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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
O Good Provider, hear our plea And listen to our earnest prayer
That through these forty days of Lent We learn to trust your loving care.
We spend our time and energies constructing barns to hoard and store,
And celebrate our liturgies to Mammon–god of “always more.”
When Lazarus is at our gates, and species made extinct by greed–
May what we choose to fill our plates be no more than we really need.
As Earth now circles into Spring and through the mud new life appears,
We pray our Lenten journeys bring the joy that wipes away all tears.
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: MERCIFUL REDEEMER, Mode IV Text: ; vv. 1-4 The Daily Feast; v. 5 Aelred Seton-Shanley
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
You are my shelter Adonai, you save me from ruin and distress.
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 confess
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 ruin and distress.
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.
You are my shelter Adonai, you save me from ruin and distress.
Reading Hebrews 13:12-15
Jesus died outside the gate, to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us go to him outside the camp, bearing the insult which he bore. For here we have no lasting city; we are seeking one which is to come. Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which acknowledge God’s Name.
Responsory
R. Jesus is able for all time *to save those who draw near to God through him. V. He is always living to plead on their behalf. *to save those who draw near to God through him. V. Glory to the One and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Gospel Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
Your father, Abraham, rejoiced to think
he would see my day; when he saw it he was glad.
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
Your father, Abraham, rejoiced to think
he would see my day; when he saw it he was glad.
Service of Prayer
Litany of Intercession
For the Unity of the Human Family and the common good of all Earthkind,
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the people of this and every other nation, that all be guided in the ways of justice and peace, God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the health and well-being of all creation, and the wisdom and will to conserve it,
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all those who have asked for our prayers and those for whom we have promised to pray, God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all who are suffering in mind, body or spirit, and for those who care for them,
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those who have died, and for 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, in his teaching, his parables and his example, Jesus revealed that to live fully as the image of God, each of us is called and gifted to meet the real, practical needs of our sisters and brothers. 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.
Blessing
May the Spirit of God + kindle in our hearts the love of God and neighbor. ~Amen
Let us bless Adonai! ~And give thanks to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon.
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.