Second Sunday of Advent
Processional Hymn - Antiphon and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
(cantor) O people of Sion behold, the Lord will come to save the nations.
(all) O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times once gave the law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
(cantor) And the Lord will make the glory of His voice heard in the joy of your heart.
(all) O come, O Rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them;
That trust your mighty power to save,
And give them vict-ry o’re the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
First Reading - Baruch 5:1-9
Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name.
For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.
Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God.
Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones.
For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God.
The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God’s command; for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company.
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 25
R. God has done great things for us, filled us with laughter and music.
When our God led us back to freedom,
Like dreamer we beheld the promise land again;
our mouths were filled with laughter and rejoicing.
R. God has done great things for us, filled us with laughter and music.
We proclaimed to the nations
What God has done for us.
His mighty deeds of love restoring us to life.
He leads his people home to him rejoicing.
R. God has done great things for us, filled us with laughter and music.
Come restore our fortunes,
renew us in your love,
like rivers through the sand, like streams within
the desert';
those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
R. God has done great things for us, filled us with laughter and music.
Second Reading - Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
Brothers and sisters:
I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now.
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
Gospel - Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
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.
Amen.
Offertory Hymn - God of All People
God of all places: present, unseen;
Voice in our silence, song in our midst.
We are your people, knowing, unsure.
Come, Lord Jesus, come!
God of all dreaming, near and yet far.
Vision unheard of, wake us to rest.
We are your presence, sent forth afraid.
Come, Lord Jesus, come!
God of all people, dust and the clay.
Breath of a new wind, fire in our hearts.
Light born of heaven, peace on the earth.
Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Communion Hymn - Center of My Life
O Lord, you are the center of my life
I will always praise you
I will always serve you
I will always keep you in my sight
Keep me safe, O God,
I take refuge in you.
I say to the Lord “You are my God,
My happiness lies in you alone;
my happiness lies in you alone.”
O Lord, you are the center of my life
I will always praise you
I will always serve you
I will always keep you in my sight
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord, ever in my sight
Since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.
O Lord, you are the center of my life
I will always praise you
I will always serve you
I will always keep you in my sight.
And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad
Even in safety shall my body rest
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
Nor let your beloved know decay.
O Lord, you are the center of my life
I will always praise you
I will always serve you
I will always keep you in my sight.
You will show me the path of life,
The fullness of joy in your presence,
At your right hand, at your right hand
Happiness forever.
O Lord, you are the center of my life
I will always praise you
I will always serve you
I will always keep you in my sight.
Recessional Hymn - On Jordan’s Bank
On Jordan's bank, the Baptist's cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings of the King of kings!
Then cleansed be ev’ry life from sin;
Make straight the way for God within;
And let each heart prepare a home
Where such a mighty Guest may come.
For You are our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Your grace we waste away,
Like flow’rs that wither and decay.
To heal the sick stretch out Your hand,
And bid the fallen sinner stand;
Shine forth and let Your light restore
Earth's own true loveliness once more.
All praise to You, eternal Son,
Whose advent has our freedom won,
Whom with the Father, we adore,
And Holy Spirit, evermore.
