Entrance Psalm 121 Joy Was In My Heart (R. Reboud)
All sing: Joy was in my heart, Alleluia!
When I heard them say let us go to God’s house
Greeting
Opening Prayer
Lord God,
long ago your Son Jesus Christ came among us.
And yet, we are still waiting in hope
for his full coming today.
Make us more aware that you too are waiting for us
to create with you among people
the peace and freedom
the love, justice and light
that bear witness before all
that your Son is here, alive among us.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen
Advent Candle Procession Warm The Time of Winter (Lori True)
All sing: Holy light, warm our night, warm the time of winter
Holy light, warm our night, warm the time of winter
Blessing of Advent Wreath
My brothers and sisters, today we begin the season of Advent. We open our hearts to God’s love as we prepare to welcome Christ into our lives and homes. The candles of this wreath remind us that Jesus Christ came to conquer the darkness of this world and to lead us into the light of his glorious kingdom. And so we pray:
Prayer of Blessing
Prayer is said with hands outstretched
Lord our God,
We praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
He is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
He is the wisdom that teaches us and guides us,
He is the Saviour of every nation.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen
First candle is held before you for a very simple blessing (sign of cross) and then placed on wreath. Meanwhile chorus resumes:
All sing: Holy light, warm our night, warm the time of winter
Holy light, warm our night, warm the time of winter
Reading Isaiah 2:2-5 Let us walk in the light of the Lord
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob
that he may teach us his way
so that we may walk in his paths;
since the Law will go out from Zion,
and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He will wield authority over the nations
and adjudicate between many peoples;
these will hammer their swords into ploughshares,
their spears into sickles.
Nation will not lift sword against nation,
there will be no more training for war.O House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
This is the word of the Lord
Song: The People That Walked In Darkness (G.F. Handel)
Psalm 25 To You, O Lord (Marty Haugen)
All sing: To you, O Lord, I lift my soul
To you, I lift my soul
Reflection Maranatha
Response: Come Lord Jesus Come
Come amongst us, O God
You who cast the planets into space and cradle the sparrow in her nest. (R)
Come amongst us, O God,
You who bless the whole and broken and stand by the sad and strong. (R)
Come amongst us, O God
You who dance in the silence and shine in the darkness. (R)
Come amongst us, O God
You whose hand holds all the universe and who shaped the spider’s weaving. (R)
Come amongst us, O God
You who knew us and formed us before time who holds us tenderly and leads us on. (R)
Psalm Sing, Sing, Sing Alleluia (Mary A. O’Brien)
All sing: Sing, Sing, Sing Alleluia
This is the day the Lord has made
Dance, dance, dance alleluia
This is the day the Lord has made
Can, Can, Can Alleluia
Seo é an lá ‘thug an Tiarna dúinn
Seinn, Seinn, Seinn Alleluia
Seo é an lá ‘thug an Tiarna dúinn
Reading James 5:7-10
A reading from the letter of St. James
Be patient until the Lord’s coming. Think of a farmer: how patiently he waits for the precious fruit of the ground until it has had the autumn rains and the spring rains! You too have to be patient; do not lose heart, because the Lord’s coming will be soon. Do not make complaints against one another, so as not to be brought to judgement yourselves; the Judge is already to be seen waiting at the gates. For you example, in submitting with patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
This is the word of the Lord
Psalm 23 Lord, You are my Shepherd (Ephrem Feeley)
All sing: Lord, you are my shepherd;
In you I lack nothing
Reflection A Dwelling Place for Christ
looking high into winter trees
I see the distant nests
cradled in arms of branches.
nests: round, full of warmth,
softness in the welcoming centre,
a circle of earth’s tiny goodness,
flown from the far corners,
patiently pieced together,
and hollowed into a home.
nests: awaiting the treasure of life,
simple, delicate dwelling places
from which song will eventually echo
and freedom of wings give flight.
advent has been on my mind.
prepare the nest of heart.
patch up the broken parts.
place more softness in the centre.
sit and warm the home with prayer.
give the Christ a dwelling place.
Song: Sleeper’s Awake (J.S. Bach)
Psalm 34 The Cry of the Poor (John Foley S.J.)
All sing: The Lord hears the cry of the poor
Blessed be the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Pilgrim Alleluia (Liam Lawton)
Gospel Luke 1:39-45 (Lectionary 1 p. 87: Mary greets Elizabeth)
Homily
Magnificat Holy Is His Name (John Michael Talbot)
All sing: And Holy, Holy, Holy is his name
Intercessions
We turn to the Lord, asking his blessing on our world this Advent.
Sung Response: Lord Hear Our Prayer
For those who have an abundance of love, a bounty in heart and home, keep them mindful of the world’s poor. (R)
For those who carry hurts and angers and other heartaches, help them to feel the peace which only you can give. (R)
For those whose faith has grown dim and whose sense of you seems far away, touch them with the warmth of your presence. (R)
For those who are tired, weary, worn from a constant generous giving of their lives in love, be their energy and enthusiasm, a deep spark of light and happiness within them. (R)
For those who grieve the goodbye of a loved one and whose hearts are lonely, touch them with dear memories and a vision of what lies beyond this time and space. (R)
For those whose lives speak of growing old, bless them with peace and serenity and let them know the value of gentle witness. (R)
For those with young eyes, keep their hearts full of wonder and openness (R)
God our Father, our hope and our light,
Bless our world,
open our eyes to your presence among us
and to the joy of serving you in each other.
We ask this though Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Song: Come Unto Him (G.F. Handel)
Christmas Pudding (reflection)
Procession with Christmas Fare: Ullmhaígi Bóthar an Tiarna (Máire Ní Dhuibhir)
All sing: Ullmhaígí Bóthar an Tiarna, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Lord, we ask you to bless this Advent fare,
to bless all those who prepared it,
and all those who offer us hospitality and warmth in Christ’s name.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Advent Blessing
Bow your heads and pray for God’s Blessing
You believe that the Son of God once came to us;
you look for him to come again.
May his coming bring you the light of his holiness
and free you with his blessing.
Amen
May God make you steadfast in faith,
joyful in hope, and untiring in love
all the days of your life.
Amen
You rejoice that our Redeemer came to live with us as man.
When he comes again in glory,
may he reward you with endless life.
Amen
May almighty God bless you,
The Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Recessional O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Medieval French)
All sing: Rejoice, Rejoice, O Israel, to you shall come Emmanuel
O Come, O Come Emmanuel,
To free your captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of Man appear.
Rejoice, Rejoice, O Israel, to you shall come Emmanuel
O come great daystar radiance bright
And heal us with your glorious light,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice, Rejoice O Israel, to you shall come Emmanuel
O key of David’s city, come,
And open wide our heavn’ly home
Make safe the way that leads above
Protect us ever by your love.
Rejoice, Rejoice, O Israel, to you shall come Emmanuel