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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
In heav’nly love abiding No danger will I fear;
And safe is such confiding, For nothing changes here.
The storm may roar around me, My heart may low be laid;
But God is round about me, How can I be dismayed?
Wherever God may guide me, No want shall turn me back;
My shepherd is beside me, And nothing can I lack.
God’s wisdom ever teaches, God’s sight is ever clear.
God’s right hand ever reaches and keeps me ever near.
Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be o’er me, where darkest clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure, My path to life is free;
My Savior is my treasure, Who always walks with me.
Text: Anna L. Waring (1823-1910)alt; Tune: NYLAND 76.76. D
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Can a mother forget the child of her womb?
Even then, Adonai will never forget this people.
Psalm 120/121
If I lift up my eyes to the mountains,
will they come to my aid?
My help will come from Adonai,
who made both heaven and earth.
May God, ever wakeful
keep your feet from stumbling;
the Guardian of Israel
neither dozes nor sleeps.
Adonai is your shield and your shade,
a protector, at your right side.
By day the sun shall not harm you
nor the moon during the night.
Adonai will shelter you from evil,
will guard and guide your life.
Adonai will guard your coming and going
both now and forever.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Can a mother forget the child of her womb?
Even then, Adonai will never forget this people.
Reading Isaiah 49: 8-11
Thus says ADONAI:
In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you;
and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people,
To restore the land and allot the desolate heritages,
Saying to the prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the ways they shall find pasture, on every bare height shall their pastures be.
They shall not hunger or thirst, nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them;
For the One who pities them leads them and guides them beside springs of water.
Responsory
R. In a time of favor I answer you, * on the day of salvation I help you.
V. I say to the prisoners: “Come out!” To those in darkness: “Show yourselves!” *on the day of salvation I help you. V. Glory to the ONE, to the WORD, and to the BREATH of Love.
Gospel Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
Amen, I say to you: the hour is coming and is already here
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who listen will live.
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
Amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who listen will live.
Service of Prayer
Litany of Intercession
For peace from on high and for the salvation of the world;
For the well-being of all communities of faith and for the unity of the human family;
For our nation, its government, and for all who serve and protect lives and eco-systems;
For our families, schools, and cities and for every city and community and all those living in them;
For the Earth and all Earthkind, and for the wisdom and human will to conserve them;
For the safety of travelers, the recovery of the sick, the care of the destitute and the release of prisoners;
For an angel of peace to guide and protect us through a peaceful evening and restful night;
For a gentle end to our lives, for those who have died, and for those who grieve their passing;
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Grant us, O Gracious God, in all our ways of life your help, in all our uncertainties your counsel, in all our temptations your protection, in all our work for justice your guidance, in all our sorrows your peace. Convert our hearts and hands to your designs that we may work and pray for the fullness of life for all people and all your beloved creation, for you live and love One God forever and ever. Amen.
May the God of all Compassion + bless us with forgiveness and fill our hearts with loving-kindness. 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 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.