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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.
Rescue me, O God, my Savior;
~ And my tongue shall ring out your goodness!
MORNING HYMN for LENT
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Lenten Morning Hymn .
May we observe these forty days With charity and prayer,
That you may bless with holiness This season of the year.
By our offenses we abuse Your endless gifts of love.
Be patient, O redeeming One, Send pardon from above.
Undo the damage we have done, Increase your gift of grace,
That we may always live and serve In joy before your face.
Receive, most Loving Trinity, the offerings we raise;
O God of all simplicity, Increase our loving praise.
Text: Ralph Wright, OSB, alt.; Tune: DETROIT C.M.
PSALMODY
Antiphon/Refrain
You stretch forth your hand, and save me O Adonai!
Psalm 137/138
I thank you Adonai with all my heart, you have heard the words of my mouth.
Before the angels I’ll bless you, and adore before your holy temple.
I thank you for your faithfulness and love which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called you answered; you increased the strength of my soul.
You stretch forth your hand and save me, your hand will do all things for me.
Your love, my God, is eternal; discard not the work of your hands.
Setting: Tobias Colgan, OSB, alt.
READING Esther 4C: 12,16,24-25
Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to ADONAI:
“God of Abraham & Sarah, God of Isaac & Rebecca, and God of Jacob, Leah & Rachel,
You are Blessed!
Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,
for I am taking my life in my hand…[C]ome to help me, this orphan needs your help.
Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion
and turn his heart. …Save us from the hand of our enemies;
turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness.”
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Adonai, the whole world is under your authority, It is your will to save and no one can stand against you. *Deliver us that we may live and sing of your Name. V. Hear our prayer and turn our mourning into feasting. *Deliver us that we may live and sing of your Name. V. Glory to the ONE and the WORD and the Breath of Life.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened.
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
Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
Intercessory Prayer
In ancient times you freed those enslaved in Pharaoh’s empire;
Liberate us today, from our slavery to self-centeredness and greed.
In ancient times you led your people on their journey with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night; Lead us today with the light and truth of your love.
In ancient times you fed your people in the desert with manna from heaven;
Use us today to feed migrants and refugees fleeing from poverty and war.
In ancient times you gave thirsty people water springing from a rock;
Quench our thirst today, as we join the struggle for justice.
In ancient times you revealed your truth at Sinai with the precepts of the covenant;
Give us the strength today, to fulfill the whole law with your Love.
In ancient times you opened to your people a door of hope in the promised land;
Open to us today the door to the new heavens and new Earth.
In ancient times, you called Hagar and Rebecca, Shiphrah and Puah; Miriam and Rahab, Esther and Judith to challenge the restrictions of patriarchy and empire;
Call all who claim your Name today, to recognize the gifts you give women for leadership and ministry in all our communities.
In ancient times, you consoled those grieving from the loss of their land and loved ones;
Comfort us today, and surround all those who mourn with consolation and peace.
In these last days, you taught us to pray
Our Father …
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
We give you thanks, Holy One, for with a mother’s love you have watched over us in the night and have led us from the shadows of darkness into morning’s light. You call us in this holy season to a daily change of heart and mind. May the spiritual practices we embrace this Lent open us to receive the gifts of new life which come with the Spring and empower us to accomplish your purpose in our lives for the good of all your holy people and the whole of your beloved creation. For yours is the power and glory of life and love now and forever. Amen.
May the God of light fill us with all peace and joy, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, + we may celebrate this special season and prepare for the joy of Easter. ~Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace.
~And give thanks to God.