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Invitation to  Worship

Come, let us sing to  Adonai, the God of all creation!

O Holy One,+ open my lips.

~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

 

Behold the Lamb of God, alleluia!

~who takes away the sins of the world, alleluia!

 

Sunday Morning Hymn

First uttered, first conceived and named

by Love unbounded, unrestrained:

before all else that came to be,

“Light!” dark and silence overcame.

 

Without this nothing could endure,

yet through it, all life came to be!

Light’s energies by God unleashed

would birth each world and galaxy.

 

Alone, apt symbol  for the ONE

beyond all image and all form:

pervading all, yet uncontained,

of all that God has made, first born.

 

The fire within the burning bush,

the radiance seen on Moses’ face,

the guide that led the Magi forth,

Mount Tabor’s brilliant, dazzling grace!

 

“Light!” pulse of everything alive,

from rainbow to the sun’s fierce rays,

from fireflies to the farthest star,

you manifest God’s hidden ways.  Amen.

 Text:  Aelred-Seton Shanley; Melody: Plainsong Mode VIII

 

Psalmody

Antiphon

More glorious than the surgings of the sea,

Adonai is glorious on high.

Psalm 92/93

 Adonai, you reign with glory,

draped in splendor, robed with might.

You have girded yourself with the power of love.

 

The world you made firm, it will not be shaken;

even so, your reign is eternal–

for your Love has existed forever.

 

Onward roll the waves, O Holy One,

onward the waters  lift their voices,

onward like a fury of thunder.

 

Greater than the roaring of the waters,

More glorious than the surging of the sea,

Your Love is glorious on high.

 

Your decrees are firm and worthy of trust;

the beauty of holiness and worship

fills your dwelling place forever.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

and to the BREATH of Love;

as always before,

so now and evermore, Amen.

More glorious than the surgings of the sea,

Adonai is glorious on high.

 

 READING   Isaiah 61: 1-3

The Spirit of Adonai is upon me, for God anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.  God has sent me to proclaim, liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to Adonai!

 

Responsory

R.  The Spirit of Adonai is upon me; * for I am sent to bring good news to the poor.

 V.  I will proclaim liberty to all who are oppressed * for I am sent to bring good news to the poor.

 

Canticle of Zachariah

Antiphon

 I saw the Spirit come and rest upon him.

Now I am witness that Jesus is the chosen one of God.

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

I saw the Spirit come and rest upon him.

Now I am witness that Jesus is the chosen one of God.

 

 

Litany of Intercession

That all who follow the Lamb of God may overcome what divides us and may join our voices in proclaiming good news for the poor, let us pray…

~ Hear us O God.

 

That political and economic leaders may be filled with God’s Spirit of compassion and lead with honesty, justice and a passion for the flourishing of all, let us pray…

~ Hear us O God.

 

That those who have received more may be freed to share their abundance with those who are oppressed by racism, classism, and violence, let us pray…

~ Hear us O God.

 

That the sacredness of all life and the rights of all human and all earthly beings may be upheld in the hearts and in the laws of all peoples and nations, let us pray…

~ Hear us O God.

 

Prayer of Jesus

Our Father …

 

Closing Prayer & Blessing

O Holy One, Source, Guide and Goal of all that is, your Holy Spirit, who has hovered over creation since the beginning of time descended on Jesus as he began to bring good news to the poor.  Fill us this week with that same Spirit so that we may work with you in renewing the face of the Earth.  Amen.

 

May the Spirit of God + kindle in our hearts a passion for justice and a commitment to the poor.  ~Amen 

 

Let us bless the world with peace.    ~And give thanks to God.