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February 21
St. Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Reformer of the Medieval Church
Invitation to Worship
Come, let us sing to Adonai, let us praise the God of all Creation!
We make the Sign of the Cross over our lips as we begin.
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Let the earth and all living things praise the greatness of God!
Let all people extol the glory of Adonai!
FRIDAY MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn .
Oh Lover of the human heart,
Earth’s source, her dawn, her day and rest:
how holy is our planet-home,
whose gifts your love all manifest.
So deep your love, so reckless, sure,
you loved us even in our sin:
pursued us, shared our pain and death,
determined at the last to win!
Embrace, enfold us in your breath;
so warmed, may we be set ablaze.
Close draw us to your wounded side—
the wounds we bear will then be grace.
Love, crucified, twice hallows Earth,
which God deemed good and filled with grace:
here, holy ground; here, heaven’s gate;
with awe therefore our Earth embrace!
We bless you, holy, deathless One!
We bless you, Christ, God’s wounded Word!
We bless you, Breath, our breath and life;
your praise through all the Earth be heard! Amen.
Text: Aelred-Seton Shanley; Tune: Plainsong
PSALMODY
Antiphon
The sacrifice you accept, O God is a humble spirit.
Psalm 50/51
Have mercy on me, O God, in your loving kindness;
in your compassion blot out my offenses.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin. (Antiphon)
I know full well my misdeeds,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, against you have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight. (Antiphon)
Yet you look for truth in my in most being,
and teach me wisdom in my heart.
Purify me that I may be clean,
wash me, make me brighter than snow. (Antiphon)
Create in me a pure heart O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your holy Spirit from me. (Antiphon)
Deliver me from death, O God my Savior,
and my tongue may sing of your justice.
O Love, open my lips,
and my mouth will proclaim your praise. (Antiphon)
You have no delight in sacrifices;
burnt offerings from me would not please you.
The sacrifice you accept is a humble spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not reject. (Antiphon)
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love;
as it was in the beginning, is now
and will be forever. Amen (Antiphon)
Setting: David Clark Isele, Praise God In Song (GIA, 1979).
READING James 2: 14-16
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear
and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. The command of Adonai is clear, *it gives light to the eyes. V. Those who love their neighbors have fulfilled the law; love is the fulfilling of the law. *it gives light to the eyes. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
O Adonai deliver us from our enemies
and from the control of our oppressors .
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.
O Adonai deliver us from our enemies
and from the control of our oppressors .
Intercessory Prayer
May we have patience with all things,
~especially with ourselves.
May we trust that You are in charge of all things today,
~And will take care of all things tomorrow.
Shield us today from suffering,
~Or give us unfailing strength to bear all things with joy.
Help us to be at peace in the present moment,
~and to dismiss all anxious thoughts and imagination.
May we not wish to be anything
~other than who you made us to be.
When we wander away from the shelter of Your love,
~Lead us back to You with quiet and simplicity.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
~ And fill us with your Holy Spirit.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One and God of endless Compassion, you are the praise of all your saints and the joy of all creation. You called St. Peter Damian to use his gifts of preaching, writing and diplomacy, to bring the Church of his day back to the heart of the Gospel. May we be inspired by his example to persevere in prayer and join with all your holy people in building your reign on Earth as it is in heaven where you live and love One God for ever and ever. Amen.
May God bless us + and keep us in loving care today and each day throughout the year;
~Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace.
~And give thanks to God.