Father, when the fullness of time had come,
You sent to us the Son,
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And all your people say: the Lord is come!
We waited with Israel for a Messiah:
Now the Savior is here!
We waited with Mary for the child:
Now the Holy One is born!
We waited in the brokenness of our world and lives:
Now the Light of the World dawns!
And all your people say: the Lord is come!
For we who have walked in darkness have seen a great light;
we who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on us a light has shined.
You have multiplied our nation,
you have increased our joy.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests on his shoulders;
and he is named:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
And all Your people say: the Lord is come!
We respond with joy and adoration,
proclaiming in our hearts and with our tongues:
Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love.
And all Your people say: the Lord is come!
For we do not proclaim ourselves;
we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord.
For it is the God who said,
“Let light shine out of darkness,”
who has shone in our hearts
to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ;
in whose name we pray,
Amen.
