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Invitation to Worship
Come, let us return to Adonai our God–
our God who is gracious 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.
Rescue me O God, my Savior,
~ And my tongue shall ring out your goodness!
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
My soul give praise to our God, Adonai!
Psalm 145/146
They are blest who are helped by Jacob’s God;
whose hope is in Adonai Elohim;
Who alone made heaven and Earth,
the seas and all they contain.
O Adonai you keep faith forever;
You are just to those who are oppressed.
It is You who give bread to the hungry;
Adonai, You set prisoners free.
O Adonai, You give sight to the blind
and raise up all who are bowed down.
O Adonai, You love the just,
Adonai, You protect the stranger.
You uphold the widow and orphan
but thwart the paths of the wicked.
Adonai You will reign for ever–
Zion’s God from age to age.
Setting: Tobias Colgan, OSB, alt.
READING Exodus 10:21-23
Adonai said to Moses: “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that over the land of Egypt there may be such intense darkness that one can feel it.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was dense darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days. People could not see one another, nor could they move from where they were for three days. But all the Israelites had light where they dwelt.
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. How appropriate that those who enslaved your people were deprived of light; *for through your people the unquenchable light of the Law would be given to the world. V. On Egypt the deep gloom of night descended, while a radiant light shone for your chosen ones. *for through your people the imperishable light of Torah was to be given to the world. V. Glory to the One, and the Word and the Breath of Life..
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
To a perverse people this single sign:
Jonah, and yet one greater than Jonah or Solomon here.
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
To a perverse people this single sign:
Jonah, and yet one greater than Jonah or Solomon here.
Intercessory Prayer
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.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
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 the world with peace.
~And give thanks to God.