Cantica Gaudia

Season of Epiphany: Friday Morning Prayer

Opening: We come from scattered lives to meet with God.  Let us recognize God’s presence with us.

Canticle:
Count them, my spirit, and be grateful.
Count the wonders one by one,
each drop of rain, each kiss,
each kindly word, each rose and garlic bud.
Observe them all, my soul, and give thanks.
How many times have you been redeemed?
How many breezes blew clouds away?
How many seeds burst into life?
Holy is God, alive and active.
You, dear God, have loved us with a sweet and tender love.
Like a father you have corrected us,
chastising us as only a mother can.
When we return to you weeping,
mending our ways, seeking your advice to change our habits,
you hear us coming from afar.  Even before our words are audible
you rush to our comfort,
scooping us up eagerly like lost children, found.
You carry us home.  Nursing, you nourish us,
Filling us full until we become like a child,
weaned and content, resting on its mothers lap.

Psalm:
For you praise waits in Zion
Vows pile up ready to be paid
All that lives readies to advance
To you who hears these words.

I am weary of the world’s crookedness
And my own confusions –
You will straighten and correct it
With forgiveness wiping woes away

Happy are those you choose
Who approach you and dwell in your house
Who are satisfied with that happiness
The holiness of your house.

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: Effortlessly,
Love flows from God into man
Like a bird
Who rivers the air
Without moving her wings.
Thus we move in His world,
One in body and soul,
Though outwardly separate in form.
As the Source strikes the note,
Humanity sings –
The Holy Spirit is our harpist,
And all strings
Which are touched in Love
Must sound.

The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be your Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
And the power and the glory,
For ever and ever.  Amen.

Prayer:  O Christ, you came so that we might have life, and have it more abundantly,
Grant us power in our love,
Strength in our humility,
Purity in our zeal,
Kindness in our laughter,
And your peace in our hearts at all times.  Amen.

Collect: God our beloved, born of a woman’s body, you came that we might look upon you, and handle you with our own hands.  May we so cherish one another in our bodies, that we may also be touched by you; through the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Going forth: May Christ’s bright star enlighten our minds and hearts as we strive for equality, justice and kindness in the world.  Amen.