Canticle of Zechariah

BENEDICTUS

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has come to set the chosen people free.
ALL: The Lord has raised up for us
ALL: A mighty Savior from the house of David.
Through the holy prophets, God promised of old to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us;
ALL: To show mercy to our forebears
ALL: And to remember the holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
ALL: To set us free from the hands of our enemies,
ALL: Free to worship without fear,
ALL: Holy and righteous in the Lord's sight,
ALL: All the days of our life.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
ALL: To give God's people knowledge of salvation
ALL: By the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
ALL: To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
ALL: And to guide our feet into the way of peace.

-United Methodist Hymnal #208


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