Cantica Gaudia

Season of Epiphany: Saturday Evening Prayer

Opening: The Lord is my light and my salvation; God shall make my darkness to be bright.

Canticle: Lord, you now have set your servant free
To go in peace as you have promised
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,
Whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations,
And the glory of your people Israel.

Psalm: The instruction of the Lord is sure, and gives wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, and rejoice the heart:
The commandment of the Lord is pure and gives light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, and endures for ever:
The judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous every one.
They are more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold:
Sweeter also than honey, pure honey from the comb.

Reading: We were enclosed,
O eternal Father,
Within the garden of your breast.
You drew us out of your holy mind
Like a flower
Petaled with our soul’s three powers,
And into each power,
You put the whole plant,
So that they might bear fruit in your garden,
Might come back to you
With the fruit you gave them.
And you would come back to the soul,
To fill her with your blessedness.
There the soul dwells –
Like the fish in the sea
And the sea in the fish.

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: When we labor and are laden with worries and cares,
Refresh us, O Christ.
When our hands are not ready to accept help,
Renew our trust, O Christ.
When we grow weary of loving others,
Love us, O Christ.
We offer you the cares of our hearts.

As we lift our hopes and joys to you,
Hear us, O Christ.
Amen.

Collect: Lord God, the bright splendor whom all nations seek: may be, who with the wise men have been drawn to your light, discer the glory of your presence in your Son, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Going forth:  Give us the joy of your saving help, and sustain us with your life-giving spirit.  Thanks be to God!