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 Apostle to the Apostles

Invitation to Worship

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.

 

Invitatory Antiphon

My Love is truly Risen:  Alleluia, Alleluia!

Early in the morning,

I went out unseen.

I entered into unknowing,

transcending all knowledge.

I sought my beloved in the garden of delight.

Open, open to me the gates! (R)

+

I went into the city,

I sought and did not find.

Have you seen my beloved?

Where does he take his rest. (R)

+

I left the city behind

at the break of day.

I returned to the garden

again waiting at the tomb. (R)

+

Here is my beloved;

behold, here he comes

bounding over the mountains,

leaping over the hills.

He is like a gazelle or a wild goat,

the One Risen from the dead! (R)

ST. MARY MAGDALENE MORNING HYMN

Out of the night where hope had died,
to tomb once sealed, now gaping wide,
the Magdalene made haste, to mourn
and bring her spices through the dawn.

She gazed in disbelief and pain
where Jesus in his death had lain,
until the radiant angel said,
“Seek not the living with the dead.”

Soon trusting Love cast out her fears;
she rose and brushed away her tears.
As first apostle, Mary ran
to tell God’s resurrection plan.

Our Love is risen! Mary cries,
Lift up your hearts and dry your eyes,
Jesus is risen–come and see–
and goes ahead to Galilee.

All glory be to God above,
for Mary’s apostolic love,
all praise to God whom we adore
for ever and for evermore. Amen.

^{From The Saint Helena Breviary, Church Publishing 2006}

 

PSALMODY

Antiphon

My Beloved is hiding in the clefts of the rock.

O let me but hear your voice and see your face.

Psalm 41/42

Like the deer that yearns

for running streams,

so my soul is yearning

for you, my God.

 

My soul is thirsting for God,

the God of my life;

when can I enter and see,

the face of God.

 

My tears have become my bread,

by night, by day,

as I hear it said all day long:

“Where is your God?”

 

Why are you cast down my soul,

why groan with- in me?

Hope in God and praise the Holy One:

my savior and my God.

 

Deep is calling on deep

in the roar of mighty waters;

your torrents and all your waves

have swept over me.

 

By day Adonai will send

com-passion and loving kindness;

by night I will sing a song of thanks;

praise the God of my life.

 

Why are you cast down my soul,

why groan with- in me?

Hope in God and praise the Holy One:

my savior and my God.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

and to the BREATH of Love;

As always before

so now and evermore. Amen.

My Beloved is hiding in the clefts of the rock.

O let me but hear your voice and see your face.

READING     JOHN 20: 1-2; 11-12

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb

early in the morning, while it was still dark, 

and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” 

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet of where the Body of Jesus had been.  And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”

 

 

Silent Prayer

 

Responsory

R. Rejoice with me, all you who love the Lord, *Alleluia, Alleluia!

V.  For the one whom I was seeking has appeared to me; while I was weeping at the tomb, I saw the Lord.  *Alleluia, Alleluia!

V. Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Breath of Love.

 

Canticle of Zachary–  Luke 1:68-79

 Antiphon

They have removed my Lord and I don’t know where they have taken him.

Sir, if you know, please tell me, Alleluia!

 

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.

They have removed my Lord and I don’t know where they have taken him.

Sir, if you know, please tell me, Alleluia!

 

Intercessory Prayer

These intercessions are adapted from a prayer service prepared by FUTURE CHURCH  www.futurechurch.org 

After You healed Mary of Magdala from a serious illness, she followed you and supported your mission out of her own resources.

~Rabboni, open our hearts to receive your healing grace and let us,
like Mary of Magdala, put all we have at your service.

 

Mary of Magdala traveled with You and the other disciples in a community that studied and practiced God’s new reign of justice and of love.

~ Rabboni, make all communities of faith places
to learn and grow in justice, inclusion and love.

 

Mary and the other disciples stayed with you, even when you were threatened by the religious leaders and imperial authorities.

~ Rabboni, help us stand in Your truth and healing love
especially when we experience persecution for justice’ sake.

 

Mary of Magdala remained at Your side through your horrible suffering, brutal death and anonymous burial.

~ Rabboni, help us to accompany those who are sick and dying,
especially those abandoned by their families and friends.

 

You called Mary of Magdala, Joanna and the other women to be the first witnesses to the Resurrection.

~ Rabboni, help us recognize and accept our call to witness to Your love
which brings life from death.

 

When You called Mary by name, she recognized you as her dearly beloved Teacher.

~Rabboni, give us ears to hear you calling our true name deep within our hearts.

 

You sent Mary of Magdala as Apostle to the Apostles– to proclaim your resurrection to the others even though they would not believe her.

~Rabboni, help us, to accept your call “to go and tell our brothers and sisters” the Good News of your Risen Love in a disbelieving world.

 

Women numbered among your disciples and followers during your ministry on earth and were significant leaders in the early Christian communities.

~Rabboni, help all of us to live out the call of our baptism
and help all our Churches to welcome the servant-leadership
of the women you call today.

 

Prayer of Jesus

Our Father …

 

 Closing Prayer & Blessing

Holy One and God of endless Compassion, you are the praise of all your saints and the joy of all creation.   We rejoice today in the fellowship of your blessed apostle, Mary Magdalene, and we give you thanks for her testimony and leadership in the early Christian Community. Fill us with life and light, free us from clinging to the past, and send us out as witnesses to the astounding beauty and power of your love which is stronger than death  now and forever.  ~ Amen.

 

May the Risen Christ who sent Mary Magdalene as the first to witness the Resurrection + bless us with peace and courage to proclaim his undying love for the whole world.

~Amen.

 

Let us bless Adonai, Alleluia!  Alleluia!

~Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia!