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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 LENT
If you allow our God to guide you, And trust God’s love in all your ways,
You’ll have God’s strength whate’er betide you, to bear you through the evil days;
Who hopes in God’s unchanging love, Builds on the rock that nought can move.
Only be still, and wait God’s leisure In cheerful hope with heart content
To take whate’er your Abba’s pleasure And all deserving love have sent;
Surely our inmost wants are known To One whose love is always shown.
Sing, pray and keep God’s ways unswerving; So do your own part faithfully.
And trust the Word, though undeserving, You’ll find it true delightfully.
God won’t forsake or leave in need The souls that love and trust indeed. Amen.
Text: G. Neumark (1621-1681); Tr. C. Winkworth (1827-1878), alt. Tune: WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT LASST WALTEN
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
It is the one who is forgiven little who shows little love.
Psalm 31/32
Happy are they whom God has pardoned;
whose sins have been remitted,
Happy are those in whom God finds no guilt,
in whose spirit is no guile or deceit.
While I hid my sin my bones grew weak
from all my endless groaning.
For day and night the weight of your hand
was heavy upon me;
my strength dried up and withered
as in a summer’s drought.
Then I acknowledged my sins;
and I stopped hiding my guilt:
I said, “I will cconfess
my offenses to Adonai.”
And you, Adonai, have forgiven;
and wiped away all my guilt.
No wonder the faithful pray to you
whenever in need or in danger!
Even a sudden flood
may rise but will never touch them.
You are my shelter, Adonai;
you save me from distress and ruin.
You encircle me with songs of deliverance.
“I will instruct you as your teacher
and show the path to walk;
I will give you reliable counsel
and watch out for you and your safety.
“Do not be a stubborn mule,
needing bridle and bit to be tamed.”
The wicked cause their own sorrows
but those who trust in Adonai
are surrounded with loving mercy.
Rejoice, rejoice in Adonai,
Exult all you who are just!
O come, ring out your joy,
all who are upright of heart.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
It is the one who is forgiven little who shows little love.
Reading Isaiah 1:16-17
Hear the word of Adonai:
Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.”
The mouth of Adonai has spoken. Thanks be to God
Responsory
R. Look with mercy Adonai; Look with kindness on your people: with compassion turn to your sinful people. V. Do not reject us Adonai, nor hide your face as we deserve; your guiding light and grace we need to know your ways and how to serve.
Gospel Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
You are all siblings: you have one Abba in heaven;
you have one teacher, the Christ.
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
You are all siblings: you have one Abba in heaven;
you have one teacher, the Christ.
.
Service of Prayer
Litany of Intercession
When we hallow your Name in prayer but use it to justify religious or racial hatred… ~ Forgive us O God.
When we pray that your will be done on Earth but treat the Earth’s air, water, soil, plants and other species as nothing more than resources to be used and discarded … ~ Forgive us O God.
When we ask you for our daily bread but refuse to share what we have been given with those who are hungry or in need… ~ Forgive us O God.
When we ask forgiveness but refuse to forgive others… ~ Forgive us O God.
When we ask you to help us in time of temptation but spend hours browsing the market for what we do not need … ~ Forgive us O God.
When we ask you to deliver us from evil but do little that is good for ourselves, our neighbors, or creation… ~ Forgive us O God.
Prayer of Jesus
Abba in Heaven, holy is your Name!
May your reign of love come and your way of loving be lived on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us no more than the bread we need for today. Forgive us our sins as we forgive all those who have harmed or wronged us. Keep us free in times of temptation and protect us from evil. For yours is the glory and power of love, both now and forever. Amen.
Blessing
May the Spirit of God + kindle in our hearts the love of God and neighbor that is the fulfillment of the law. ~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.