Opening Versicles

P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

P: O Lord, open my lips,

C: and my mouth will declare Your praise.

P: Make haste, O God, to deliver me;

C: make haste to help me, O Lord.

C: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Praise to You, O Christ, King who comes to save us.

Hymn: “Hark the Glad Sound”

1 Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes, The Savior promised long;
Let ev'ry heart prepare a throne And ev'ry voice a song.

2 He comes the pris'ners to release, In Satan's bondage held.
The gates of brass before Him burst, The iron fetters yield.

3 He comes the broken heart to bind, The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of His grace To enrich the humble poor.

4 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heav'n's eternal arches ring With Thy beloved name.

Holden Evening Prayer (Sung)

P: Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world;

C: the light no darkness can overcome;

P: Stay with us now, for it is evening,

C: and the day is almost over.

P: Let your light scatter the darkness,

C: and shine within your people here….

All: Joyous light of heav’nly glory, loving glow of God’s own face,

you who sing creation’s story, shine on ev’ry land and race.

Now as evening falls around us, we shall raise our songs to you,

God of daybreak, God of shadows, come and light our hearts anew.

In the stars that grace the darkness, in the blazing sun of dawn,

in the light of peace and wisdom, we can hear your quiet song.

Love that fills the night with wonder, love that warms the weary soul,

Love that burst all chains asunder, set us free and make us whole.

You who made the heaven’s splendor, ev’ry dancing star of night,

make us shine with gentle justice, let us each reflect your light.

Mighty God of all creation, gentle Christ who lights our way,

Loving Spirit of salvation, lead us on to endless day.

P: May God be with you all

C: And also with you.

P: Let us sing our thanks to God.

C: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

P: Blessed are you, Creator of the universe--from old you have led your people by night and day. May the light of your Christ make our darkness bright, for your Word and your Presence are the light of our pathways, and you are the light and life of all creation.

C: Amen.

All: Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you. O God, I call to you, come to me now; O hear my voice when I cry to you. Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting of my hands as an offering to you. Keep watch within me, God; deep in my heart may the light of your love be burning bright, Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting of my hands as an offering to you. All praise to the God of all--Creator of life; all praise be to Christ and the Spirit of love. Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

(Silence for Meditation)

P: May our prayers come before you, O God, as incense, and may your presence surround and fill us, so that in union with all creation, we might sing your praise and love in our lives.

C: Amen.

Scripture Reading

Psalm 89:1-4

1 I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’”

P: The Light shines in the darkness,

C: and the darkness has not overcome it.

Luke 2:41-52

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man

P: The Light shines in the darkness,

C: and the darkness has not overcome it.

Responsory for Advent

P: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous
Branch.

C: This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

P: In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely.

C: This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

P: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

C: This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

Hymn: “Within the Father’s House”

1 Within the Father's house The Son has found His home,
And to His temple suddenly The Lord of life has come.

2 The doctors of the Law Gaze on the wondrous child
And marvel at His gracious words Of wisdom undefiled.

3 Yet not to them is giv'n The mighty truth to know,
To lift the earthly veil which hides Incarnate God below.

4 The secret of the Lord Escapes each human eye,
And faithful pond'ring hearts await The full epiphany.

5 Lord, visit Thou our souls And teach us by Thy grace
Each dim revealing of Thyself With loving awe to trace

6 Till we behold Thy face And know as we are known
Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Coequal Three in One.

Sermon Hard questions that hardly anybody’s asking, but that have answers in Advent

Holden Evening Prayer (con’t)

P: An angel went from God to a town called Nazareth to a woman whose name was Mary. The angel said to her, “Rejoice, O highly favored, for God is with you. You shall bear a child, and his name shall be Jesus, the Chosen One of God Most High.” And Mary said, “I am the servant of my God, I live to do your will.”

C: My soul proclaims your greatness, O God, and my spirit rejoices in you, You have looked with love on your servant here, and blessed me all my life through. Great and mighty are you, O Holy One, strong is your kindness evermore. How you favor the weak and lowly one, humbling the proud of heart. You have cast the mighty down from their thrones, and up lifted the humble of heart, You have filled the hungry with wondrous things, and left the wealthy no part. Great and mighty are you, O Faithful One, strong is your justice strong your love, as you promised to Sarah and Abraham, kindness forevermore. My soul proclaims your greatness, O God, and my spirit rejoices in you, You have looked with love on your servant here, and blessed me all my life through.

Prayers