Cantica Gaudia

Ordinary Time, Early Summer: Wednesday Morning Prayer

Opening:  Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Canticle: Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.
For behold, darkness covers the land;
deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.
But over you the Lord will rise,
and God's glory will appear upon you.
Nations will stream to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawning.
Your gates will always be open;
by day or night they will never be shut.
They will call you, The City of the Lord,
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Violence will no more be heard in your land,
ruin and destruction within your borders.
You will call your walls, Salvation,
and all your portals, Praise.
The sun will no more be your light by day;
by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.
The Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.

Psalm: O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you;
My souls thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,
As in a barren and dry land where there is no water.
Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place,
That I might behold your power and your glory.
For your loving-kindness is better than life itself;
My lips shall give you praise.
So will I bless you as long as I live
And lift up my hands in your Name.
My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth praises you with joyful lips,
When I remember you upon my bed,
And meditate on you in the night watches.
For you have been my helper,
And under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
Your right hand holds me fast.

Glory to God, Source of all being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Reading: The marvels of God are not brought forth from one's self. Rather, it is more like a chord, a sound that is played. The tone does not come out of the chord itself, but rather, through the touch of the musician... I am, of course, the lyre and harp of God's kindness.

The Lord’s Prayer: Seed and source,
Far in the distance and in our souls,
You are holy and make us whole.
May we perceive your divine will
That loved us into being
Help us to join your creative force
And let it prosper here.
Give us what we need to survive,
And release us from our transgressions
As we release others from theirs.
Keep us away from paths of destruction
And from those who would ruin what you have made,
For you are the matrix of life, love and wisdom,
Now and forever.  Amen.

Prayer: Lord, you have appointed some to be prophets; give us ears to hear and mouths to speak. You have appointed some to sing of your goodness in the streets; make us bold to celebrate you. You have called some to be still, listen, and act; give us steadiness of mind and singularity of purpose. Amen.

Collect: O God, the well-spring of life, pour into our hearts the living water of your grace, that refreshed by you, we may live this day in steadfast reliance on the strength you give; through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Going Forth: May God kindle in us the fire of love.