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SERVICE OF LIGHT
Greeting/Invocation
We light the Evening Candle and say or sing:
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ!
~Thanks be to God!
Stay with us Lord for it is evening,
~And the day is almost over.
EVENING HYMN
For the fruits of this creation, Thanks be to God;
For the gifts of every nation, Thanks be to God;
For the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
Silent growth while we are sleeping,
Future needs in earth’s safekeeping, Thanks be to God.
In the just reward of labor, God’s will be done;
In the help we give our neighbor, God’s will is done;
In our world-wise task of caring
For the hungry and despairing,
In the harvests men are sharing, God’s will is done.
For the harvests of the spirit, Thanks be to God;
For the good we all inherit, Thanks be to God;
For the wonders that astound us,
For the truths that still confound us,
Most of all, that love has found us, Thanks be to God.
Text: F. Pratt Green
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
I will bless the produce of your fields,
and the poor will be filled with bread.
Psalm 131/132
Adonai, remember David
and his patience through so many hardships,
the oath he swore to you,
O Mighty God of Jacob:
“I will not enter my home,
nor lie down on my bed to rest.
I will not close my eyes
nor will I enjoy my slumber
until I find a place for Adonai
a dwelling for the Strong One of Jacob.
At Ephrata we heard of the ark;
we found it in the fields of Yaarim.
“Let us go to God’s house,
Let us worship at God’s throne.”
Go up, Adonai, to your resting place,
you and the ark of your power.
Your priests dress with holiness for the feast;
your faithful prepare songs and shouts of joy.
For the sake of David your servant
do not reject your anointed.
Adonai swore an oath to David;
and will not go back on this word:
“Your child, the fruit of your body
will I set upon your throne.
“If your heirs adhere to my laws
and keep my covenant in truth,
their children also shall rule
from your throne forever and ever.”
For Adonai has chosen Zion,
has desired it as a home.
“This is my resting place forever,
here have I chosen to live.
“I will bless the produce of her fields
and the poor shall be filled with bread.
I will vest the priests with salvation
and the faithful will sing out their joy.
There I will make David’s stock flower,
and I will light a lamp for my anointed.
Enemies will be clothed with regret
but on the anointed a crown will shine.”
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
I will bless the produce of your fields,
and the poor will be filled with bread.
Reading Sirach 5:1-3
Rely not on your wealth;
say not: “I have the power.”
Rely not on your strength
in following the desires of your heart.
Say not: “Who can prevail against me?”
or, “Who will subdue me for my deeds?”
for God will surely exact the punishment..
Responsory
R. To revere Adonai is the first stage of wisdom; *all who do so will prove themselves wise. V. Hearken, my Child, to the precepts of your Teacher, incline the ear of your heart; *all who do so will prove themselves wise.
V. Glory to the ONE, to the WORD, and to the Holy BREATH of Life.
Gospel Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
“Salt is good; but if it becomes tasteless,
how can you restore its flavor?
Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”
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
“Everyone will be salted with fire.
Salt is good; but if it becomes tasteless,
how can you restore its flavor?
Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
For all who study and explore the beauty and wonder of birds, fish and all creatures of the sea;
For all whose lives and livelihoods involve working with the sea; especially those striving to preserve endangered species through the development of sustainable fishing practices and to improve and restore oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and ponds;
For all whose lives and livelihoods are related to the health of birds, especially those striving to develop sustainably integrated practices and to improve and restore their natural habitats;
For all who are deprived by modern lifestyles and urban jungles from experiencing the incredible beauty, diversity, liveliness and songs of the birds;
For all the sea creatures and winged birds themselves, whose praise of God that has been sounding for hundreds of millions of years, is threatened with extinction by the human destruction of their habitats and the toxins produced by consumerism and greed;
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
God of the Sea and Sky, as we celebrate the fifth day of the week, we praise and thank you for the wonder and beauty of all the creatures that You have made, for each one of them reveals something of Your inexpressible love. Awaken in us a profound sensitivity to Your presence in all of creation and awareness that it is in You that we and all creation live and move and have our being. For your love is the power that has created all things, sustains all things, and invites all things to join you in building the future now and forever. Amen.
May the God of the Cosmos + bless us with reverence, wonder and awe . Amen.
Let us bless Adonai! ~And give thanks to God.
Marian Antiphon
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon
[Ave Regina Caelorum is sung from the 3rd of February until Good Friday, inclusive.]
Queen of the heavens we greet you, Queen of Angels we entreat you,
Fairest flower, heaven’s portal From whom came the Light immortal.
Matchless maiden, God did raise you For the Universe to praise you.
Hear us, O hear us, dear Mother; Show your children Jesus, our brother.