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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!
SONG AT THE CENTER
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Evening Hymn
From the corners of creation to the center where we stand,
let all things be blessed and holy, all is fashioned by your hand.
Brother Wind and Sister and Water, Mother Earth and Father Sky
Sacred Plants and Sacred Creatures, Sacred People of the Land.
In the East the place of dawning there is beauty in the morn;
Here the seeker finds new visions as each sacred day is born.
All who honor life around them, All who honor life within,
They shall shine with light and glory when the morning breaks again.
In the South the place of growing, there is wisdom in the Earth
Both the painful song of dying and the joyful song of birth.
As the Earth gives up her lifeblood, so her children’s hearts may beat
We give back to her our reverence; holy ground beneath our feet.
In the North the place of wisdom there is holy darkness deep,
Here the silent song of mystery may awake you from your sleep.
Here the music still and holy sounds beneath the snow and night
In the to wait with patience for the coming of the light,
In the West the place of seeing there is born a vision new
of the Servant of the servants who proclaimed a Gospel true.
Let the creatures of creation Echo back creation’s prayer,
Let the Spirit now breathe through us And restore the sacred here.
From the corners of creation to the center where we stand,
let all things be blessed and holy, all is fashioned by your hand.
Brother Wind and Sister and Water, Mother Earth and Father Sky
Sacred Plants and Sacred Creatures, Sacred People of the Land.
Marty Haugen, (C) GIA Publications
Thanksgiving for the Light & Praise for Creation
Let us give thanks to the God of Light, always and for everything.
~Praise be to You, O God of Creation!
We praise you, O Holy One, with all your creatures. They came forth from your all-powerful hand; they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
~Praise be to You, O God of Creation!
We praise you, O Word of God through whom all things were made. Formed in the womb of Mary, you became part of Earth, and gazed upon creation with human eyes.
Today, in your risen glory, you are alive in every creature.
~Praise be to You, O God of Creation!
We praise you O Holy Breath of Life.
By your light you guide this world towards God’s love
and accompany the groaning of creation.
You dwell in our hearts and inspire us to do what is good.
~Praise be to You, O God of Creation!
O Three-in-One, O wondrous Community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you in the beauty of the universe where all things speak of you.
– Awaken our praise and gratitude for every being that you have made.
– Give us the grace to feel our intimate oneness with everything that exists.
– Show us our place in this world as instruments of your care for all the creatures of this earth, for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
~Praise be to You, O God of Creation!
With the poor and Mother Earth we cry out: “Seize us, O God, with your power and light, to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming the beauty and love, the justice and peace of your Reign. For you are full of loving kindness for your whole creation and with your creatures we glorify you: Abba, Word and Holy Breath of Love, now and forever. R ~Amen!
(New translation of Pope Francis’ Prayer from the end of Laudato Si, no. 248)
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
The Earth has yielded her fruit; God our God has blessed us.
Psalm 66/67
O Holy One, show your graciousness and bless us,
let the Light of your Face shine upon us.
So will your ways be known upon Earth
and all nations will see how you save.
Refrain
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
Let the nations exult and be glad
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you govern the peoples
and guide the nations on Earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
This way Earth can yield her fruit,
for these blessings extend to all creation–
May your blessings continue for all time
so the ends of Earth can respond with praise.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
Then the peoples can praise you, O God;
then all peoples will praise you and sing:
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love,
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
The Earth has yielded her fruit; God our God has blessed us.
READING ROMANS 8:19-22
All creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now.
Responsory
God looked at everything in creation, *God named everything very good! V. Light and darkness, Sun, Moon, and the stars, *God named everything very good! V. Earth and Sea, Sky and Birds, Fish and all Creatures, *God named everything very good! V. Human beings in God’s image and likeness, *God named everything very good! R. God looked at everything in creation, God named everything very good!
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Antiphon
All creation is waiting with eager expectation
for humans to reveal they are truly children of God.
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
Canticle of Mary
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 the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
All creation is waiting with eager expectation
for humans to reveal they are truly children of God.
Litany of the Circle
Teach your children that Earth is our mother.
Whatever befalls Earth befalls all the children of Earth.
The water’s murmur is the voice of our ancestors.
We are part of Earth, and Earth is part of us.
The rivers are our brothers; they quench our thirst.
The trees and flowers are our sisters.
The air is precious,
for all of us share the same breath.
All things are connected, like the blood which unites one family.
Our God is the same God, whose compassion is equal for all.
For we did not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand in it;
Whatever we do to the web we do to ourselves.
Let us give thanks for the web in the circle that connects all of us.
Thanks be to God, the God of all.
Prayer of Jesus
Using a translation prepared by the Nez Percé Tribe, we pray as Jesus taught his disciples
O Great Spirit, You are our Shepherd Chief in the most high place.
Your home is everywhere, even beyond the stars and moon.
Whatever You want to be done, let it be done everywhere.
Give us Your gift of bread day by day.
Forgive us our wrongs as we forgive those who wrong us.
Take us away from wrong doings. Free us from evil.
For everything belongs to You. Let Your power and glory shine forever. Amen.
Closing Prayer & Blessing
O Holy One, Source, Guide and Goal of all Creation,
open our eyes and our hearts to see you in the beauty of the universe where all things speak of you. Seize us with your power and light, to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming the beauty and love, the justice and peace of your Reign. For you are full of loving kindness for your whole creation and with your creatures we glorify you: Abba, Word and Holy Breath of Love, now and forever.
~ Amen!
May the God of the Cosmos + bless us with reverence, wonder and care for all of creation. Amen.
Let us bless Adonai! ~Thanks be to God.