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SERVICE OF LIGHT
Greeting/Invocation
We light the Evening Vesper Candle and say or sing:
Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Love!
~Thanks be to God!
Sunday Evening Hymn
O radiant Light, O Sun divine, Of God the Abba’s deathless face,
O image of the Light sublime that fills the heavenly dwelling place.
O Word of God, the Source of Life, Praise is your due by night and day.
Our happy lips must raise the strain of your esteemed and splendid Name.
O Jesus Christ as daylight fades, as shine the lights of eventide,
We praise the Abba with the Word, the Spirit blest and with them one.
Text: Phos Hilaron, transl. WG Storey; Tune: Howard Hughes, S.M. Praise God in Song
Thanksgiving for the Light
Let us give thanks to the God of Light, always and for everything.
~In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
We praise you, O Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe!
Your word brings on the dusk of evening, your wisdom creates both night and day.
you determine the cycles of time, arrange the succession of seasons,
and establish the stars in their heavenly courses.
Adonai of the starry hosts is your name.
Living and eternal God, rule over us always.
Blessed be Adonai, whose word makes evening fall. Amen.
Text: Based on the Jewish Berakah of the Evening
SERVICE OF THE WORD
SUNDAY EVENING PSALM
Antiphon
A blessed people are they
who revere Adonai, greatly loving God’s commandments.
Psalm 111/112
Happy are those who love God
and delight in the whole of Torah!
Their children shall be blest,
strong and upright in the land.
The households of the just will flourish
their integrity stands firm forever.
A light shines from them for others
for they are generous, merciful and just.
The good lend freely to others
and conduct their affairs with honor.
They never waver from doing what is right
their justice is remembered forever.
They do not fear evil news
with strong hearts they trust in God.
Steadfast and without fear
they will watch the wicked crumble.
Open-handed they share with the poor;
their integrity stands firm forever.
this strength will bring them honor.
But hatred devours the wicked
who grind their teeth and depart;
their hopes all turn to ashes.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
A blessed people are they
who revere Adonai, greatly loving God’s commandments.
READING I Thessalonians 1:5-10
You know what sort of people we were among you for your sake.
And you became imitators of us and of Jesus,
receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the Holy Spirit,
so that you became a model for all the believers
in Macedonia and in Achaia. …For they themselves openly declare about us
what sort of reception we had among you,
and how you turned to God from idols
to serve the living and true God
and to await his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead.
Responsory
R. If you have been raised with Christ, keep your mind on things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, * Set you minds on things that are above, not on things that are below. Alleluia. V. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also *Set you minds on things that are above, not on things that are below. Alleluia. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Breath of Love.
New Testament Canticle
Gospel Antiphon
“Teacher, which commandment in the Law is the greatest?”
So Jesus said to him, “You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart,” Alleluia!
Revelation 19:1.2.5.8
Salvation and glory and power
belong to our God, alleluia!
God’s judgments are true and just.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Praise our God
all you servants, alleluia!
Those reverencing with awe,
small and great.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Adonai our God,
the Almighty reigns, alleluia!
Let us rejoice and exult,
giving God the glory.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
The marriage of the Lamb has come, Alleluia;
And his bride has made herself ready.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
She has been given for her clothing,
fine linen, glistening and pure.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Glory to the Abba and the Word,
and the Holy Breath of Love;
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen!
“Teacher, which commandment in the Law is the greatest?”
So Jesus said to him, “You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart.” Alleluia!
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, freedom and flourishing, 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.