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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!
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you;
~By your Holy Cross you redeemed the world.
Hymn for Holy Cross
Behold the Royal Cross on high Resplendent in its mystery,
The Cross on which the Love of all, Once suffered human agony.
From nails which bound his feet and hands His tortured body hung in pain.
Thus was the Victim sacrificed Who for the life of all was slain.
But when his sacred side was pierced A sacrament of love was seen:
His Blood with water issued forth To purge our souls and wash us clean.
O Holy Tree and beautiful, Once watered by that precious flood
Which blest your trunk and colored it the purple hue of Royal Blood.
O Holy Cross in whom alone The world’s salvation is assured,
May Christ impart to us the grace Which by his passion he procured.
And may the Blessed Trinity By all creation be adored,
Who through the myst’ry of the Cross From death to life has been restored. Amen.
Text: Venantius Fortunatus (530-609); Tune: Plainsong
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Evening Psalm
Antiphon/Refrain
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Psalm 146/147
How good to sing God praise!
Sing to the One who is loving!
We cannot help but shout this praise!
Adonai rebuilds Jerusalem
and gathers the exiles of Israel;
healing the broken-hearted,
and binding up all of their wounds.
God fixes the number of the stars
and calls each one by its name.
Adonai is great and almighty;
wise beyond all telling:
For the Holy One raises the lowly and the poor,
while the wicked are humbled to the dust.
O sing to Adonai, giving thanks,
Sound the harp with psalms for our God,
Who stretches the heavens with clouds,
preparing rain for the Earth,
making mountains green with grass
and plants to serve everyone’s needs.
Adonai provides food for our cattle
and for young ravens when they call.
God is not impressed by the power of horses
nor by the strength and speed of a warrior.
For Adonai takes delight in the reverent;
and those who trust God’s compassion.
Glory to the One and to the Word
And to the Breath of Love
As always before
So now and evermore, Amen.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Reading I CORINTHIANS 1: 23-24
We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Responsory
R. But I, when I am lifted up, will draw all peoples to me.
V. These words he said to indicate the death that he would die.
V. Believe in the light and you will become children of the light.
V. Glory to the Abba and to the Word and to the Holy Breath of Love.
Gospel Antiphon
God loved the world so much as to give it the only begotten Son.
Whoever believes in him will not perish,
but will have everlasting life.
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 the Abba.
God loved the world so much as to give it the only begotten Son.
Whoever believes in him will not perish,
but will have everlasting life.
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
Our Love, Jesus Christ, you emptied yourself, taking the form of a servant and being made like us,
– strengthen your people to follow the example of your humility.
Our Love, Jesus Christ, you became obedient to death, even death on a cross,
– open our ears and our hearts to listen deeply to God’s voice inviting us to life through dying to selfishness, pride and greed.
Our Love, Jesus Christ, you were raised up by the Abba and given the name that is above every name, – may all who bear your name witness in their loving the power of your name.
Our Love, Jesus Christ, at your name every knee in heaven, on earth and under the earth will bend in adoration, – pour out your love upon all people that we may join together with the whole of creation in proclaiming your glory.
Our Love, Jesus Christ, every tongue shall confess that you are ADONAI to the glory of God the Abba, – welcome our brothers and sisters who have died into the unfailing joy of your kingdom.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba in heaven, …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Gracious God, faithful and good, you never tire of calling us to follow the way of Jesus through death to new life. In the Holy Cross which lifted and suspended Jesus between heaven and earth, you have given us a sign of health and wholeness, unity and peace. Grant us the riches of grace that flowed from that Cross, that, renewed by your Spirit we may be able to respond to your eternal and limitless love. ~Amen.
May Jesus Christ, who stretched out his arms on the Wood of the Cross to draw all humankind and all creation together + bless us with freedom, flourishing and the fullness of life. ~Amen
Let us bless Adonai ~Thanks be to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon.
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 heart 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, O 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.