Worship along with us!
First Sunday of Advent November 27, 2022
St. Mary’s uses music by permission from OCP through One License. Our license number is M-400277. All songs used in today’s Mass are used by permission.
INTRODUCTORY RITES************************
People Look East
1. People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.
2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.
4. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.
Greeting
Bishop Tom: Welcome to St. Mary’s of Washington, DC, a parish of the National Catholic Church of North America!
Blessing of the Advent Wreath and Lighting
Let us begin,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. +
All: Amen.
Responsory:
Bp. Tom: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
ALL: Who made Heaven and earth.
Reading
The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen.
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and hast not increased the joy. They shall rejoice before thee, as they that rejoice in the harvest, as conquerors rejoice after taking a prey, when they divide the spoils.
For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.
His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom; to establish it and strengthen it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth and for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Prayer of Blessing:
O God, by whose word all things are sanctified, pour forth thy blessing upon this wreath, and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and may receive from Thee abundant graces. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sprinkle the Advent Wreath with Holy Water: Bp. Tom sprinkles the Advent wreath with holy water.
Advent Wreath Prayer for the First Week and Lighting the First Candle
Bestir, O Lord, Thy might, we pray to you -- and come; that, defended by You, we may deserve rescue from approaching dangers brought on by our sins, and being set free by You, obtain our salvation. Who lives and reigns, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O Come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
REFRAIN
Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
[Verse 2]
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high
And order all things, mightily
To us the path of knowledge show
And teach us in her ways to go
[Refrain]
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
[Verse 6]
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud, and majesty and awe
[Refrain]
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
[Verse 7]
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
[Refrain]
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
Penitential Act
Bp. Tom: Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
All say:
I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
(And, striking their breast, they say)
through my fault,
through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Bp. Tom: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
ALL: Amen
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
All-powerful God,
increase our strength of will for doing good
that Christ may find an eager
welcome at his coming
and call us to his side in the
kingdom of heaven,
where he lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
ALL: AMEN
LITURGY OF THE WORD***********************
The first reading is from the Book of Isaiah
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come,
the mountain of the LORD's house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
"Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths."
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
The Word of the Lord
ALL: Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTN8ipKW2Dk
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my brothers and friends
I will say, "Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
The second reading is from the Letter to the Romans
Brothers and sisters:
You know the time;
it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.
For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;
the night is advanced, the day is at hand.
Let us then throw off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light;
let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,
not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in promiscuity and lust,
not in rivalry and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
The Word of the Lord.
ALL: Thanks be to God
Gospel
ALL: Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation..
ALL: Alleluia, alleluia.
Bp. Tom: The Lord is WITH you!
ALL: And also with you!
Bp. Tom: A Reading from the Holy Gospel, according to Matthew
ALL: Glory to you, Oh Lord!
Jesus said to his disciples:
"As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
Bp. Tom: The Gospel of the Lord
ALL: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
HOMILY
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven, (bow)
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
she proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son she is adored and glorified.
And she has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Universal Prayer
General Intercessions / Prayer of the Faithful:
Bp. Tom: Father, thank you for hearing our prayers. Help us to prepare a way for the Lord. Restore our joy, our love, our hope when they are challenged by what is happening in the world. Give us hope to look forward and not backward.
*For an end to this plague of violence that permeates every place of our lives: schools, grocery shopping, Walmart, a bus trip, parades. Give those who represent us the spine to stand against special interests and pass meaningful legislation aimed at ending this never ending cycle of violence.
WE PRAY TO THE LORD
LORD THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR PRAYER
*For those dealing with mental health issues or depression. For those who have given up hope. Heal and restore them.
WE PRAY TO THE LORD
LORD THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR PRAYER
*For your earthly shepherds that you have called to help us through this time called “life.” Build them up when they are down; heal them when they are sick; and encourage them when they become discouraged. We pray especially for Pope Francis, my Bishop James Sherlock, Bishop-emeritus Tom Sterner, Bishop Charlie Braun, Bishop David Lett, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, and me your humble servant.
WE PRAY TO THE LORD
LORD THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR PRAYER
For those that serve and protect us in the military. Surround them and their families with the angels that first proclaimed your Son’s birth. Protect them. Comfort them.
WE PRAY TO THE LORD
LORD THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR PRAYER
*For those who are sick: for Ron Gilroy, for Matt Ward’s mom Ann, Richard Muller, Carol Rasor-Cordero, Leonard Matarese, Courtney Rae, Danny Arens, Debbie Hanson, Melissa DeWitt Arens, Deb Meyers, Christopher Hlat, Cory Fleming, Frank Vance, Jr, Vaughn Dues-Greenwood's husband Ken, Alan Thompson, Fr. Joseph Riggeri, for Pam Weaver-Antil’s dad,
Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, Kevin Joseph Scarborough, …………………………………………..as well as those suffering with or recovering from the COVID-19 virus.
WE PRAY TO THE LORD
LORD THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR PRAYER
*For those who have died:
Those killed in Chesapeake, VA
Those killed in Colorado
Pam Antil’s dad, Jess Weaver
Eddie Martin’s mom, Cindy
WE PRAY TO THE LORD
LORD THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR PRAYER
*For the intentions of those joining this Mass……
WE PRAY TO THE LORD
LORD THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR PRAYER
Come Lord Jesus we pray. Receive these prayers that we place before you. We ask, Father, all of these in the name of Jesus our Lord.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST*********************
Creator of the Stars
Josh Blakesley
Creator of the stars of night,
Your people’s everlasting light,
O Christ, Redeemer of us all,
We pray you hear us when we call.
In sorrow that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe.
You come O savior to set free
Your own in glorious liberty.
Come, O come, into the night
O child of light!
Come, O come! The earth will bow;
Come save us now!
O come!
When this old world drew on toward night,
You came; but not in splendor bright,
Not us a monarch, but the child
Of Mary, blameless mother mild.
Come, O come, into the night
O child of light!
Come, O come! The earth will bow;
Come save us now!
O come!
At your great Name, O Jesus, now
All knees must bend, all hearts bow;
All things on earth with one accord,
Like those in heav’n shall call you Lord.
Oh Lord!
Come, O come, into the night
O child of light!
Come, O come! The earth will bow;
Come save us now!
Come, O come, into the night
O child of light!
Come, O come! The earth will bow;
Come save us now!
O come! O come!
Prayer over the Offerings
Bp. Tom: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness
we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work
of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
The people reply: Blessed be God for ever.
The priest pours wine and a little water into the chalice.
By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
Bp. Tom: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness
we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and
work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.
The people reply: Blessed be God for ever.
Father completes additional personal preparatory rites.
Lord God, we ask you to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite hearts.
Father pours water over his hands and says:
Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin.
Bp. Tom:
Pray my brothers and sisters,
that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
The people reply:
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.
Prayer Over the Gifts:
Father,
from all you give us
we present this bread and wine.
As we serve you now,
accept our offering
and sustain us with your promise of eternal life.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
ALL: Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer
Preface Dialogue:
Bp. Tom: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.
Bp. Tom: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Bp. Tom: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God People: It is right to give God thanks
and praise
Father, all powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
When he humbled himself to come among us as a man,
he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago
and opened for us the way to salvation.
Now we watch for the day,
hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours
when Christ our Lord will come again in his glory.
And so with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:
Sanctus ("Holy, Holy"; based on the praise of the Seraphim in Isa 6:3 and Rev 4:8):
ALL: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
God of Power, God of Might.
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Eucharistic Prayer I
Epiclesis (calling upon the Holy Spirit):
We come to your, Father, with praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ your Son. Through him we ask you to accept and bless + these gifts we offer you in sacrifice. We offer them for your holy catholic Church, watch over it, Lord, and guide it; grant it peace and unity throughout the world. We offer them for Francis, the Bishop of Rome, for James our bishop, me your humble servant, and for all who hold and teach the catholic faith that comes to us from the apostles.
Remember, Lord, your people, especially those for whom we now pray, {names}. Remember all of us gathered here before you. You know how firmly we believe in you and dedicate ourselves to you. We offer you this sacrifice of praise for ourselves and those who are dear to us. We pray to you, our living and true God, for our well-being and redemption.
In union with the whole Church we honor Mary, the ever-virgin mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God. We honor Joseph, her husband, the apostles and martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, and all the saints. May their merits and prayers gain us your constant help and protection.
Father, accept this offering from your whole family. Grant us your peace in this life, save us from final damnation, and count us among those you have chosen.
Bless and approve our offering; make it acceptable to you, and offering in spirit and in truth. Let is become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord.
Institution Narrative (recalling the words and actions of Jesus at the Last Supper; see Mark 14:22-24; Matt 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25):
The day before he suffered he took break in his sacred hands and looking up to heaven, to you, his almighty Father, he gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body which will be given up for you.
When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it:
this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.
Memorial Acclamation:
Bp. Tom: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
ALL: We proclaim your death O Lord, and profess your resurrection. Until you come again; until you come again!
Anamnesis, Offering, and Intercessions:
Father, we celebrate the memory of Christ, your Son. We, your people and your ministers, recall his passion, his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into glory; and from the many gifts you have given us we offer to you, God of glory and majesty, this holy and perfect sacrifice: the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation.
Look with favor on these offerings and accept them as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchizedek.
Almighty God, we pray that your angel may take this sacrifice to your altar in heaven. Then, as we receive from this altar the sacred body and blood of your Son, let us be filled with every grace and blessing.
Remember, Lord, those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, especially those for whom we now pray: the victims of mass shootings this week. May these, and all who sleep in Christ, find in your presence light, happiness, and peace.
For ourselves, too, we ask some share in the fellowship of your apostles and martyrs, with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, and all the saints. Though we are sinners, we trust in your mercy and love. Do not consider what we truly deserve but grant us your forgiveness. Through Christ our Lord.
Through him you give us all these gifts. You fill them with life and goodness, you bless them and make them holy.
Doxology and Great Amen:
Through him, with him, and in him
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
all glory and honor is yours,
almighty Father
for ever and ever.
The people acclaim: Amen
Lord's Prayer (Sung)
https://youtube.com/shorts/VGAyBnOXt3g?feature=share
Bp. Tom: Let us pray for the coming of the kingdom as Jesus taught us.
All: Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your 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 do not let us be led into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
Bp. Tom: Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
For the kingdom the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever.
Sign of Peace
Bp. Tom: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Bp. Tom: The Peace of the Lord be with you always.
All: And also with you.
Bp. Tom: Let us offer each other a sign of peace.
Breaking of the Bread. LAMB OF GOD (SUNG)
All: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.
Communion
Bp. Tom: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.
All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
Communion Minister: The body of Christ. Communicant: Amen.
Communion Minister: The blood of Christ. Communicant: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
ALL: My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You.
Communion Song
Christ, Be Our Light
Song by Bernadette Farrell
Longing for light, we wait in darkness
Longing for truth, we turn to You.
Make us Your own, Your holy people
Light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in Your church gathered today.
Longing for shelter, many are homeless
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us Your building, sheltering others
Walls made of living stone.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in Your church gathered today.
Many the gift, many the people
Many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another
Making Your kingdom come.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in Your church gathered today.
Prayer after Communion
Bp. Tom: Let us pray.
Father,
may our communion
teach us to love heaven.
May its promise and hope
guide our way on earth.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
ALL: Amen.
CONCLUDING RITES************************
Optional Announcements
Greeting and Blessing
Bp. Tom: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
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 his blessing bring you freedom.
ALL: AMEN
May God make you steadfast in faith,
joyful in hope, and untiring in love
all the days of your life.
ALL: AMEN
You rejoice that our Redeemer came to live with us as a man.
When he comes again in glory,
may he reward you with endless life.
ALL: AMEN
May almighty God bless you,
The Father, + and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
ALL: AMEN
Dismissal
Bp. Tom: Go in the peace of Christ!
ALL: Thanks be to God!
Recessional and Closing Song:
Ready the Way of the Lord
Bob Hurd
Ready the way of the Lord,
Ready the way of the Lord,
A voice cries out in the wilderness,
Ready the way of the Lord.
Let every valley be filled
Let every be filled.
Let every mountain be humbled
Let every valley be filled.
REFRAIN
Here is your God
Coming with your vindication.
Look and behold
The saving power of God.
Desert and waste land will bloom,
Desert and waste land will bloom
Glory and splendor will fill the land
Desert and waste land will bloom.
Those who are blind will then see
Those who are deaf will then hear.
Those who are lame
Will then leap for joy
Those who are mute will then see.
REFRAIN
Strengthen the ones who are weak
Strengthen the ones who are weak
Say to the frightened: Have courage”
Strengthen the ones who are weak
REFRAIN