IV LENT Thursday | THE DAILY FEAST

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Invitation to Worship

Come, let us return to Adonai, Our God —Our God who is gracious and merciful!

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.

Rescue me from death, O God, my Savior;

~ And my tongue shall ring out your goodness!

MORNING HYMN for LENT

All may sing or alternate the verses of any Lenten Morning Hymn .

God of Compassion turn to us your children;

Bend down your ear in your great loving kindness.

And, as your people’s song is now ascending,

We beg you, hear us.

Look down in mercy from your throne of glory;

Pour on our souls the radiance of your presence;

Drive from our weary hearts the shades of darkness;

Our footsteps lighten.

Free us from sin because of your great loving;

And cleanse the sordid, loose the fettered spirit.

Spare ev’ry sinner; raise with your own right hand

All who have fallen. Amen.

Text: Aures Ad Nostras, trans A, G, McDougall (1895-1964) alt.; Tune: HERZLIEBSTER JESU

PSALMODY

Antiphon/Refrain

Never forget God’s deeds.

Psalm 105/106

Give thanks to Adonai for such goodness

and love which endures forever.

Who can tell all God’s wondrous deeds?

Who can provide adequate praise?

They are happy who do what is right,

who at all times do what is just.

Adonai, remember me

out of the love you have for your people. Never forget God’s deeds.

Our sin is the sin of our forbearers

we have done wrong, our deeds have been evil.

Our ancestors when they were in Egypt

paid no attention to your wonderful deeds.

They forgot the greatness of your love

and refused to obey your will.

They yielded to their cravings in the desert

and put you to the test in the wilderness. Never forget God’s deeds.

They fashioned a calf at Horeb

and worshipped an image of metal

exchanging the God who was their glory

for the image of a bullock that eats grass.

They forgot the God who was their savior,

who had done such great things in Egypt

wonders in the land of Pharaoh

and marvels at the Sea of Reeds. Never forget God’s deeds.

For this, you were ready to destroy them

but Moses, the one you had chosen

stood alone before you–

reminding you of your faithfulness and love.

In the greatness of your love you relented,

for their sake you remembered the covenant;

You let them be treated with mercy–

and so we can cry for your help:

Adonai, come quickly and save us

that we may thank you and sing praise to your Name. Never forget God’s deeds.

Glory to the One and to the Word

and to the Breath of Love

as always before,

so now and evermore. Amen.

Never forget God’s deeds.

READING Exodus 32:1-8

When the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for that man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.”Aaron replied, “Take off the golden earrings that your wives, your sons, and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He received their offering, and fashioning it with a tool, made a molten calf. Then they cried out, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought youup from the land of Egypt.”On seeing this, Aaron built an altar in front of the calf and proclaimed, “Tomorrow is a feast of your god.” Early the next day the people sacrificed burnt offerings and brought communion sacrifices. Then they sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.

Then Adonai said to Moses: Go down at once because your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, have acted corruptly. They have quickly turned aside from the way I commanded them, making for themselves a molten calf and bowing down to it, sacrificing to it and crying out, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”

Silent Prayer

Responsory

R. They forgot the God who was their Savior, *they forgot the greatness of God’s love. V. They knew God and yet refused to honor God or to give thanks; *they forgot the greatness of God’s love. V. Glory to the ONE and the WORD and the Breath of Life.

Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79

Antiphon

I may be testifying on my own behalf,

but my Abba who sent me is my witness too.

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 may be testifying on my own behalf,

but my Abba who sent me is my witness too.