V EASTER Friday

abba menas & Jesus

 

Invitation to  Worship

Our Love is truly Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

O Holy One,+ open my lips.

~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

 

Why are you cast down my soul?-Alleluia

~Hope in God and praise the Holy One, Alleluia!

 

Morning Hymn for Eastertide

This day of God destroys the night, Alleluia! Serene and blest God’s holy light, Alleluia!

Death and hate had sealed life’s grave, Conquered by the love he gave:

This is the day the Lord has made, Alleluia!

 

What could surpass this victory? Alleluia! Grace conquers sin eternally, Alleluia!

Love now reigns where fear brought strife; Death yields gift of lasting life:

Christ in our midst alive again, Alleluia!

 

Lord Jesus, risen evermore, Alleluia! Where sorrow rules, your joy restore, Alleluia!

In the peace of  Easter days, Born again we sing your praise,

To Abba, Word and Spirit blest, Alleluia!

Text: St. Ambrose of Milan Hic est dies; tr. Peter Scagnelli, alt.  Tune: DE HEER IS WAALIJK OPGESTAAN, 84 84 77 84

 

 

PSALMODY

Antiphon

Those who wish to come after me, must first deny yourselves,

then take up your cross and follow me. Alleluia!

Psalm 41/42

Like the deer that yearns

for running streams,

so my soul is yearning

for you, my God.

 

My soul is thirsting for God,

the God of my life;

when can I enter and see,

the face of God.

 

My tears have become my bread,

by night, by day,

as I hear it said all the day long:

“Where is your God?”

 

Why are you cast down my soul,

why groan with- in me?

Hope in God and praise the Holy One:

my savior and my God.

 

Deep is calling on deep

in the roar of mighty waters;

your torrents and all your waves

have swept over me.

 

By day Adonai will send

compassion and loving kindness;

by night I will sing a song of thanks;

praise the God of my life.

 

Why are you cast down my soul,

why groan within me?

Hope in God and praise the Holy One:

my savior and my God.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

and to the BREATH of Love;

as always before,

so now and evermore. Amen. 

Those wish to come after me, must first deny yourselves,

then take up your cross and follow

 

READING          ACTS 15:1, 29-31

[The Apostles and elders at Jerusalem sent the following in a letter to the Christians of Gentile origin: ] ‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’

 

Responsory

R.  I will tell of your name to my people *alleluia, alleluia!  

V. I will thank you, Adonai, among the nations. *alleluia, alleluia!  

V.  Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.

 

 

Gospel Canticle     John 15:9-17

Antiphon/Refrain

“I call you my friends, no longer are you slaves:

for I’ve made known to you all the Abba told me.”

As the Abba has loved me,

so, too, I have loved you.

Live on in my love,

and love one another.

 

No greater love exists,

than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

And you are my friends

if you love as I have commanded.

 

I have chosen you

to go forth and bear much fruit;

your fruit must endure

my Abba will be near:

 

Ask and you’ll receive;

seek and you shall find;

knock and the door will be opened;

Do all things in my name.

“I call you my friends, no longer are you slaves:

for I’ve made known to you all the Abba told me.”

 

 SERVICE OF PRAYER

Litany of Intercession

O Jesus the Light of the World,

shine on all those who are sitting in the darkness of isolation and the shadows of despair.

 

O Jesus the Bread of Life,

feed us that we may become bread for the world.

 

O Jesus the Good Shepherd,

guide us to pastures of abundant life.

 

O Jesus the Vine,

graft us to yourself that we may bear much fruit.

 

O Jesus the Way,

show us the path and how to walk with you to freedom, flourishing and the fullness of life.

 

O Jesus the Truth,

teach us to seek and embrace the reality of God’s love revealed in the whole of creation and in the mystery of your life, death and resurrection.

 

O Jesus the Life,

fill us with your life-giving Spirit that we may live as you live as one with your Abba.

 

O Jesus the Resurrection,

give rest to all who have died and consolation to those who grieve their passing.

 

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.

May the Wisdom of the Risen Christ enlighten our hearts and minds

as we search for Truth and struggle to express in words and in our lives

the Mystery of your love, 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!