Cantica Gaudia

Advent: Wednesday Evening Prayer

Opening: Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; seek the One who wills to be found.

Canticle: In the beginning was the Word
And the Word was with God
And the Word was God
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him,
And without him was not anything made that was made.
In him was life,
And the life was the light of the human race.
The light shines in the darkness,
And the darkness has never overcome it.

Psalm: Your steadfast love is wonderful:
Therefore I treasure your wisdom.
When your word goes forth
It gives light and understanding to the simple.
I opened my mouth and drew in my breath,
For my delight was in your counsel.
Look upon me and show me kindness,
As is your joy for those who love your name.
Keep my steps steady in your word,
And so shall no wickedness get dominion over me.
Relieve me from the weight of oppression,
And so shall I keep your commandments.
Show the light of your face upon your servant,
And teach me your way.

Antiphon: O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths, to you the nations will make their prayer:

Come and deliver us, and delay no longer

Reading: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
Those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy;
They rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden, and the par across their shoulders,
The rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood
Shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;
Authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Holy One,
We honor your name.
Let the world know your justice
Here as everywhere.
Give us the food we need
For both the body and the soul.
Forgive us the wrongs we do
As we forgive the wrongs of others.
Keep us safe from the evil
At large or of our own making.
We trust you for you made us and
We are yours, now and always.  Amen.

Prayer: Thank you, scandalous God, for giving yourself to the world, not in the powerful and extraordinary, but in weakness and the familiar: in a baby, in bread and wine.

Thank you for offering, at journey's end, a new beginning; for setting, in the poverty of a stable, the richest jewel of your love; for revealing in a particular place, your light for all nations.

Thank you for bringing us to Bethlehem, House of Bread, where the empty are filled, and the filled are emptied; where the poor find riches, and the rich recognize their poverty; where all who kneel and hold out their hands are unstintingly fed.

Collect: God of all hope and joy, open our hearts in welcome, that your son Jesus Christ at his coming may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.

Going Forth: May the Holy Spirit, by whose overshadowing Mary became the Godbearer, give us grace to carry the good news of Christ. Amen.