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Invitation to Worship
Come, let us return to Adonai our God– our God who is gracious and merciful.
O Holy One,+ open my lips.
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
This is the acceptable time-
~This the day of salvation!
Morning Hymn for Lent
This is our accepted time, This is our salvation;
Prayer and fasting are our hope, loving our vocation.
God of pardon and of love, Mercy past all measure,
May our hearts be found in you, You, our only treasure.
Please look now upon your own, Look upon our yearning;
We are dust and unto dust We shall be returning.
Lift us up, O God of Life, Sin has brought us sadness,
Hear our plea, bestow on us Everlasting gladness. Amen
Text: Michael Gannon (1955) alt. Tune: WEIMAR 7.6.7.6. Melchior Vulpius (1609)
PSALMODY
Psalm 24/25
Adonai loves justice and truth and fills the Earth with compassion.
O Holy One, make me know your ways,
teach me your paths,
steer me toward your truth and teach me,
for you are my salvation, my constant hope.
For you are good and just,
happy to guide those who miss their way.
You lead those who are humble toward wisdom,
and teach your ways to the poor.
Your ways are loving and sure
for those who love your truth.
For all who revere your word
are guided in every choice.
Then we would live with abundance
and our children would flourish on Earth.
Your friendship is offered to all;
your kindness to every generation.
Adonai loves justice and truth and fills the Earth with compassion.
READING Daniel 3: 25, 34-36.
Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:
“For your name’s sake, Adonai, do not deliver us up forever,
or make void your covenant.
Do not take away your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham, your beloved,
Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
To whom you promised to multiply their offspring
like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation,
brought low everywhere in the world this day
because of our sins.
Responsory
R. O Adonai remember what has befallen us *Look and see our disgrace. V. Our ancestors have sinned and are no more, and we, we bear their iniquities *Look and see our disgrace. V. Glory to the Abba, and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachariah
Antiphon
Rabbi, must I forgive one who wrongs me as many as seven times?
“Not seven, but seventy times seven!”
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
“Rabbi, must I forgive one who wrongs me as many as seven times?”
“Not seven, but seventy times seven!”
Litany of Intercession
When we hallow your Name in prayer but use it to justify religious or racial hatred… ~ Forgive us O God.
When we pray that your will be done on Earth but treat creation as nothing more than a resource to be used and discarded … ~ Forgive us O God.
When we ask you for our daily bread but refuse to share what we have been given with those who are hungry or in need… ~ Forgive us O God.
When we ask forgiveness but refuse to forgive others… ~ Forgive us O God.
When we ask you to help us in time of temptation but spend hours shopping for what we do not need … ~ Forgive us O God.
When we ask you to deliver us from evil but do little that is good for ourselves, our neighbors, or creation… ~ Forgive us O God.
Prayer of Jesus
Abba in Heaven, holy is your Name!
May your reign of love come and your way of loving be lived on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us no more than the bread we need for today. Forgive us our sins as we forgive all those who have harmed or wronged us. Keep us free in times of temptation and protect us from evil. For yours is the glory and power of love, both now and forever. Amen.
Blessing
May the Spirit of God + kindle in our hearts the love of God and neighbor that is the fulfillment of the law. ~Amen
Let us bless the world with peace. ~And give thanks to God.