Invocation by Ryan Marsh

Welcome.

This night is the long night when those who listen await God's cry.
Wait with watchful hearts. Listen carefully through the stillness.
This night is the longest night of the year when those who are longing await Jesus' appearing.

Wait with watchful hearts.
Listen carefully, through the sound;
Listen now to these songs of longing.
Listen now to these stories of waiting.
And long with them, wait with them.

Dream of the day that God's foot has reached the earth.
Truly the world's liberation is near and God's glory shall cover the earth.
So now wait with watchful hearts.
Those who listen await God's cry.

Wait. Watch. Listen.
For this night is the long night.

If Today

if today, you hear my voice
harden not your heart

Mothers Of The Disappeared by U2; trans. by C. Soerens

medianoche, nuestros hijos
nos fueron arrebatados
oye su latir,
oimos su latir

sus risas se oyen en el viento
sus lagrimas en la lluvia están
oye su latir
oimos su latir

la noche cae como un prisionero
sobre campos de negro y azul
oye su latir
oimos su latir

en los arboles están desnudos
tras la pared las oimos llorar
ve sus lágrimas en la lluvia

Supplication by Ryan Marsh

Please come now, King of the orphans,
King of the innocents, King of the children
There has been enough blood shed, bones broken, and lonely tears.

We need a king who has the strength to become as weak as a baby.
Set up your Kingdom here in our midst,
the King who was hunted before he was born.

We need a King that won't kill for power,
come you King that won't kill for power,
come suffering King,
the Lord of the Orphan, the Lord of the mourning parents,
and the Lord of those who kill.

Come put an end to our endless wars.

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day by H. Longfellow & J. Calkin; All Will Be Well

I heard the bells on Christmas day
their old familiar carols play
and wild and sweet the words repeat
of peace on earth, good will to men

and thought how, as the day had come
the belfries of all Christendom
had rolled along the unbroken song
of peace on earth, good will to men

and in despair I bowed my head
there is no peace on earth, I said
for hate is strong and mocks the song
of peace on earth, good will to men

all will be well
all manner of things will be well

then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth he sleep
the wrong shall fail, the right prevail
with peace on earth, good will to men

all will be well
all manner of things will be well
all will be well
all manner of things will be well

Collect by Anu Orebiyi

Come now, Beloved, sit and be still
Sit and be still
Sit and be still;
Sit and be still
Sit and be still

He is coming
Will you sit and listen
He is coming
Will you sit, will you wait

In the silence, will you wait
Quieting the noise
And listening to your heart
In the silence, will you wait
building the hope stirring in your heart

Hear the cries of those around you
Hear the cries of your own heart

He is coming...
Alas, He is coming

And in His wake, our King brings justice for the oppressed,
hope for the hopeless, peace in the turmoil

Come now, Beloved, sit and be still
And hear His coming in the night
Come now, beloved, open your heart

Please, open your eyes
He is coming
Will you see
He is coming

Will you hear and wait
Will you hear the groaning of the world around you
Will you hear the groaning of your own heart
Will you see the suffering that is unbearable
Will you see the suffering of ALL who wait

Come now, beloved, sit and behold,
Sit and behold
Sit and behold

Come now, beloved, sit and behold His coming through the night

Netherlands

and you are the one
I should have fought for aren't you aren't you
I would have been dead
in a ditch in Netherlands

I sang your songs I guessed your thoughts
one million chances still
a bloody mouth and, dirty clothes
four years of regret

if all I have is wrong
flatlands are too much
underwater dissolve
leave me far off

Unravel by Björk

while you are away
my heart comes undone
slowly unravels
in a ball of yarn...

Holy & Homeward

thanks for the blessing, what's it worth, how much can I buy
spent it all on distractions and feeding my every desire
but I miss you dear father, would you take me back home tonight
there'll be shaking of heads and I told you so, I'm always right
but I've emptied my pockets of treasure and pride
so I'm ready, rebuke me, I'm tired

I am not willing that any who fall should stay down
no condemnation, just a wrapping my arms around
welcome home dear beloved, there's a place for you finally to rest
take my coat, take my name and you'll find that it's effortless
but right now I've given you more than you need
but you're worth it, you're worth it to me

so feast on my riches all I have is yours
rejoice! my child has come home
holy and homeward he's calling to you

return! return! return!

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

rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee o Israel

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

o come thou day-spring come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here
and drive away the shades of night
and pierce the clouds and bring us light

o come Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind
bid envy strife and quarrels cease
fill all the world with heaven's peace

Benediction by Karen Ward

Depart.
Depart into the long night.
Wait with watchful hearts.
Listen carefully through the stillness.
This night is the longest night of the year
when you who are longing await Jesus' appearing.
Go with these songs of longing still in your ears,
Go with these stories of waiting fresh on your lips,
Speak of them... wait with them...
Dream of the day that God's foot reaches the earth.
The world's liberation is near
and God's glory shall cover the earth.
So depart with watchful hearts.
You who listen. You who await God's cry,
for this night is the long night.
Depart in the peace of God,
Maker, Christ, and Spirit.

Amen