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Invocabit me et ego exaudiam eum: (He will call to me and I will hear him)
eripiam eum et glorificabo eum: (I will rescue him and will glorify him)
longitudine dierum adimplebo eum. (I will fill his life with length of days)
(Entrance Antiphon for First Sunday of Lent: Psalm 90/91: 15-16)
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!
O Adonai, You are my Light;
~My God, You illumine my darkness.
EVENING HYMN for LENT
For forty days Christ fasted, fed upon his Abba’s every word–
all for the joy that lay ahead; such were his pleas, his prayer was heard.
Though one with God he plunged his heart deep in the world’s unfathomed pain;
he wrestled demons, hunger, thirst, that we in him may do the same.
In Christ our journey is revealed: his face set toward Jerusalem.
Where he, our head, goes, so must we: the church, his body, one with him.
O Abba, Food of those who fast, O Christ in whom the least are known,
Earth’s rising sap, O Spirit-spring: come raise to life what you have sown! Amen.
Tune: ERHALT’ UNS HERR (1547); Text: Aelred Seton-Shanley
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.
As servants of God, let us commend ourselves in everyway:
through great endurance, by genuine love.
Refrain
By his wounds we have been healed.
I Peter 2:21-25
Christ suffered for you leaving you an example:
that you should follow in his steps. (Refrain)
He committed no sin; no guile was found upon his lips.
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. (Refrain)
When he suffered, he did not threaten;
but he trusted in God who judges justly. (Refrain)
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. (Refrain)
By his wounds you have been healed.
For you were straying like sheep,
but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. (Refrain)
Glory to the Holy One and the Word and the Breath of Love.
As always before so now and evermore. Amen.
Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.
As servants of God, let us commend ourselves in everyway:
through great endurance, by genuine love.
Reading Romans 5: 17-19
If, by the transgression of one person,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of the one [Adam], the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one [Jesus Christ], the many will be made righteous.
Responsory
R. God will conceal you with pinions. V. And under God’s wings you will find refuge.
V. It is Adonai who will free you from the snare of the fowler who seeks to destroy you. V. Glory to the ONE, to the WORD, and to the Holy BREATH of Life.
Gospel Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
Life does not depend on bread alone;
but on the Word of God.
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
My heart + is radiant with the Lord,
My whole being delights in God my Savior.
All people now will call me blessed
For God has loved this humble handmaid.
The Almighty has shown me great favor
Holy is the NAME,
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
From one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God,
Scatters the proud in their own conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones
While lifting up the lowly:
Fills the famished with bounty,
And reveals the emptiness of riches.
Rescues lowly Israel,
Sharing such loving kindness,
As promised to our ancestors
To Abraham and Sarah, and their descendants forever.
Glory to the ONE and to WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Life does not depend on bread alone;
but on the Word of God.
Service of Prayer
Litany of Intercession
Grant us pardon and peace:
~God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Forgive our sins and neglect:
~God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give us true faith and undying hope in your love for us:
~God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Strengthen our resolve to follow Christ more closely this Lenten Season:
~God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Bless, guide and protect all those preparing to receive the Easter sacraments:
~God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
May we live each day more simply so that others may simply live:
~God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Grant light and peace to all those who have died and consolation to those who grieve their passing: ~God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
God of Life and Liberation, your Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to prepare for his ministry of inaugurating your reign on Earth as it is in heaven–where bread is for sharing, power is for serving, and trusting You makes all people equally valued members of your family. May our celebration of this holy season rehearse us in living by his values and bring us closer to realizing the freedom, flourishing and fullness of life that your love offers to us and all creation both now and forever. ~Amen.
May the God of all Compassion + bless us with forgiveness and fill our hearts with loving-kindness for all people and all creation . Amen.
Let us bless Adonai! ~And give thanks to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon. Ave Regina Caelorum is sung from the 3rd of February until Good Friday, inclusive.
Queen of the heavens we greet you, Queen of Angels now we entreat you,
Fairest flower, heaven’s portal From whom came the Light immortal.
Matchless maiden, God did raise you For the Universe to praise you.
Hear us, O hear us, dear Mother; Show your children Jesus, our brother.
Pray for us, O Gracious Queen of the Universe;
~ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. O Gracious God, grant to your people lasting health of mind and of body. Send us your assistance in times of temptation. May we who celebrate the memory of the Holy Mother of God, rise from our sins by the help of her intercession. We ask this through Christ our Love. Amen.