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SERVICE OF LIGHT
Greeting/Invocation
We light the Evening Vesper Candle and say or sing:
Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Love!
~Thanks be to God!
Tell it among the nations, Alleluia!
~Our God has reigned from the Tree, Alleluia!
HOLY CROSS Evening Hymn
Faithful Cross, O Tree of beauty! Tree all peerless and divine!
Not a grove on earth can show us Such a flow’r and leaf as thine.
Sweet the nails, and sweet the wood, Laden with so sweet a load.
Lofty Tree, bend down thy branches, To embrace thy sacred Load;
Oh, relax the native tension Of that all too rigid wood;
Gently, gently bear the members of thy dying King and God.
Tree alone of all found worthy Our great Victim to sustain,
Harbor from the raging tempest! Ark that saved the world again!
Tree, with sacred Blood anointed Of the Lamb for sinners slain.
Glory be to God, and honor In the highest as is ever meet,
to the Word and to the Abba, and th’eternal Paraclete,
Whose is boundless praise and power through the ages infinite. Amen.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
SUNDAY EVENING PSALM
Antiphon
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
Psalm 95/96
Sing a new song to Adonai!
Sing it and bless God’s Name!
Sing it everyone, and everywhere!
Proclaim God’s help every day,
Tell every nation about the triumph!
God’s glory and wonders among the peoples.
A God so great deserves all praise,
and the dread of all other gods,
far too many value their worthless idols
but it was Adonai who made the heavens;
to God belong majesty and power
and splendorous beauty in the temple.
Proclaim Adonai, O families of nations,
Praise the glory of God’s power
Praise the glory of the Holy Name.
Bring gifts to offer in the temple,
worship with reverence and awe,
O Earth, join us in praise.
Tell it among the nations:
“Adonai reigns with justice!
As the firmness of Earth is not swayed,
nothing will sway the justice of God.
Let heaven and Earth be glad,
the sea and its creatures render praise;
the fields and their animals exult,
the trees and their birds sing for joy,
at the presence of Adonai who comes–
who comes to reign on Earth.
With justice God will set Earth aright;
with truth restore the world to right order!
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love.
As always before
so now and evermore. Amen.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
READING GALATIANS 2:19-22; 6:14-16
Through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. …May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Responsory
R. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Human One be lifted up, *so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. V. For God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through Him, the world might be saved. *so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
New Testament Canticle
Antiphon:
By a tree we were made slaves, and by the Holy Cross we are set free:
the fruit of the tree seduced us, the Son of God has redeemed us.
Salvation and glory and power
belong to our God, alleluia!
God’s judgments are true and just.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Praise our God
all you servants, alleluia!
Those reverencing with awe,
both small and great.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Adonai our God,
the Almighty reigns, alleluia!
Let us rejoice and exult,
giving God the glory.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
The marriage of the Lamb has come,
And his bride has made herself ready.
She has been given for her clothing,
fine linen, glistening and pure.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Glory to the Abba and the Word,
and the Holy Breath
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen!
By a tree we were made slaves, and by the Holy Cross we are set free:
the fruit of the tree seduced us, the Son of God has redeemed us.
Litany of Intercession
Our Love, Jesus Christ, you emptied yourself, taking the form of a servant and being made like us, – strengthen your people to follow the example of your humility.
Our Love, Jesus Christ, you became obedient to death, even death on a cross,
– open our ears and our hearts to listen deeply to God’s voice inviting us to life through dying to selfishness, pride and greed.
Our Love, Jesus Christ, you were raised up by the Abba and given the name that is above every name, – may all who bear your name witness in their loving the power of your name.
Our Love, Jesus Christ, at your name every knee in heaven, on earth and under the earth will bend in adoration, – pour out your love upon all people that we may join together with the whole of creation in proclaiming your glory.
Our Love, Jesus Christ, every tongue shall confess that you are ADONAI to the glory of God the Abba, – welcome our brothers and sisters who have died into the unfailing joy of your kingdom.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba in heaven, …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Gracious God, faithful and good, you never tire of calling us to follow the way of Jesus through death to new life. In the Holy Cross which lifted and suspended Jesus between heaven and earth, you have given us a sign of health and wholeness, freedom and flourishing, unity and peace. Grant us the riches of grace that flowed from that Cross, that, renewed by your Spirit we may be able to respond to your eternal and limitless love. ~Amen.
May Jesus Christ, who stretched out his arms on the Wood of the Cross to draw all humankind and all creation together + bless us with freedom, flourishing and the fullness of life. ~Amen
Let us bless Adonai ~Thanks be to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon.
Marian Antiphon
Mother of mercy, our Queen, we greet you! Our life, our hope, our happiness, we hail you.
We call to you as Eve’s own children, and exiles; To you we lift our heart in sorrow and fear, in this valley of tears. Turn then, our loving Advocate, and look with favor upon us. And after our life in exile, show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O gracious, O loving, O Virgin benign, our Mother Mary.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God;
~ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Holy, Mighty and Immortal God, through the working of the Holy Spirit, you prepared the body and soul of the glorious virgin Mother Mary, as a worthy dwelling for your Word; grant that we, who celebrate her memory each evening, may with the help of her prayers, be freed from ever-present evil, and come to share the fulness of life eternal. Amen.