Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, EP I

winter sunset

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!

 

Stay with us Lord for it is evening,

~And the day is almost over.

 

Hymn for Saturday Evening

O fire that fuels the stars and suns,

rekindled in our evening flame:

your blinding radiance yet is dimmed

before the One from whom you came.

 

When out of darkness first you dawned,

you ushered in God’s gifts untold:

on this the eighth, unequaled day,

you blazed where Life lay dead and cold.

 

For Christ, our light, unquenchable,

death sought to master and defy,

yet from a darkened, empty tomb

Life gave definitive reply.

 

The universe will not be shamed,

delighting God in endless ways,

for neither human sin nor pride

can silence its unceasing praise. Amen

Text: Aelred-Seton Shanley

 SERVICE OF THE WORD

Evening Psalm

Antiphon/Refrain

My prayers come before you like incense,

the raising of my hands like the ev’ning offering.

Psalm 140/141

I call for your help, O Adonai, Listen to me when I call to you.

God, I cry to you, so listen to my prayer, I am invoking you.

 

Keep me from evil, watch over me.  Set a guard at the door of my lips.

Love, I turn to you, so listen to me now, I am invoking you.

 

Defend me, my Love, I take refuge in you.  Guard me from those who do evil.

My Joy, I trust in you, so listen to my heart, I am invoking you.

Setting: Tobias Colgan, OSB, alt.

 

Reading           Isaiah 58: 7-8

Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed;
your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of Adonai shall be your rear guard.

 Responsory

R. This one command I give you, that you love each other just as I have been loving you.    V. By this will everyone know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another. V.  Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Breath of Love.

Gospel Antiphon

You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world, Alleluia!

Canticle from Philippians 2: 6-11 

 

Though he was in the form of God

Jesus did not  snatch at equality with God.

 

He emptied himself,

taking the form of  a servant,

being born in the likeness of human beings.

 

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even death on a cross.

 

Therefore God has highly exalted him

and bestowed on him the name

that is above every other name.

 

That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow

in heaven and on earth

and under the earth.

 

And every tongue confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Abba.

 

Glory to the Abba and to the Word

And to the Breath of Love

As always before

So now and evermore. Amen

You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world, Alleluia!

 

 Service of Prayer

Litany of Intercession

For the Unity of the Christian Churches and the common good of all Earthkind,

Love, 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, Love, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For the health and well-being of all creation, and the wisdom and will to conserve it, Love in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For all those who have asked for our prayers and those for whom we have promised to pray, Love in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For all who are suffering in mind, body or spirit, and for those who care for them,

Love in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For those who have died, and for those who grieve their passing, Love, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Prayer of Jesus

Using a translation prepared by the Nez Percé Tribe, we pray as Jesus taught his disciples

O Great Spirit, You are our Shepherd Chief in the most high place.

Your home is everywhere, even beyond the stars and moon.

Whatever You want to be done, let it be done everywhere.

Give us Your gift of bread day by day.

Forgive us our wrongs as we forgive those who wrong us.

Take us away from wrong doings. Free us from evil.

For everything belongs to You.  Let Your power and glory shine forever.  Amen.

 

 

Closing Prayer & Blessing

Risen Christ, by virtue of your passing over from death to life,

pour your Holy Spirit into our hearts.  Fill us with awe and reverence for you and love  and compassion for our neighbor, for yours is the power and the glory, now and forever. ~Amen.

May the Great Spirit + bless us and all of creation.  ~Amen 

 

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

 

Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for this season.
[Ave Regina Caelorum is sung from the 3rd of February until Good Friday, inclusive.]

Queen of the heavens we greet you, Queen of Angels now we entreat you,

Fairest flower, heaven’s portal From whom came the Light immortal.

Matchless maiden, God did raise you For the Universe to praise you.

Hear us, O hear us, dear Mother; Show your children Jesus, our brother.

Pray for us, holy Mother of God.

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.  O Gracious God, grant to your people lasting health of mind and of body.

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we be freed from present sorrow and attain eternal happiness.  We ask this through Christ our Love.  Amen.