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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.
O purify me, then I shall be clean.
~O wash me, I shall be brighter than snow.
MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn for Lent.
God is my strong salvation: What foe have I to fear?
In darkness and temptation, My Light, my Help is near:
Though hosts encamp about me, for justice will I stand;
What terror can confound me, With God at my right hand?
Place on our God reliance; My soul, with courage wait;
God’s truth be your affiance When faint and desolate.
God’s might your heart shall strengthen, God’s love your joy increase;
God’s grace your days will lengthen, And God will give you peace. Amen
Text: Psalm 26/27 J. Montgomery (1771-1854), alt. ; Tune: WEDLOCK 76.76.D The Sacred Harp
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Give judgment Adonai;
for you are the shield that protects me.
Psalm 7
I take refuge in you, Adonai;
save me from those who attack.
Rescue me, their helpless prey;
these lions will tear me to pieces.
If I have done wrong, Adonai,
if there is guilt on my hands,
if I have mistreated friend or foe,
then let my foes hound and seize me;
let them overtake and destroy me,
trample me into the ground.
Wake up, Adonai, and see this!
Rise against the fury of my foes.
Provide the just judgment you demand,
Make the world serve as your courtroom,
take your seat as our judge.
Give judgment for me, Adonai,
I am just and innocent of heart.
Put an end to the evil of the wicked!
Uphold the ways of the good.
For you will test our hearts,
O God of justice and truth!
You are the shield that protects me;
and you save those with good hearts.
You are a zealous and patient judge;
But you are ready to find guilty
the sinners who refuse to turn around;
who instead sharpen their swords,
string their bows and light flaming arrows;
They conceive evil and grow pregnant with malice,
and give birth to a pack of lies.
Those who refuse love will fall
into the very pit they dug with their own hands;
Evil consumes those who feed it;
Violence destroys those who hate.
I will praise Adonai for justice;
I will sing out: Adonai Most High!
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love;
As always before
so now and evermore. Amen.
Give judgment Adonai;
for you are the shield that protects me.
READING Jeremiah 18:18-20
“Come,” they said, “let us devise a plot against Jeremiah, for instruction will not perish from the priests, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophets. Come, let us destroy him by his own tongue. Let us pay careful attention to his every word.”
Pay attention to me, Adonai, and listen to what my adversaries say. Must good be repaid with evil that they should dig a pit to take my life? Remember that I stood before you to speak on their behalf, to turn your wrath away from them.
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Save my life from the jaws of these lions! V. Against me they open wide their jaws, like lions, rending and roaring. V. O Adonai, do not leave me alone, my strength, make haste to help me. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
The leaders of the people asked the guards they had sent to arrest Jesus:
“Why did you not bring him in?”
They answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”
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.
The leaders of the people asked the guards they had sent to arrest Jesus:
“Why did you not bring him in?”
They answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”
Intercessory Prayer
With the tax collector at the back of the Temple, we pray:
~ Be merciful to me a sinner!
Like the woman who lost her coin, you work diligently to find those who are lost;
~ Be merciful to me a sinner!
Like the Shepherd who leaves 99 to find the one missing, you are ready to carry us home on your shoulders; ~ Be merciful to me a sinner!
Like the Father moved with compassion, you run to greet your prodigals with kiss and calf, robe and ring; ~ Be merciful to me a sinner!
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
~ And fill us with your Holy Spirit.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
God of mercy and forgiveness, our self-righteous arrogance is so quick to tally our praying, fasting and almsgiving while we stand in judgment and condemn the rest of humankind. Help us to know in the depths of our hearts that it is mercy and compassion that you desire and that it would be better for us to cease all our Lenten practices if they do not rehearse us in loving our neighbor as we hope to be loving you–for you live and reign in the power of compassion and unconditional love now and forever. Amen.
May the God whose arms are always extended to welcome us + bless us with self-awareness and compassion for all our sisters and brothers. ~Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace.
~And give thanks to God.