EASTER VESPERS Thursday

resurrection Icon cropped

They praised in unison your conquering hand, Adonai,

for Wisdom opened mouths that were mute

and gave eloquence to the tongues of infants, alleluia.

SERVICE OF LIGHT

Greeting/Invocation

 We light the EASTER CANDLE and say or sing:

Christ our Light!

~Thanks be to God!

 

This is the day Adonai has made, alleluia!

~Let us rejoice and be happy today, alleluia!

 

HYMN FOR EASTER

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!

 

O truly worthy Sacrifice, through which the power of hell now dies,

And sets a captive people free, Restoring life and liberty.

 

Our  Christ, arising from the dead, From conquered hell victorious sped;

He leaves the tyrant holding chains And Paradise for us regains.

 

Creation’s Author, now we pray, Fulfill in us your joy today;

When death assails, grant, Lord, that  we May share your Paschal victory.

 

To you, once slain, again you live, All glory Love, Your people give;

All glory, as is ever meet, To Abba and the Paraclete.

Text: AD COENAM AGNI PROVIDI (7th century)  tr. J.M. Neale,, alt ; Tune:  PASCHAL LAMB L.M. 

 

SERVICE OF THE WORD

Evening Psalmody

Antiphon 

 Alleluia!  Who is like Adonai our God,

who has risen on high to the throne?

Above the heavens is God’s glory.  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Psalm 112/113

Servants of God, sing praise,

praise God’s holy Name.

Bless the Name of the Holy One,

both now and forever.

From the rising of the sun to its setting

praised be the Holy Name.

 

Adonai towers above the nations;

God’s glory shines over the heavens.

Who compares to the Holy One?

Who is enthroned so high,

yet stoops from the heights to look down,

to observe both heaven and Earth?

 

Love lifts the humble from the dust

And raises the poor from the mire

To be seated with leaders of the people,

and to wear a crown of joy;

The childless, no longer alone,

Rejoice in many children.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

and to the BREATH of Love!

As always before,  

so now and evermore.  Amen

 Alleluia!  Who is like Adonai our God,

who has risen on high to the throne?

Above the heavens is God’s glory.  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

 

 

READING         1 Peter 3:18-22

Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit. In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

 

 Responsory

R.  This is the day Adonai has made * alleluia, alleluia!  V. Let us rejoice and be happy today *alleluia, alleluia!  V.  Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.

 

Gospel Canticle

Antiphon

“These are my words that I spoke when I was with you;
Everything written about me in the law of Moses
and in the Prophets and Psalms must be fulfilled.” Alleluia, Alleluia.

Canticle of Mary

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 the Word

And to the Holy Breath of Love

As always before

So now and evermore. Amen

“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was with you: alleluia!
Everything written about me in the law of Moses
and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

SERVICE OF PRAYER

Litany of Intercession

By your resurrection, O Love,

you become the firstborn of the dead.

~Help us live the newness of your life.

 

By your resurrection

you seal the New Covenant.

~Breathe your Spirit into our hearts.

 

By your resurrection

you overcame hate among people.

~Help us live the new commandment of love.

 

By your resurrection

you were clothed with immortality.

~Help us put on the New Humanity,

re-created in the justice and holiness of truth.

 

By your resurrection

you sit at the right hand of Abba.

Help us discover from nature and all that is real

the path to your community of love.

 

By your resurrection

you restore the universe.

~Restore our communities of faith with your joy

so that our lives may be witnesses of your resurrection.

Prayer of Jesus

Our Dear Abba in heaven…

 

Closing Prayer

We bless and thank you, O Gracious God, for all that you have done in raising Jesus from the dead. You have conquered the power of death and opened to us the way to the freedom, flourishing and fullness of life which your love offers to us and all of your creation.  May the Risen Christ open our eyes and breathe into our hearts that we may know him in the breaking and sharing of bread and follow him in his risen life now and forever.   Amen

 

Blessing

May the God of Life who brought Jesus through death to new life+ bless us with Peace and Joy, Alleluia!  ~Amen, Alleluia!

 

Let us bless Adonai, Alleluia, Alleluia!    ~Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

 

 

the-risen-christ-appears-to-his-mother-217-william-hart-mcnichols

Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for the Easter Season.

Regina Caeli laetare, alleluia!

Quia Quem meruisti portare, alleluia!

Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia!

Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia!

 

Rejoice and be glad or Virgin Mary, Alleluia!

For our Love is truly risen, Alleluia!

 

Let us pray.

Holy, Immortal and Mighty God, you have brought joy to the world by raising Jesus from the dead. By the prayers of Mary his Mother, and of all the myrr-bearing women,

raise us up with Jesus and bring us to the fullness of life.  We ask this through the same Jesus Christ, our Risen Love.  Amen.