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St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622),Bishop of Geneva,
Patron of Publishers, the Press, the Deaf and the Hearing Impaired
“There are no galley-slaves in the vessel of divine love;
each person works the oar voluntarily and with great joy.”
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.
Let the earth and all living things praise the greatness of God!
Let all people extol the glory of Adonai!
MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn .
Stars and planets flung in orbit, Galaxies that swirl through space,
Powers hid within the atom, Cells that form an infant’s face:
These, 0 God, in silence praise you; By your wisdom they are made.
Skies adorned with sunset splendor, Silent peaks in calm repose,
Golden fields awaiting harvest, Foaming surf and fragrant rose:
Earth, her bounty clothed with beauty, Echoes all creation’s praise.
Life in wondrous, wild profusion, Seed and fruit, each flower and tree,
Beast and fish and swarming insect, Soaring bird, rejoicing, free:
These, your creatures, join in chorus, Praising you in wordless song.
Humankind, earth’s deepest mystery, Born of dust but touched by grace,
Torn apart by tongue and color, Yet a single, striving race:
We, in whom you trace your image, Add our words to nature’s song.
Gracious God, we bring before you gifts of human life alone,
Truth that throbs through song and story, Visions caught in paint and stone:
These, 0 God, we gladly offer, Gifts to praise the Giver’s name.
Christ, the Word before creation As creation’s final goal,
Once you came for earth’s redemption; By your Spirit make earth whole:
Then, 0 God, the new creation Will your praise for ever sing.
Text: Herman G. Steumpfle (1923-2007) Tune: LAUDA ANIMA, John Goss (1869)
PSALMODY
REFRAIN
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
Canticle of the Three Children (Dan 3:57-87)
You angels and all powers of Adonai,
O heavens and all waters above the heavens.
Sun and moon and stars of the sky,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
Every shower of rain and fall of dew,
all winds and fire and heat.
Winter and summer,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
O chill and cold,
drops of dew and flakes of snow.
Frost and cold, ice and sleet,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
O Mother Earth,
O mountains and hills and valleys.
All that grows upon the earth,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
O springs of water, seas and streams,
O whales and all that move in the waters.
All birds of the air,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
O beast of the wild,
and all you flocks and herds.
All women and men everywhere,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
Let us glorify the ONE, and the WORD
and exalt the HOLY BREATH.
In the firmament of God’s power and love,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
Setting: Howard Hughes, S.M., Praise God In Song (GIA, 1979), adpt.
READING Hebrews 9:11-12
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be,
passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands,
that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary,
not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own Blood,
thus obtaining eternal redemption.
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Christ has entered the sanctuary once and for all, *he has won for us an eternal redemption. V. He entered not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood. *he has won for us an eternal redemption. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
We are the siblings of Jesus
if we do the will of his Abba. Alleluia.
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.
We are the siblings of Jesus
if we do the will of his Abba. Alleluia.
Intercessory Prayer
Based on the teachings of St. Francis De Sales
May we have patience with all things,
~especially with ourselves.
May we trust that You are in charge of all things today,
~And will take care of all things tomorrow.
Shield us today from suffering,
~Or give us unfailing strength to bear all things with joy.
Help us to be at peace in the present moment,
and to dismiss all anxious thoughts and imagination.
May we not wish to be anything
~other than who you made us to be.
When we wander away from the shelter of Your love,
~Lead us back to You with quiet and simplicity.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
~ And fill us with your Holy Spirit.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One and God of endless Compassion, you are the praise of all your saints and the joy of all creation. Direct all our actions by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit and further them on with your continual help so that every prayer and work of ours may always begin from you and through you be brought to completion. For yours is the power and glory of love now and forever. Amen.
May God lead us safely through all things; and when we can no longer endure it,
may God surround us with Loving Arms of Compassion. ~Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace.
~And give thanks to God.