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Invitation to Worship
Come, let us sing to Adonai, let us praise the God of all Creation!
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.
Sun and Moon, bless Adonai;
~ Stars and Galaxies, exalt God for ever!
WEDNESDAY MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn .
Where stretch the limits of the stars?
Who fathoms all the gifts of Earth?
Within the origins of life
one Word, in labor, gives them birth.
Its silence fills the stellar night;
its sound plumbs deep our planet’s core:
poured out for us, enfleshed in full,
this Word—none other—Mary bore.
From Earth, the Word drew nourishment,
from us, the body we possess;
our sun provided warmth and light—
with these the Word took on our flesh.
All things created, great and small,
at dawn of time God sanctified:
now these, enfleshed within the Word,
return God’s love, thus glorified,
For only thus the Word prepared
to consummate the sacrifice
for which God’s heart had ever yearned,
for which Love would alone suffice.
Creation’s dawning God deemed “Good!”
yet still we scarce believe our worth:
but pregnant, full, the Word here dawns,
and yearns in us to come to birth. Amen.
Text: Aelred-Seton Shanley; Tune: Plainsong
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Adonai has robed me with grace and salvation.
Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3
I rejoice heartily in Adonai,
in God-Love, the joy of my soul;
For the Holy One clothed me with a robe of salvation,
and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
Like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem,
like a bride bedecked with her jewels.
As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
So will Adonai make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations.
For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
Until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.
Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all kings your glory;
You shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of Adonai.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of Adonai,
a royal diadem held by your God.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Adonai has robed me with grace and salvation.
READING Deuteronomy 4:39-40
Know, and fix in your heart, that Adonai is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other. You must keep these statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which Adonai, your God, is giving you forever.
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Great is Adonai, *and mighty in power. V. To God’s wisdom there is no limit * And mighty in power. V. Glory to the Abba, and to the Word and to the Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
If any of you would be first, you must be last of all and servant of all.
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
If any of you would be first, you must be last of all and servant of all.
Intercessory Prayer
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
In you, Adonai, is the Source of Life,
~In your Light we shall see light.
Send forth your light and your truth
~Let these be our guide.
Fill us each morning with your constant love,
~That we may sing and be glad all our life.
Let us see your wonderful works,
~May your people see your glorious might.
Gracious God, may your blessing be upon us;
~And grant us success in all we do.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
~ And fill us with your Holy Spirit.
Closing Prayer & Blessing
We give you thanks, Holy One, for with a mother’s love you have watched over us in the night and have led us from the shadows of darkness into morning’s light. As we celebrate the sowing of summer seeds and transplanting of fragile seedlings, plant in our hearts the seeds of the Spirit that we may bear fruit to the glory of your Name. Amen.
May the God of light fill us with all peace and joy, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, + we may abound in goodness for all of creation. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~Thanks be to God.