Gathering Song

The first Noel

The angel did say was to

Certain poor shepherds

In fields as they lay

The first Noel

In fields where they

Lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter’s night

That was so deep

Noel, Noel,

Noel, Noel,

Born is the King

Of Israel

They looked up

And saw a star

Shining in the east

Beyond them far

And to the earth

It gave great light

And so it continued

Both day and night

Noel, Noel,

Noel, Noel,

Born is the King

Of Israel

Then entered in

Those wise men three

Full rev’rently

Upon their knee

And offered there

In his presence

Their gold and myrrh

And frankincense

Noel, Noel,

Noel, Noel,

Born is the King

Of Israel

Psalm

God, give the king

your good judgment

that all will know your

honesty and fairness,

especially the poor,

especially the poor.

Let ev’ryone be

treated fairly.

Let there be peace until the

moon is no more.

Let peace and justice

stretch from sea to sea,

to the ends of the earth,

the ends of the earth.

The homeless, the

homeless will find shelter.

The poor,

the poor will be saved.

The weak and lowly

will be protected

in the day of the Lord,

the day of the Lord.

Gospel

GOSPEL

Priest:

The Lord be with you.

All:

And with your spirit.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God,

the Father almighty,

Creator of heaven

and earth,

and in Jesus Christ,

his only Son, our Lord

(Bow)

Who was conceived by the

Holy Spirit,

Born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under

Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died,

and was buried

he descended into hell;

on the third day

he rose again

from the dead;

he ascended into heavenand is seated

at the right hand ofGod the Father almighty;

from there he will cometo judge the living

and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Preparation

Let us be love’s welcome(In these times,)

to the stranger, alien;(In these times)

Let us be God’s mercy(in these times)

to the ones forgotten;(in these times)

be God’s compassion(in these times)

to the broken, grieving,(in these times)

be God’s strong justice(in these times)

to oppressions’ children.(in these times)

Open wide your welcome(in these times)

to the lost and homeless,(in these times)

to the weak and suff’ring:(in these times)

God’s reign among us.

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

All:May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

PREFACE DIALOGUE

Priest:The Lord be with you.

All:And with your spirit.

Priest:

Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest:

Let us give thanks to the

Lord our God.

All:

It is right and just.

LORD’S PRAYER

All:

Our Father, who art in

heaven, hallowed be thy

name; thy kingdom come, thy

will be done on earth as it is

in heaven.

All:

Give us this day our daily

bread; and forgive us our

trespasses as we forgive

those who trespass against

us.

All:

and lead us not into

temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Priest:Deliver us, Lord, …coming of our

Savior, Jesus Christ.

All:

For the kingdom, the power

and the glory are yours now

and for ever.

SIGN OF PEACE

Priest:

The peace of the Lord be

with you always.

All:

And with your spirit.

O God,

From those of us who are

unable to be physically

present for the sacrament of

Christ's Body and Blood,

accept this our spiritual

offering until we can join the

community again in our

sanctuary.

We are diminished when we

are not gathered,

and we are grieved,

but we are never separated

from your love or from the

care of our brothers and

sisters.

May our prayer be an

expression of honor to you

and of encouragement for

us. We give you thanks for

the many ways that you

remain always near to our

hearts.

Amen.

Meditation

Where charity and love prevail

there God is ever found. Brought

her together by Christ’s love, by

love are we thus bound.

Gathered ‘round as family, many

are made one. Forming love’s

community, one we now become.

No race nor creed can love exclude

if honored by God’s name.

Our family embraces all whose

Father is the same.

Parting

Light Dawns on a Weary

World

Light dawns

on a weary world

when eyes begin to see

all people’s dignity.

Light dawns

on a weary world:

the promised day of justice

comes.

Love grows

in a weary world

when hungry hearts

find bread

and children’s dreams

are fed.

Love grows

in a weary world:

the promised

feast of plenty comes.

Hope blooms

in a weary world

when creatures,

once forlorn,

find wilderness reborn.

Hope blooms

in a weary world:

the promised

green of Eden comes.