Cantica Gaudia

Season of Easter: Thursday Noonday Prayer

Opening: Lord, show me the way and make me willing to walk thereon.

Psalm: Give thanks to the Lord, who is good
And whose mercy endures for ever.
Give thanks to the God of gods
Whose mercy endures for ever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords
Whose mercy endures for ever.

Who only does great wonders
Whose mercy endures for ever
Who by wisdom made the heavens
Whose mercy endures for ever
Who spread out the earth upon the waters
Whose mercy endures for ever
Who created great lights
Whose mercy endures for ever
The sun to rule the day
Whose mercy endures for ever
The moon and the stars to govern the night
Whose mercy endures for ever.

Reading: Every truth without exception – no matter who makes it – is from God. 

If a bird got accused of singing too early in the morning, if a lute began to magically play on its own in the square, and the enchanting sounds it made drove a pair of young lovers into a wild, public display of passion, if this lute and bird then got called before the inquisition and their lives were literally at stake, could not God walk up and say before the court, “All acts of beauty are mine, all happen on the behalf of love...

“As exquisite as is your world, most everyone in it is spiritually young.  Spirituality is love, and love never wars with the minute, the day, one’s self and others.  Love would rather die than maim a limb, a wing."

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: O God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows, and give peace to your Church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts. Amen.

Going Forth: May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.