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Invitation to Worship
Come back to Adonai with all your heart; leave the past in ashes.
Turn to Adonai with prayer and fasting: Our God is kind and merciful!
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.
My sacrifice is a contrite spirit,
~ A humbled, contrite heart, you will not reject!
MORNING HYMN for LENT
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Lenten Morning Hymn .
O Sun of Justice thaw our hearts; you draw the Spring from Earth’s decay
Then melt our safe complacency which rests content with yesterday.
The “time acceptable” is now! The dormant earth to growth gives way.
Let prayer and fasting thaw our hearts; let alms a world remade display.
You take us broken as we are, and spread our dawning days with light;
may we rehearse your ways of love till all we do gives you delight.
O ever-loving Trinity, we yearn to see that day of days
when all the Earth, reborn again, is vibrant with its Easter praise. Amen.
Text: Aelred Seton-Shanley; Tune: GOOD PROVIDER L.M. Mode II
PSALMODY
Antiphon/Refrain
If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.
Psalm 94/95
Come ring out our joy to Adonai; hail the Rock who saves us.
Let us come to God’s presence, giving thanks, with songs, let us hail Adonai!
A mighty God is Adonai. In whose hands are the depths of the Earth.
The heights of the mountain’s are God’s, to whom belongs the sea and the dry land
shaped by those Hands.
Come in, let us bow and bend low. Let us kneel before God who made us. For God is our God and we the people of God’s pasture, the flock that is led by God’s Hand.
O that today you would hear my voice; harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day in the dessert when your forbearers tested me; when they tried me, though they saw my works.
Setting: Tobias Colgan, OSB, alt.
READING Isaiah 58: 6-9
Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly.
Then you shall call, and ADONAI will answer;
you will cry for help and God will say, “Here I am!”
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Now is the acceptable time, *now is the day of salvation
V. As servants of God, let us commend ourselves in every way:
through great endurance, by genuine love. *now is the day of salvation.
V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
When you fast anoint your head and wash your
face, then only your Abba will know.
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
When you fast anoint your head and wash your
face, then only your Abba will know.
Intercessory Prayer
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba in heaven …
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 days.
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. You call us in this holy season to a daily change of heart and mind. May the spiritual practices we embrace this Lent open us to receive the gifts of new life which come with the Spring and empower us to accomplish your purpose in our lives for the good of all your holy people and the whole of your beloved creation. For yours is the power and glory of life and love now and forever. Amen.
May the God of light fill us with all peace and joy, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, + we may celebrate this special season and prepare for the joy of Easter. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~Thanks be to God.