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Service of Light
Greeting/Invocation
We light the Evening Candle and say or sing:
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
~Thanks be to God!
Hymn for Sunday Evening
Can we conceive when time was not,
the nothingness of cosmic sleep?
When, formless, there was only void:
no near, no far, no height, no deep?
In love’s embrace, God’s uttered Word
then sounded from Life’s boundless heart:
like suns exploding into space,
“Light!” burst forth, dazzling, in the dark.
Upon the deep there spread delight
for God had smiled, and deemed it “good!”
Like solar winds was Wisdom’s breath,
her warmth yet gentle on her brood.
Dividing light from darkness, then
God called light “Day!” and darkness “Night!”
Thus evening came and morning came—
this first of days and God’s delight. Amen.
Text: Aelred-Seton Shanley
Evening Thanksgiving
Let us give thanks to the God of Light always and for everything,
~ in the name of Jesus Christ.
We praise and thank you, O God, through your Word Jesus Christ, through whom you have enlightened us by revealing the light that never fades. Joy to all creatures, honor, feasting and delight! Night is falling and days allotted span draws to a close. We have enjoyed your gift of daylight; brighten now our evening hours. We praise and glorify you, Abba, through your Son, Our Love, Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. ~ Amen.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Evening Psalm
Antiphon/Refrain
Great are the works of Adonai,
to be pondered by all who love them.
Psalm 110/111
Happy are those who love God
and delight in the whole of Torah!
Their children shall be blest,
strong and upright in the land.
The households of the just will flourish
their integrity stands firm forever.
A light shines from them for others
for they are generous, merciful and just.
The good lend freely to others
and conduct their affairs with honor.
They never waver from doing what is right
their justice is remembered forever.
They do not fear evil news
with strong hearts they trust in God.
Steadfast and without fear
they will watch the wicked crumble.
Open-handed they share with the poor;
their integrity stands firm forever.
this strength will bring them honor.
But hatred devours the wicked
who grind their teeth and depart;
their hopes all turn to ashes.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Great are the works of Adonai,
to be pondered by all who love them.
Reading Isaiah 8:23 to 9:2
[In the lands of Zebulon and Naphtali,] Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness:
for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest.
Responsory
R. As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Peter and Andrew, and he said to them: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” V. For they were fishermen, and he said to them: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”
Gospel Canticle
Antiphon
Jesus taught in the synagogues, proclaimed the reign of God,
curing all their illnesses and healing their disease.
Canticle of Mary
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
Jesus taught in the synagogues, proclaimed the reign of God,
curing all their illnesses and healing their disease.
Service of Prayer
Litany of Intercession
For the Unity of the Christian Churches and the common good of all Earthkind:
God in your mercy hear our prayer
For the people of this and every other nation, that all be guided in the ways of justice and peace, God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the health and well-being of all creation, and the wisdom and will to conserve it, God in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all those who have asked for our prayers and those for whom we have promised to pray, God in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all who are suffering in mind, body or spirit, and for those who care for them,
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those who have died, and for those who grieve their passing, God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father,
Closing Prayer & Blessing
O Holy One, Source, Guide and Goal of all that is, You called and gifted Jesus for a ministry of teaching and proclaiming the gospel, and curing every disease and illness among the people. You have called and gifted each of us to continue his mission and ministry in a great variety of ways with a wonderful diversity of gifts. When we go astray, help us wake up and change direction so that we may channel our lives and our energies into preparing the way for your reign on Earth as it is in heaven where yours is the power and glory of love now and forever. Amen.
May God + bless us and keep us. May God’s Face graciously smile upon us. May God’s Spirit favor us and all of creation with peace. ~Amen
Let us bless Adonai. ~And give thanks to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for this season.
Marian Antiphon
Loving Mother of our Savior, holding open heaven’s only hope, Star for steerage in this vastness, rise to help us, save the sinking. Nature’s greatest Wonder: you have borne your own true Maker, giving human life to him. Virgin ever, before and after, that Good News from Gabriel, Word of Life for living, tell it now: mercy to all people!
The angel of the Lord brought the message to Mary. ~ And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may, by his Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of his Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.