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Invitation to Worship
Come, let us return to Adonai our God–
Our God who is gracious and merciful.
We make the Sign of the Cross over our lips as we begin.
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
My sacrifice is a contrite spirit,
~ A humbled, contrite heart, you will not reject.
FRIDAY MORNING LENTEN HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn for Lent.
O Sun of Justice, Jesus Christ, Dispel the darkness of our hearts,
Till your blest light makes nighttime flee And brings the joys your day imparts.
In this our “time acceptable” Touch ev’ry heart with sorrow, Lord,
That, turned from sin, renewd by grace, We may press on toward love’s reward.
The day, your day, in beauty dawns When in your light Earth blooms anew;
Led back again to life’s true way, May we, forgiv’n, rejoice in you.
O loving Trinity, our God, To you we bow through endless days,
And in your grace new-born we sing New hymns of gratitude and praise.
Text: Iam Christe, Sol Iustitiae Tune: JESU DULCIS MEMORIA
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes,
you will not enter the community of heaven.
Psalm 50/51
Have mercy on me, O God, in your loving kindness;
in your compassion blot out my offenses.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
I know full well my misdeeds,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, against you have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.
Yet you look for truth in my inmost being,
and teach me wisdom in my heart.
Purify me that I may be clean,
wash me, make me brighter than snow.
Create in me a pure heart O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Deliver me from death, O God my Savior,
and my tongue may sing of your justice.
O Holt One, open my lips,
and my mouth will proclaim your praise.
You have no delight in sacrifices;
burnt offerings from me would not please you.
The sacrifice you accept is a humble spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not reject.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love;
as it was in the beginning, is now
and will be forever. Amen
Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes,
you will not enter the community of heaven.
READING Ezekiel 18: 21-24
Thus says Adonai Elohim:
If the wicked turn away from all the sins they committed,
if they keep all my statutes and do what is right and just,
they shall surely live, they shall not die.
None of the crimes they committed shall be remembered against them;
they shall live because of the virtue they have practiced.
Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
says Adonai. Do I not rather rejoice when they turn from their evil ways
that they may live?
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. O that today you would listen to the voice of Adonai: *harden not your hearts. V. For Adonai does not wish the death of sinners, but rather that they be converted and live. *harden not your hearts. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
You have heard the commandment imposed on our ancestors: ‘You shall not kill.’
But I say to you: those who are angry with brother or sister will be liable to judgment.
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.
You have heard the commandment imposed on our ancestors: ‘You shall not kill.’
But I say to you: those who are angry with brother or sister will be liable to judgment.
Intercessory Prayer
The fast that you desire, Adonai, is the breaking the chains of evil and untying the bonds of injustice; ~Help us to fast by loving our sisters and brothers.
The fast that you desire, Adonai, is freeing the oppressed and welcoming the poor into our homes; ~Help us to fast by loving our sisters and brothers.
The fast that you desire, Adonai, is clothing the persons we find naked and not despising our neighbors; ~Help us to fast by loving our sisters and brothers.
The fast that you desire, Adonai, is sharing food with the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, and welcoming immigrants and strangers; ~Help us to fast by loving our sisters and brothers.
The fast that you desire, Adonai, is caring for those who are sick or injured and visiting those who are in prison; ~Help us to fast by loving our sisters and brothers.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
~ And fill us with your Holy Spirit.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One and God of endless Compassion, you are the praise of all your saints and the joy of all creation. You call us in this holy season to return to you with all our hearts and to be moved with compassion towards all who suffer. May our Lenten prayers and practices and our whole lives help to build your reign on Earth as it is in heaven where you live and love One God for ever and ever. Amen.
May the God of Life & Liberty who calls us to break every yoke of suffering and oppression + help us to accomplish this in prayer, fasting and works of kindness and love;
~Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace.
~And give thanks to God.