Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, EP I

sunset4

 

SERVICE OF LIGHT

Greeting/Invocation
 We light the Evening Candle and say or sing:

Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!

~Thanks be to God!

 

Stay with us Lord for it is evening,

~And the day is almost over.

 

Hymn for Saturday Evening

O fire that fuels the stars and suns,

rekindled in our evening flame:

your blinding radiance yet is dimmed

before the One from whom you came.

 

When out of darkness first you dawned,

you ushered in God’s gifts untold:

on this the eighth, unequaled day,

you blazed where Life lay dead and cold.

 

For Christ, our light, unquenchable,

death sought to master and defy,

yet from a darkened, empty tomb

Life gave definitive reply.

 

The universe will not be shamed,

delighting God in endless ways,

for neither human sin nor pride

can silence its unceasing praise. Amen

Text: Aelred-Seton Shanley

SERVICE OF THE WORD

Evening Psalm

Antiphon/Refrain

My prayers rise like incense,

my hands like an evening offering.

Psalm 140/141

I call to you, O Adonai, help pme now! Listen to me, Adonai, I am invoking you.

Let my prayer rise like incense before you, my uplifted hands like an evening oblation.

 

Set a guard over my mouth, Adonai; a sentry at the door of my lips.

Save me from all wicked deeds and desires. I will not feast with sinners.

 

The good may chastise me, in their kindness rebuke me,

but the wicked shall never anoint my head with oil; my prayer rises against their malice.

 

Adonai, I look to you for help; in you I take refuge; spare my life.

Keep me from the traps they have set for me, save me from the snares of those who do evil.

Setting: Jan Michael Joncas, altPraise God In Song

 

Reading           Sirach 15: 15-17

If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; Adonai has set before you fire and water–to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before humankind are life and death, good and evil, whichever each chooses shall be given and recieved. Immense is the wisdom of Adonai; the One is mighty in power, and all-seeing.

 Responsory

R. May our hearts be wholly with Adonai, *that we may keep the Torah and follow its commandments    V. May God be with us, as God was with our ancestors, *that we may keep the Torah and follow its commandments. V.  Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Breath of Love.

Gospel Antiphon

Jesus taught as one with authority

and his fame spread everywhere, alleluia!

Canticle from Philippians 2: 6-11 

 Though he was in the form of God

Jesus did not  snatch at equality with God.

Instead, he emptied himself,

and took the form of  a servant,

and was born in the likeness of human beings.

 

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even death on a cross.

 

Therefore God has highly exalted him

and bestowed on him the name

that is above every other name.

That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow

in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

 

And every tongue confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Abba.

 

Glory to the Abba and to the Word

And to the Breath of Love

As always before

So now and evermore. Amen

Jesus taught as one with authority

and his fame spread everywhere, alleluia!

 

 SERVICE OF PRAYER

Litany of Intercession

For the Unity of the Christian Churches and the common good of all Earthkind,

Love, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For the people of this and every other nation, that all be guided in the ways of justice and peace, Love, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For the health and well-being of all creation, and the wisdom and will to conserve it,

Love in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For all those who have asked for our prayers and those for whom we have promised to pray, Love in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For all who are suffering in mind, body or spirit, and for those who care for them,

Love in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For those who have died, and for those who grieve their passing,

Love, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Prayer of Jesus

 

Our Father…

 

 

Closing Prayer & Blessing

Risen Christ, by virtue of your passing over from death to life,

pour your Holy Spirit into our hearts.  Fill us with awe and reverence for you and love  and compassion for our neighbor, for yours is the power and the glory of love, now and forever. ~Amen.

May the Great Spirit + bless us and all of creation.  ~Amen 

 

Let us bless Adonai.    ~And give thanks to God.

 

Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for this season.
Marian Antiphon 

Loving Mother of our Savior, holding open heaven’s only hope, Star for steerage in this vastness, rise to help us, save the sinking.  Nature’s greatest  Wonder: you have borne your own true Maker, giving human life to him. Virgin ever, before and after, that Good News from Gabriel, Word of Life for living, tell it now: mercy to all people!

 

The angel of the Lord brought the message to Mary. ~ And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

 

Let us pray. O Holy One, as you have already blessed humankind through the fruitful virginity of  Blessed Mary, grant that we may further enjoy the fruit of the prayers of her, through whom we are related to the very Author of Life, Jesus our Emmanuel.  Amen.