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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!
Stay with us Lord for it is evening,
~And the day is almost over.
EVENING HYMN FOR MARY MAGDALENE
I rose by night from slumber,
A voice beloved woke my heart with wonder.
My garment left behind
I wandered forth to find,
By care for fleshly vesture unencumbered.
Whom seek you, lovely maiden?
Your fingers moist with precious myrrh be laden,
Will fragrant oil and spice
once more his love entice
When spread about the empty couch he lay in?
Such rich and wanton giving
Once roused his tender heart in sweet thanksgiving.
But lo, he is not here!
With-hold your gift, nor fear!
Among the sleeping do not seek the living. Amen.
Text & Tune: Chrysogonus Wadell, OCSO and Paul Quenlon, OCSO
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon/Refrain
Go quickly and tell his disciples:
“He has been raised from the dead, and is going before you into Galilee.
There you will see him as he told you.” Alleluia! Alleluia!
Canticle from Isaiah 52: 7-12
How lovely on the mountains
are the feet of the herald
who comes to proclaim prosperity
and bring us good news,
the news of deliverance:
Your God is your Savior!
Listen, your sentinels raise their voices
and shout together in triumph:
for with their own eyes they will see
Adonai returning with mercy to Zion.
Break forth together in shouts of joy,
O ruins of Jerusalem;
for Adonai, moved with compassion for this people
has come and ransomed Jerusalem.
Adonai has bared a mighty arm
in the sight of the nations
and the whole world from end to end
will see freedom restored by our God.
Away from Babylon, come out, come out!
touch nothing unclean.
But you will not come out in haste
nor leave like fugitives on the run,
for Adonai marches at your head
your rearguard is the Holy One of Israel.
Glory to the One and to the Word
and to the Breath of Love;
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Go quickly and tell his disciples:
“He has been raised from the dead, and is going before you into Galilee.
There you will see him as he told you.” Alleluia! Alleluia!
READING JOHN 20: 14-18
When Mary had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Abba.
But go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I am going to my Abba and your Abba,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he told her.
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Rejoice with me, all you who love the Lord, *Alleluia, Alleluia!
V. For the one whom I was seeking has appeared to me; while I was weeping at the tomb, I saw the Lord. *Alleluia, Alleluia!
V. Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Breath of Love.
Gospel Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
Go tell my sisters and brothers:
I am ascending to the Holy One,
Our dear Abba, the Living God.
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
Go tell my sisters and brothers:
I am ascending to the Holy One,
Our dear Abba, the Living God.
Intercessory Prayer
These intercessions are adapted from a prayer service prepared by FUTURE CHURCH www.futurechurch.org
After You healed Mary of Magdala from a serious illness, she followed you and supported your mission out of her own resources.
~Rabboni, open our hearts to receive your healing grace and let us, like Mary of Magdala, put all we have at your service.
Mary of Magdala traveled with You and the other disciples in a community that studied and practiced God’s new reign of justice and of love. ~ Rabboni, make all communities of faith places to learn and grow in justice, inclusion and love.
Mary and the other disciples stayed with you, even when you were threatened by the religious leaders and imperial authorities. ~ Rabboni, help us stand in Your truth and healing love especially when we experience persecution for justice’ sake.
Mary of Magdala remained at Your side through your horrible suffering, brutal death and burial. ~ Rabboni, help us to accompany those who are sick and dying, especially those abandoned by their families and friends.
You called Mary of Magdala, Joanna and the other women to be the first witnesses to the Resurrection. ~ Rabboni, help us recognize and accept our call to witness to Your love which brings life from death.
When You called Mary by name, she recognized you as her dearly beloved Teacher. ~Rabboni, give us ears to hear you calling our true name deep within our hearts.
You sent Mary of Magdala as Apostle to the Apostles– to proclaim your resurrection to the others even though they would not believe her. ~Rabboni, help us, to accept your call “to go and tell our brothers and sisters” the Good News of your Risen Love in a disbelieving world.
Women numbered among your disciples and followers during your ministry on earth and were significant leaders in the early Christian communities. ~Rabboni, help all of us to live out the call of our baptism and help all our Churches to welcome the servant-leadership of the women you call today.
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. We rejoice today in the fellowship of your blessed apostle, Mary Magdalene, and we give you thanks for her testimony and leadership in the early Christian Community. Fill us with life and light, free us from clinging to the past, and send us out as witnesses to the astounding beauty and power of your love which is stronger than death now and forever. Amen.
May the Risen Christ who sent Mary Magdalene as the first to witness the Resurrection + bless us with peace and courage to proclaim his undying love for the whole world. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai, Alleluia! Alleluia!
~Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Salve Regina
Marian Antiphon
Mother of Mercy, Our Queen we greet you. Our life, our hope, our happiness we hail you.
We call to you as Eve’s own children, and exiles. To you we lift our hearts in sorrow and fear, in this valley of tears. Turn then, our loving Advocate, and look with favor upon us.
And after our life in exile, show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O gracious, O loving, O Virgin benign, our Mother Mary.
Pray for us, Holy Mother of God ~ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Holy, Mighty and Immortal God, through the working of the Holy Spirit, you prepared the body and soul of the glorious virgin Mother Mary, as a worthy dwelling for your Word; grant that we, who celebrate her memory each evening, may with the help of her prayers, be freed from ever-present evil, and come to share the fulness of life eternal. Amen.