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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!
In You, Adonai, is the Source of Life;
~In your Light we shall see light.
Hymn for Lent V
O breathe on us, O Breath of God, Fill us with life anew,
That we may love the things you love, And do what you would do.
O breathe on us, O Breath of God, These old dry bones revive;
Remove the stone, call us by name, with love make us alive.
O breathe on us, O Breath of God, Our wills to yours incline,
Until our inmost hearts, once dead, Glow with your fire divine.
O breathe on us, O Breath of God, So shall we never die,
But live with you to share your love and praise your name, Most High.
Text: Edwin Hatch (1835-1889) alt. v. 2. The Daily Feast. Tune: ST. COLUMBA CM
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Evening Psalm
Antiphon
Although he was Son, Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered.
Psalm 137/138
I thank you, Adonai, with all my heart,
you have heard the words of my mouth.
Before the angels I will bless you;
and adore before your holy temple.
I thank you for your faithfulness and love
which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called you answered me;
you increased the strength of my soul.
All earth’s rulers shall thank you
when they hear the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of your ways, Adonai:
“How great is the glory and power of God!”
You are exalted, yet look with tenderness on the lowly;
and you know the ways of the haughty and proud.
Though I walk in the midst of anxiety and fear,
you give me life and frustrate my foes.
You stretch forth your hand and save me,
your hand will do all things for me.
Your love, Adonai, is eternal,
discard not the work of your hands.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Although he was Son Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered.
READING Ezekiel 37:12-14
Thus says ADONAI ELOHIM:
O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them,
and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am ADONAI,
when I open your graves and have you rise from them.
O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live,
and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am ADONAI.
I have promised, and I will do it, says ADONAI. ~Thanks be to God.
Responsory
R. Send forth you Spirit Adonai, and renew the face of the earth. V. Pour out your Spirit on all humankind. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Gospel Antiphon
Let us look to Jesus the author and finisher of faith,
who, for the joy that awaited him endured the cross with all its shame.
Refrain
Lord Jesus
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 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 our Abba.
Acclamation
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Abba!
Glory to the Abba and the Word
And the Holy Breath of Love
As always before
So now and evermore. Amen
Let us look to Jesus the author and finisher of faith,
who, for the joy that awaited him endured the cross with all its shame.
Service of Prayer
Litany of Intercession
Your people cry “Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off;”
~open our graves and call us to life.
Moved with compassion for those who suffer and grieve, you wept at the grave of Lazarus;
~open our graves and call us to life.
You called Lazarus to life from the tomb, and called his family and friends to unbind him and let him go free; ~open our graves and call us to life.
You call those entombed by poverty and racism to fullness of life, and call us to work for justice, to unbind them and let them go free; ~open our graves and call us to life.
You call those entombed by bitterness and resentment to the new life forgiveness, and call us to be ambassadors of reconciliation, to unbind them and let them go free; ~open our graves and call us to life.
You call those entombed by addictions to freedom and flourishing, and call us to support them on their journeys, to unbind them and let them go free; ~open our graves and call us to life.
You call those entombed by depression or loneliness to life in community, and call us to be a loving presence in their lives, to unbind them and let them go free; ~ open our graves and call us to life.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father…
Closing Prayer
Gracious God of all Compassion, you sent Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, to call from their tombs those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death and to lead them into the light of life. As Spring now calls forth an abundance of life-forms from their wintry tombs, call each of us from the holes which we have dug for ourselves and help us to unbind those still bound by poverty, racism and every form of injustice. Then, together with the whole of creation, we can work together to build up your reign on earth as it is in heaven where you live and love, One God, forever and ever. Amen
Blessing
May the light of God surround us; the love of God enfold us; and the life of God + fill us to overlowing. ~Amen
Let us bless Adonai. ~And give thanks to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for this season.
Ave Regina caelorum, Ave Domina Angelorum.
Salve radix, salve porta, Ex qua mundo lux est orta:
Gaude Virgo gloriosa, Super omnes speciosa:
Vale, O valde decora, Et pro nobis Christum exora.
Pray for us O gracious Queen of the Universe,
~ 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 body.
Send us your assistance in times of temptation.
May we who celebrate the memory of the holy Mother of God,
rise from our sins by the help of her intercession.
We ask this through Christ our Life. Amen.