5th Week of Advent

Opening liturgy

Emmanuel, God is with us!

The Lord is King! Let earth rejoice!

The God-given gift of Jesus, the gift of

love, joy, peace and hope

in a fragile babe, laid with care in a

manger of hay,

Nurtured and protected by Mary and

Joseph.

Emmanuel, God is with us!

The Lord is King! Let earth rejoice!

We do not walk the world alone, we tread

in the footsteps of others.

Others do not walk the world alone, they

tread in our footsteps.

Together and not alone we are God’s

people walking with God.

Emmanuel, God is with us!

The Lord is King! Let earth rejoice!

The world is not always an easy place in

which to live,

O God, it is rough and it is tough and it is

hard.

Let us handle with care and protection,

love, joy, peace and hope all who we

meet.

Emmanuel, God is with us!

The Lord is King! Let earth rejoice!