O come thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily Refresh, restore, renew us, 0 God, and lead us into Your future. We acknowledge and embrace the pain of the past, O God, and we offer it to You,Īsking that into our wounded hearts and open hands You will place the gift of peace, shalom.Īll: We remember that through You all things are possible. Loss of relationships, loss of trust, loss of jobs, loss of health, loss of faith, the loss of joy. Officiant: We light this second candle to remember the pain of loss: Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, 0 Israel. That mourns in lonely exile here, until the son of God appear O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel We embrace and give thanks for the memories that bind them to us in this season of expectation,Īll: We remember them with love. We pause to remember clearly, their faces, their voices, their bodies.

Officiant: We light this first candle to remember those whom we have loved and lost. (As people entered the cathedral, ushers gave each person several paper stars with ornament hooks and a marker.įollowing the second reading from Isaiah 40, people were invited to write on each star their concerns for others or their own concerns). Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *Īnd I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies * Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name's sake. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures * God does not despise the affliction of the afflicted. Since my mother bore me, you have been my God.ĭo not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. You who kept me safe on my mother's breast. O my God, I cry by day but you do not answer, Why are you so far from helping me, so far from the words of my groaning? My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we prayĬast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us this day Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is given O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birthĪnd praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth. While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.įor Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie Ībove thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by People: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. What came to be through God was life, and this life was the light of the world. Officiant: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.Īll things were made by God, and without God nothing came to be.

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