Opening Prayer
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Benedictus with Advent Antiphon
Antiphon: The Lord has come to his people and set them free.
Antiphon for December 16: O Wisdom, that comes out of the mouth of the Most High,
that reaches from one end to the other, and mightily and sweetly orders all things:
come to teach us the way of prudence.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: The Lord has come to his people and set them free.
Antiphon for December 16: O Wisdom, that comes out of the mouth of the Most High,
that reaches from one end to the other, and mightily and sweetly orders all things:
come to teach us the way of prudence
Reading
Sunday: Isaiah 40:1-5
Monday: Genesis 3:1-7
Tuesday: Genesis 3:8-13, 22-23
Wednesday: Hosea 11:3-4
Thursday: Psalm 130
Friday: Micah 6:6-8
Saturday: Jeremiah 14:8-9
SONG
Savior of the Nations Come
Savior of the nations, come,
Show yourself, the virgin’s son.
Marvel heaven, wonder earth,
That our God chose such a birth.
Not by human power or seed
Did the woman's womb conceive;
Only by the Spirit's breath
Was the Word of God made flesh.
Mary then was found with child,
Still a virgin, chaste and mild.
God had favored her with grace
To receive the Prince of Peace.
Christ laid down his majesty,
Passed through dark Gethsemane.
Though he left his Father's home,
Christ now sits on God's own throne.
Christ in glory intercede
For your creatures’ suffering need.
Let your resurrecting power
Soon complete the victory hour.
Praise to you, O Lord, we sing.
Praise to Christ, our newborn King!
With the Father, Spirit, one,
Let your lasting kingdom come.
---
Text: Ambrose, 4th cent., and Martin Luther, 1523;
Translation. Calvin Seerveld, 1984
Tune: Enchiridia, circa 16th cent.
Arrangement: Bruce Benedict, 2009
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever and ever. Amen.