Cantica Gaudia

Ordinary Time, Early Summer: Friday Evening Prayer

Opening:  I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me, night after night.

Canticle:  By the word of God all works are made,
And all creation obeys God’s will.
The sun in its brilliance looks down on every thing,
So the glory of God fills all creation.
Even to the angels has not been given
The power to tell the full story of God’s marvels,
Which the Almighty has established
So that the universe may stand firm in God’s glory.
God fathoms the abyss and the hearts of the people
And is versed in their intricate secrets.
For God possesses all knowledge
And observes the signs of all time.
God discloses the past and the future
And uncovers the traces of the world’s mysteries.

Psalm: Endow power with justice
Let it embrace uprightness
So that people can see uprightness before them
And the downtrodden can be raised up in justice

Let the mountains hold peace fast for people
Let the hills reverberate with the movements of justice
Give power eyes to see the needy
So that it can serve them and their children
Crushing what holds them down

And all will respect you as long as the sun will shine
As long as the moon will glow in the night sky
For all the generations to come

Let power be for refreshment
Like rain upon mown grasses
Like showers on the open earth
Let it cause uprightness to grow lush
Let it make peace spring up in abundance
Till the moon falls out of the sky

Glory to God, who made us, who bears our pain, and who loves us;
As it once was, is, and ever shall be.  Amen.

Reading: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

The Lord’s Prayer: Abba our God,
Whom the heavens disclose,
May your name be held holy,
Your authority come.
May your longing be fulfilled
As in heaven, so on earth.
Give us today the bread of tomorrow,
And cancel our debts
As we have already forgiven our debtors.
Do not draw us in
To sinful enticement,
But set us free
From the grip of evil;
For authority and power and glory
Are yours alone, for ever.  Amen.

Prayer: Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one, have mercy on us.

Holy God, holy compassion, holy abundant one, have mercy on us.

Holy God, holy and gracious, holy beautiful one, have mercy on us.

Collect: O Christ, there is no plant in the ground but it is full of your virtue. There is no form on the strand but it is full of your blessing. There is no life in the sea, there is no creature in the ocean, there is nothing in the heavens but proclaims your goodness. There is no bird on the wing, there is no star in the sky, there is nothing beneath the sun but proclaims your goodness. Amen.

Going Forth: Bless us, Christ -- you show us where to find rest for our hearts.