Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle

icon_thomas-apostolus

 

 

 

Invitation to Worship

Our Risen Love,

who called and sent the Apostles,

Come, let us praise and adore.

O Holy One, + open my lips,

~And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

 

Throughout all the Earth their voices carry;

~Their message resounds with hope for all!

 

HYMN FOR St. thomas the apostle 

By all your saints still striving, For all your saints at rest,

Your holy Name, O Jesus, Forevermore be blest.

You rose, our Love, victorious, That they might wear the crown

And ever shine in splendor Reflected from your throne.

 

All praise, O Lord, for Thomas Whose short-lived doubtings prove

Your perfect two-fold nature, The depth of your true love.

To all who live with questions A steadfast faith afford;

And grant us grace to know you, Made flesh, yet God and Lord.

 

Then let us praise the Abba And worship Christ the Son

Adore the Holy Spirit, Eternal Three in One,

Till all the ransomed number Who stand before the throne,

Ascribe all pow’r and glory And praise to God alone.

 

 

MORNING  PSALMODY

Antiphon

This one command I give you,

that you love each other just as I have been loving you.

Psalm 18/19a

The heavens proclaim the glory of God,

and the firmament shows forth the work of God’s hands.

Day unto day takes up the story

and night unto night makes the message known.

 

No speech, no word, no voice is heard

yet their span extends through all the Earth,

their words to the utmost bounds of the world.

 

There God has placed a dwelling for the sun;

it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent,

rejoices like a champion to run its course.

 

At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun;

to the furthest ends of the sky is its course.

There is nothing concealed from its burning heat.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

and to the BREATH of Love.

As always before

so now and evermore. Amen.

This one command I give you,

that you love each other just as I have been loving you.

 

 

 

READING        ephesians 2 :19-20

Brothers and sisters:
You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God, 
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

 

 

Responsory

R.  Throughout all the earth, their voices carry.  V. Their message resounds with hope for all. V.  Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.

 

Gospel Canticle

Antiphon

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

 

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

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

 

 

 Litany of Intercession

You called Thomas to follow you, and sent him to proclaim the Good News of your love to the people of ancient Persia and India, ~call us to bring this same message of hope to all humankind.

 

You understood the questioning and doubting of Thomas, and invited him to touch your hands and your heart, ~call us to journey through our doubting and fear to deeper faith in your love and a living sense of your presence.

 

You calmed the waves so that your disciples would be saved from drowning ~calm the storms created by our selfishness and greed and the tempests that catch us off guard.

 

You strengthened Thomas to bear witness to the truth in the face of bitter persecution ~empower us to bear witness to the reality of your love at all times and in every place.

Prayer of Jesus

Our Father…

 

Closing Prayer

Gracious God of Wisdom and Compassion, you called Thomas to bring the Gospel to the people of the East and to witness to your truth and love with his life.  Lead us to wisdom through his teaching and example that we may share your compassion with the whole world.  We ask this in the Name of Jesus, who lives and loves with you and the Holy Spirit, One God for ever and ever.  Amen.

 

Blessing

May God bless + us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to freedom and the fullness of life,  ~Amen.

 

Let us bless Adonai.   ~Thanks be to God.