Benediction from our songs – Fr. Gary Caster

Once in royal David’s city, amid the cold of winter
A mother –beautiful and spotless, half spent
So dearly laid her baby in a manger
That we might live
With our poor flesh and poor blood,
Joyful in the mist of the earth,
Redeeming love our everlasting good.

With Mary we, confounded,
Behold our life long pattern,
Veiled in flesh
A guest and a stranger
A “rose ‘ere blooming”
Jesus, our Emanuel.

Let us pray:
God’s dear Son,
In this good hour,
Here,
Have mercy on us all,
Raise us
From misery,
With divine majesty,
Love for one another,
Beautifully bring us to truth and life,
Have mercy on us all;
“Stay with us.”

Oh come let us
With love and awe
Be merry,
No crying.
Let us join the triumph of the skies
Let us sing from the depths of our hearts
“Peace on Earth,”
Heavenly peace,
Glory to heavens’ word
And to our second birth.

To the Lord God of hosts:
Thanks for evermore.
Amen.