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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!
O Adonai, save my life from these raging beasts,
~My soul from the teeth of these lions.
EVENING HYMN for HOLY WEEK
O Cross of Christ, immortal tree On which our Savior died,
The world is sheltered by your arms That bore the Crucified.
From bitter death and barren wood The tree of life is made;
The branches bear unfailing fruit And leaves that never fade.
O faithful Cross, you stand unmoved While ages run their course:
Foundation of the universe, Creation’s binding force.
Give glory to the risen Christ And to his Cross give praise,
The sign of God’s unfathomed love, The hope of all our days. Amen.
Text: Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal, 1974, alt. Tune: LOVING HEARTS C.M.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon/Refrain
“Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.”
Psalm 48/49
Hear this, all you peoples,
give heed, all who dwell in the world,
whether you are elite or humble
rich and poor alike!
I have wisdom you need to hear.
I see to the heart of things.
I tune my ears to the truth
and now share my insight with the harp.
Why should I be afraid in bad times
when enemies surround me with malice,
disdainful in their power
arrogant in their wealth?
For none of us can save ourselves,
cannot set things right with God;
the price for salvation is too high,
well beyond anyone’s means.
There is no escaping death,
no way to avoid the grave.
Look, even the wisest die.
Fools and idiots likewise perish,
and others claim their wealth.
The grave is their ultimate home,
where they truly settle for good,
even if they are remembered
and their land still bears their name.
No matter how great or how wealthy,
there are few with wisdom who see:
all of us die like beasts.
Here is the fate of those
concerned only for the themselves:
Like sheep they are driven to Sheol,
where death shall be their shepherd;
the morning will see they have vanished
and Earth consumes what remains.
But I know that God will rescue me,
save me from the grip of death.
Do not worry about wealth,
when someone else becomes rich.
You cannot take it to your grave
and your prestige means nothing in death.
Regardless of your wealth and reputation,
even when others say:
“My, how well you have done,”
the rich will join their dead ancestors
who will never see the light again.
No matter how great or how wealthy,
there are few with wisdom who see:
all of us die like beasts.
“Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.”
Reading Romans 5:8-9
It is precisely in this that God proves love for us: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Now that we have been justified by his blood, it is all the more certain that we shall be saved by him from the wrath that is to come.
Responsory
R. As for you the blood will be a sign: *when I see the blood, I will pass over you.
V. You were ransomed with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb, without blemish; *when I see the blood, I will pass over you. V. Glory to the One and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Gospel Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Human One be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
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
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Human One be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
Litany of Intercession
You accepted the hospitality of Martha and Mary with their brother Lazarus whom you had called out of the tomb; ~enable us to give and receive hospitality during this Holy Week and throughout the Easter season.
Mary anointed your feet with costly perfume, unknowingly preparing you for burial; ~may we be ready to share the best that we have with friends, strangers and all those with whom we celebrate your presence in our lives.
Those who worry excessively about cost, who store up more than they need, are the ones who will always have the poor to worry about; ~free us to share all we have been given so that all will have access to what they need.
Those who monitor the lives of others, threatened by your generosity, lifestyle and teaching, plotted to get rid of you and Lazarus; ~strengthen us to follow your way of living and loving all the way to the Cross.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father…
Closing Prayer
Gracious God of all Compassion, you sent Jesus as an example of unselfish love whose way of life would free us from sin and whose way of dying would destroy the power of death. May our celebration of this Holy Week enable us to enter more deeply into the Mystery of his suffering, death, and burial, so that we may more fully experience the new life and joy of his resurrection, both here on earth and in heaven where you live and love, One God, forever and ever. Amen
Blessing
May the God of Compassion + bless and guide us as we follow Jesus on the way of the cross. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai! ~And give thanks to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon.
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, 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 Love. Amen.