Fourth Sunday of Advent
Processional Hymn - Advent Entrance Hymn, Week 4
The Advent Entrance hymn combines the Entrance Antiphon for the day with two verses of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”
(cantor) Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let clouds rain down the Just One.
(all) O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of humankind.
O bid our sad divisions cease,
And be for us our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to you Israel.
(cantor) Let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior.
(all) O come, O come Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Kyrie (sung)
(cantor)
You were sent to heal the contrite of heart.
Lord, have mercy.
ALL: Lord, have Mercy.
(cantor)
You came to call, you came to call sinners. Christ, have mercy.
ALL: Christ, have mercy.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us.
Lord, have mercy.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.
Collect
This prayer concludes the opening rites of mass.
(please sit)
1st Reading – 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16
When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”
Nathan answered the king, “Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said: “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?
“‘It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel.
“‘I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
“‘And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
“‘I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance.
“‘Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
“‘I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.
“‘And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.
“‘I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.
“‘Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.’”
The word of the Lord.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm –
Psalm 89
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
I will sing of your mercies O LORD; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your fidelity.
I have declared your mercy is established forever;
your fidelity stands as firms as the heavens.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“With my chosen one, I have made a covenant,
I have sworn to David my servant:
I will establish your descendants forever, and set up your throne through all ages.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“He will call out to me, ‘You are my father, my God, the rock of my salvation.’
I will keep my faithful love for him always, with him my covenant shall last.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
2nd Reading – Romans 16:25-27
Brothers and sisters:
To him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever.
Amen.
The Word of the Lord.
ALL: THANKS BE TO GOD.
Gospel Acclamation -
cantor: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
ALL: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
cantor: Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.
ALL: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Gospel -
Luke 1:26-38
Priest or Deacon: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And with your spirit.
Priest/Deacon: A reading from the Gospel according to Luke.
ALL: Glory to you, O Lord (while making a small sign of the Cross on the forehead, lips, and chest).
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
“He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
“Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
“And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
“May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
The Gospel of the Lord.
ALL: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily (please sit)
Nicene Creed (please stand)
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 men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
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,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who 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.
General Intercessions:
After each prayer, respond: Lord, hear our prayer.
Prayer for Our Lady of Angels Parish
Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering us together and calling us to serve as your disciples.
You have charged us through your Son, Jesus, with the great mission of evangelizing and witnessing your love to the world.
Send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we discern your will for the spiritual renewal of our parish.
Give us strength, courage, and clear vision as we use our gifts to serve you.
We entrust our parish family to the care of Mary, our mother, and ask for her intercession and guidance, as we strive to build a parish that loves God, embraces all people, and shares the Gospel joyfully.
Offertory Hymn - 451 - Lo! How a Rose E’re Blooming
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung!
From Jesse’s lineage coming,
As seers of old have sung.
It came, a blossom bright,
Amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Isaiah ‘twas foretold it,
The Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it,
The Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright,
She bore to us a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
This Flow’r, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness ev’rywhere.
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death he saves us,
And lightens every load.
Preface
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.
Sanctus
The Sanctus acclamation is sung to conclude the introduction of the eucharistic prayer.
(all sing)
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Memorial Acclamation
The acclamation follows the priest’s invitation: The Mystery of Faith.
(all sing)
When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord,
until you come again.
Doxology:
The Eucharistic prayer concludes:
Priest: Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever.
All (sung): Amen, amen, amen!
Amen, amen, amen!
Our Father
All: Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed by your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your 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.
Priest: ... and the 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.
To each other: Peace be with you.
(all may exchange a sign of peace)
Lamb of God (sung)
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.
Invitation to Communion
Priest: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
(While Holy Communion is reserved for Catholics, persons of all faiths wishing to receive a blessing may participate in the
communion procession. Place your arms across your chest to indicate you would like to receive this blessing.)
Communion Hymn - Holy is His Name
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
And my spirit exalts in God my Savior
For He has looked with mercy
on my lowliness
And my name will be forever exalted
For the mighty God has done
great things for me
And His mercy will reach from age to age
And holy holy
Holy is His name
He has mercy in ev'ry generation
He has revealed His power and His glory
He has cast down the mighty in their arrogance
And has lifted up the meek and the lowly
He has come to help His servant Israel
He remembers His promise to our fathers
Recessional - 423 - Awake! Awake and Greet the New Morn
Awake! Awake, and greet the new morn,
For angels herald its dawning.
Sing out your joy for soon he is born,
Behold the Child of our longing!
Come as a baby weak and poor,
To bring all hearts together,
He opens wide the heav’ly door
And lives now inside us forever.
To us, to all in sorrow and fear,
Emmanuel comes a-singing;
His humble song is quiet and near,
Yet fills the earth with its ringing.
Music to heal the broken soul
And hymns of lovingkindness,
The thunder of his anthems roll
To shatter all hatred and blindness.
In darkest night his coming shall be,
When all the world is dispairing,
As morning light so quiet and free,
So warm and gentle and caring.
Then shall the mute break forth in song,
The lame shall leap in wonder,
The weak be raised above the strong,
And weapons be broken asunder.
Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night,
Though dark the winter and cheerless,
The rising sun shall crown you with light;
Be strong and loving and fearless.
Love be our song and love our prayer
And love our endless story.
May God fill every day we share
And bring us at last into glory.