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Invitation to Worship
Come, let us sing to Adonai, let us praise the God of all Creation!
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.
Sun and Moon, bless Adonai;
~ Stars and Galaxies, exalt God for ever!
WEDNESDAY MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn .
Where stretch the limits of the stars?
Who fathoms all the gifts of Earth?
Within the origins of life
one Word, in labor, gives them birth.
Its silence fills the stellar night;
its sound plumbs deep our planet’s core:
poured out for us, enfleshed in full,
this Word—none other—Mary bore.
From Earth, the Word drew nourishment,
from us, the body we possess;
our sun provided warmth and light—
with these the Word took on our flesh.
All things created, great and small,
at dawn of time God sanctified:
now these, enfleshed within the Word,
return God’s love, thus glorified,
For only thus the Word prepared
to consummate the sacrifice
for which God’s heart had ever yearned,
for which Love would alone suffice.
Creation’s dawning God deemed “Good!”
yet still we scarce believe our worth:
but pregnant, full, the Word here dawns,
and yearns in us to come to birth. Amen.
Text: Aelred-Seton Shanley; Tune: Plainsong
PSALMODY
Antiphon
In you, Adonai, is the Source of all Life;
in your Light we see light.
Psalm 35/36
Your love, Adonai, reaches to heaven;
your truth soars among the clouds.
Your justice towers like a mountain;
your integrity runs deeper than the sea.
You protect all creatures, all of life:
Adonai, how we prize your compassion!
In you, the people seek shelter,
safe in the warmth beneath your wings.
All feast at the abundance of your table,
slake their thirst in your refreshing streams,
for in you is the source of life
you give us light and we can see.
Continue your kindness toward all you have chosen
and your justice to all who are honest.
Keep the arrogant from trampling your little ones,
assaulting us with wicked hands and frozen hearts.
For those who do not love will collapse,
defeated, they will never rise.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
In you, Adonai, is the Source of all Life;
in your Light we see light.
.
READING AMOS 5: 21-14
I hate, I spurn your feasts, says Adonai,
I take no pleasure in your solemnities;
Your cereal offerings I will not accept,
nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings.
Away with your noisy songs!
I will not listen to the melodies of your harps.
But if you would offer me burnt offerings,
then let justice surge like water,
and goodness like an unfailing stream.
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. The harvest of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience and kindness *Goodness, fidelity, gentleness and self-control. There is no law for these. V. If the Spirit is the source of life, let the Spirit direct our course. * Goodness, fidelity, gentleness and self-control. There is no law for these.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
Where two or three gather together in my name,
I am there in their midst.
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
Where two or three gather together in my name,
I am there in their midst.
Intercessory Prayer
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Intercessory Versicles
In you, Adonai, is the Source of Life,
~In your Light we shall see light.
Send forth your light and your truth
~Let these be our guide.
Fill us each morning with your constant love,
~That we may sing and be glad all our life.
Let us see your wonderful works,
~May your people see your glorious might.
Gracious God, may your blessing be upon us;
~And grant us success in all we do.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
~ And fill us with your Holy Spirit.
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. As we celebrate the warm days, bright light, and fruitful fields of summer, fill us with the warmth of your love that we may bear witness to the Light of your Word-Made-Flesh, Jesus the Christ who lives and loves with you and the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever. Amen.
May the God of light fill us with all peace and joy, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, + we may abound in goodness for all of creation. ~Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace.
~And give thanks to God.