Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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!
Stay with us O Christ, for it is evening,
And the day is almost over!
Evening Hymn
Day is done, but love unfailing dwells ever here
Shadows fall, but hope, prevailing, calms every fear.
Loving Abba, none forsaking, take our hearts of Love’s own making
Watch our sleeping, guard our waking, be always near.
Dusk descends, but light unending shines through our night
You are with us, ever lending new strength to sight
One in love, your truth confessing one in hope of heaven’s blessing
May we see, in love’s possessing love’s endless light!
Eyes will close, but you unsleeping watch by our side
Death may come, in love’s safekeeping still we abide
God of love, all evil quelling sin forgiving, fear dispelling
Stay with us, our hearts indwelling this eventide.
Text: James Quinn, S.J.; Melody: Ar Hyd Y Nos 84.84.88.84;
SERVICE OF THE WORD
EVENING Psalmody
Antiphon
How worthy is the Lamb of
all honor and glory and praise.
Canticle from Revelation
O Lord our God, you are worthy
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you have created all things;
by your will they came to be and were made.
Worthy are you, O Lord
to receive the scroll and break open its seals.
For you were slain;
with your blood you purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue,
of every people and nation.
You made them a kingdom,
and priests to serve our God,
and they shall reign on earth.”
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches,
wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and praise.
Glory to the One and to the Word
And to the Holy Breath of Love
As always before
So now and evermore. Amen.
How worthy is the Lamb of
all honor and glory and praise.
.
READING ROMANS 3:21-26
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood, to prove his righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed, through the forbearance of God – to prove to be righteous in the present time, that God might be righteous and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Responsory
R. If we die with him, we shall live with him; *if we endure we shall reign with him. V. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are faithless he keeps faith, he cannot deny himself. *If we endure we shall reign with him. V. Glory to the Abba and to the Word and to the Holy Breath of Love.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Antiphon:
“The Reign of God is like yeast
that a woman mixes with three measures of flour
until the whole batch is leavened.”
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
“The Reign of God is like yeast
that a woman mixes with three measures of flour
until the whole batch is leavened.”
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
Your Reign is like good seed planted in a field invaded by weeds; ~give us ears to hear and patience to refrain from judging others.
Your Reign is like yeast kneaded into three measures of flour ~ give us ears to hear and strength to bring your love into everything we do.
Your Reign is like a mustard seed which someone plants in a field ~ give us ears to hear and hearts to make others welcome.
You invite us while we are still stuck in selfishness and sin to join you in building your Reign on earth as it is in heaven; ~may the love we bring to the world today be seed and leavening for your reign.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba…
Closing Prayer & Blessing
God of Life and Love, you sent Jesus to announce the Reign of Heaven in parables and in his way of living and loving among us. Like a woman who makes bread for her family and friends, knead the leaven of your way of life and the love of your Holy Spirit into our hearts that our lives may become bread for those who hunger, sustenance for those who are oppressed, nourishment for those who search for truth and satisfaction for those who seek justice and peace. For yours is the power and the glory of love, now and forever. ~Amen.
May the God who gives seed to the sower , flour to the baker, and bread to the hungry + bless us and all of creation with the fullness of life. ~Amen
Let us bless Adonai. ~Thanks be to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon.
Salve Regina, Mater misericordiae, Vita dulcedo et Spes nostra, salve!
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae; Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum vale. Eia, ergo, Advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos, ad nos converte; et Jesum benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis, post hoc exilium ostende. O Clemens, O Pia, O Dulcis, Virgo Maria!