- Hello, and good evening.

My name is Dr. Nicholas ak.

I have the privilege of serving Mount Marty University as the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and it is an honor to provide tonight's introductory and welcome remarks.

Welcome to the 41st annual Vespers in the beautiful Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel, a true gift given to the world through the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery.

In this chapel, we come together in unity through Christian goodwill, and with one accord to enjoy this evening's prayer.

We're happy you have chosen to honor the advent in Christmas seasons with us for generations.

Vespers has been a special event for the Mount Marty in Yankton communities and for the past several years, it has become a tradition for the entire state.

As South Dakota Public Broadcasting airs this performance on Christmas Eve, we are grateful for their partnership and we are grateful that you are here tonight with us.

From the earliest days of Christian living, it was customary for believers to come together as specified times throughout the day to praise God through song prayer and scripture readings.

The evening prayer was and is known as Vespers.

Vespers is a part of the liturgy of the hours in the church.

Liturgy is a funny word.

Catholics and other Christians use this word quite a bit in terms of how we organize our seasons within the church.

For Catholics, we have the liturgy of the word and the liturgy of the Eucharist.

For Christians with children, it is common to have liturgical calendars and colors in our homes.

On that topic, we just began a new liturgical year with the season of Advent or the purple and violet season, and the beautiful banners reminding us of penance and atonement.

Liturgy comes to us through the ancient Greek word laia.

The elements of this composite word are TTOs, meaning people in a public sense, in ergo meaning to do a la togas then would be a person who performs a public duty for the greater good.

The notion of the La Toia then and broadly speaking is the work undertaken by a few for the sake of or for the betterment of all citizens as it pertains to and is developed in Christian societies or intentional communities.

Over the millennia.

The La Toia or the liturgy is the work of God.

Through the activity of humans, God is embedded in our peripheral acts.

Liturgy is the prayer that members do for and with each other, bringing themselves and their community to perfection.

And this life and in preparation for the life to come, liturgy is for the glorification of God and the sanctification of human beings.

The liturgy of the hours, also known as the divine office or the work of God.

The opus day then is the daily prayer of the church, marking the hours of the day and thus sanctifying the day with prayer.

The wisdom of Holy Mother Church, the bride of Christ, encourages us to stop during the day, to turn our hearts and minds and spirit to God and to do so with all our strength.

This stoppage provides us with a moment of sacred leisure.

It is a time during our day to follow the example of Christ our Messiah, who always went away to pray.

It is a time to follow the apostle Paul and treated to pray always without seizing, giving thanks in all circumstances.

When we pray and borrowing from Isaiah, we are the clay in the potter, God's hands and borrowing from the prologue of St. Benedict's rule.

When we pray and work, we are translating into action the holy teachings of our Christ.

So in the Benedictine tradition and especially in the presence of Christ, we gather for Vespers in this sacred place.

Let us through this service be reminded of the importance to turn our gaze upward in deep meditative and spiritual contemplation.

Some special requests.

As we proceed, please silence all electronic devices and bring the kneeler in front of you to the floor so they don't fall during the performance.

Finally, please hold all your applause until the end of the performance to preserve the prayerful nature of Vespers.

On behalf of Mount Marty University, I wish you and your family and friends a blessed and safe Christmas season.

Thank you so much for being here, and please enjoy the 41st annual Vespers, - The Father, the things that are, that are and that future you shall see ever more.

And next door, every VOing concert, - A reading from the prophet Isaiah.

Again, the Lord spoke to Ahaz.

Ask the Lord God for a sign, whether in the deepest steps are in the highest heights.

But Ahaz said, I will not ask.

I will not put the Lord to the test.

Then Isaiah said here, now you house of David, is it not enough to try the patience of humans?

Will you try the patience of my God?

Also, therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign.

The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call his name Emmanuel - Soul to, oh my God, my spirit finds Savior miracle - And you're my team.

Thank - From H. Show Mercy to those who live in Reve.

- Grace is your strength.

Love you, - You, - You, - You, the faithful, - Just as you promised to lose before Ross, Sarah Abraham, - And - To Christ - And Spirit.