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Invitation to Worship
Come, let us sing to Adonai, let us praise the God of all Creation!
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.
Our hearts are restless, O God
~ Until they find their rest in you!
MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn .
Dear Abba, by whose servants Our house was built of old,
Your hand has crowned her children With blessings manifold,
For your unfailing mercies Far strewn along the way,
With all who passed before us, We praise your Name today.
The changing years unresting Their silent course have sped,
New children always bringing In elders’ steps to tread:
And some are long forgotten, Long spent their hopes and fears;
They rest in your safekeeping, in peace throughout the years.
They reap not where they labored; We reap what they have sown;
Our harvest may be gathered By ages yet unknown.
The days of old have blessed us With gifts beyond all praise;
Dear Abba, make us faithful To serve the coming days.
Before us and beside us, Still clasped in your strong hand
A cloud unseen of witness, Our elder siblings stand:
One family unbroken, We join with one acclaim,
One heart, one voice uplifted, To glorify your name. Amen
Text: GW Briggs, alt. Tune: 76. 76 D.
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Let me sing the praises of my Love
let all creatures bless the holy Name
Psalm 144/145b
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign
and declare your might, O God,
Let them make known to all
your might and your glorious reign.
Your dominion lasts forever
your rule for all generations.
You are faithful in all your words
and loving in all your deeds.
You support those who have fallen
and raise all those who are bowed down.
The eyes of all creatures look to you
and you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand
to feed all living things.
Most just in all your ways
most loving in every deed.
You are near to all who call
who cry out from their hearts.
You grant them their desires,
hear their cry and save them.
You protect and keep alive
All who strive to love.
Glory to the One and to the Word
And to the Breath of Love
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Let me sing the praises of my Love
let all creatures bless the holy Name.
READING Hebrews 12: 22-24, 28-29
You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. The command of Adonai is clear, *it gives light to the eyes. V. Those who love their neighbors have fulfilled the law; love is the fulfilling of the law. *it gives light to the eyes. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
You have made us for yourself, O God;
and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
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
You have made us for yourself, O God;
and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
Intercessory Prayer
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Versicles
Save all people, Adonai, and bless those who search for Truth,
~Govern and uphold them now and forever.
Day by day, let us bless your Name,
~And sing your praise forever.
Keep us this day from all sin and evil
~Show us your mercy and compassion.
May your love be upon us, Adonai,
~For we place all our trust in you.
In you, Adonai, is all our hope:
~Let us never be put to shame.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
~ And fill us with your Holy Spirit.
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Prayer of St. Augustine
Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you!
Lo, you were within, but I outside, seeking there for you,
and upon the shapely things you have made I rushed headlong – I, misshapen.
You were with me, but I was not with you.
They held me back far from you, those things which would have no being,
were they not in you.
You called, shouted, broke through my deafness;
you flared, blazed, banished my blindness;
you lavished your fragrance, I gasped; and now I pant for you;
I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst;
you touched me, and I burned for your peace. Amen.
May the God of Sea and Sky who has called us to glory + bless us and all creation with freedom, flourishing and the fullness of life. ~Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace.
~And give thanks to God.