human heart so that the deathly orders of this world may be overcome and your whole creation renewed; for long to live in your way of justice and peace. To your honor and glory, O God, for ever and ever. Amen.
▪ Silence . . .
O Emmanuel, God-With-Us, Expected One and Savior, we give thanks for all the blessings of this life. We thank you for the witness of all your people and how you work your love through their lives. Make us all and everyone ready to receive you into our hearts, to serve you in all whom we meet, and to greet you in the fullness of your glory in the day of your appearing. Come and save us, O God.
▪ Silence . . .
INVITATORY
The heavens can no longer hold your abundant love, O God,
So you pour out the gift of your embodied self
Relinquishing the beauty of your majesty,
To adorn the pale colours of our humanity.
Choosing to enter into this world in a place of scarcity and need.
Reveal to us this hidden world
of poverty,
of refugees,
of suffering.
As you choose this as the place of your birth
Let us choose this to be the place of our rebirth.
Rebuild us,
Transform us,
Make us anew.
We ask this through your Beloved and Anointed One.
Amen.
—Kieran O'Brien/CAFOD (https://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Advent-prayers)
CROSS
Be at peace, and peace be with you. Amen.
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