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May 2 — St. Athanasius of Alexandria (296-373)
Invitation to Worship
Our Love is truly Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!
O Holy One,+ open my lips.
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
O Adonai, you search me and you know me-Alleluia
~You know my resting and my rising, Alleluia!
Morning Hymn for Eastertide
Let us rise in early morning, And instead of ointments bring
Hymns and praises to our Lover, And his resurrection sing;
We shall see the Sun of Justice Ris’n with healing in his wing.
Let us rise in early morning, And his resurrection sing.
Come, let us go out to meet him! Come with lamps in every hand!
For the Wedding Feast he rises; Ready for the Bridegroom stand;
And the Pasch of our salvation Hail with his triumphant band.
Come, let us go out to meet him! Ready for the Bridegroom stand! Amen
Text: St. John of Damascus(c. 754); tr. JM Neale, alt. Tune: HYFRYDOL 87.87.D
PSALMODY
Antiphon
God gives us the water of Wisdom to drink, Alleluia!
Psalm 134/135: 1-7, 12-21
Praise the Name of Adonai,
sing praise, servants of our God,
who stand in the courts of God’s dwelling
gathered in the house of Adonai.
Sing hymns, for God is good,
Sing a psalm to the Name of Love.
For Adonai has chosen this people,
Israel, as a precious treasure.
I know Adonai is great,
surpassing every god and idol.
Whatever God wills, God does
in heaven, on earth, in the seas.
God blankets the Earth with clouds,
strikes lightning to produce the rain,
from the storehouse releases the winds.
God gave us the lands of the nations
a gift that we should treasure.
Your name, Adonai, stands for ever,
your glory will never be forgotten
for you give your people justice
and attend to each of their needs.
Many people worship silver and gold:
idols that mortals have crafted.
Their mouths cannot speak,
their eyes do not see.
Their ears can hear no sound,
no breath is ever on their lips.
Those who make and rely on things
become hollow like the idols themselves.
Bless God, O house of Israel.
House of Aaron, bless Adonai,
House of Levi, sing God’s praises
with everyone who reveres the Holy One:
Blest be Adonai of Zion
who calls Jerusalem home.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
God gives us the water of Wisdom to drink, Alleluia!
READING ISAIAH 63: 1-9
Who is this that comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments, from Bozrah?
Who is this, glorious in his apparel, striding in the greatness of his strength?
“It is I, I who announce vindication, mighty to save.”
Why is your apparel red, and your garments like one who treads the wine press?
“The wine press I have trodden alone, and from the peoples no one was with me.
I looked about, but there was no one to help,
I was appalled that there was no one to lend support;
So my own arm brought me victory and my own strength lent me support.
The loving deeds of Adonai I will recall, the glorious acts of Adonai ,
Because of all Adonai has done for us, the immense goodness to the house of Israel,
Which God has granted in keeping with such mercy and so many loving deeds.
Adonai said: “They are indeed my people, children who are not disloyal.”
So God became their savior in their every affliction.
It was not an envoy or a messenger, but God’s own presence that saved them.
Out of love and compassion Adonai redeemed them.
Responsory
R. By your blood * you have ransomed us, O Christ. alleluia, alleluia! V. Saints from ev’ry tribe and tongue and people and nation.* * you have ransomed us, O Christ. alleluia, alleluia! V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachariah
Antiphon
“Have the people sit down,” said Jesus;
and when he gave thanks and praise
everyone had enough to eat. alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house and family of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine upon us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To Guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
“Have the people sit down,” said Jesus;
and when he gave thanks and praise
everyone had enough to eat. alleluia, alleluia!
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
O Risen Christ, help us to proclaim your resurrection ~ by bringing good news to the poor and healing the hearts that are broken.
O Risen Christ, help us to proclaim your resurrection, by feeding those who are hungry and clothing those who are naked.
O Risen Christ, help us to proclaim your resurrection, by releasing the captives of injustice and all those who are imprisoned in addictions and sin.
O Risen Christ, help us to proclaim your resurrection, by welcoming strangers and immigrants and visiting those who are lonely or in prison.
O Risen Christ, help us to proclaim your resurrection, by bringing your peace to those who are in trouble and your joy to those who are in sorrow.
O Risen Christ, help us to proclaim your resurrection, by living sustainably in harmony with Mother Earth and all your beloved creation.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father…
Closing Prayer
Good and Gracious God, creator and ruler of the universe, in every age you have called human beings to develop and use their gifts, talents and abilities to contribute to the common good. As we celebrate the life and teachings of St. Athanasius, may the Wisdom of the Risen Christ enlighten our hearts and minds as we search for Truth and struggle to express the Mystery of your love in our lives both now and forever. Amen.
Blessing
May the God of Life and Light who raised Jesus from the dead + bless us and our world with light and peace. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai, Alleluia, Alleluia! ~Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia!