Cantica Gaudia

Season of Epiphany: Sunday Evening Prayer

Opening:  The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

Canticle: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day forward all generations will call me blessed
The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
He has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
And has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
For he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers,
To Abraham and his children for ever.

Psalm: Then I said, Look, I am here
And saw the dark words written on the white page
And my heart’s desire became yours
Your law the shape of my heart.

Glory to God, who made us, who bears our pain, and who loves us,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.

Reading: In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some for ordinary.  All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work.

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, for your love for us, warm and brooding, which has brought us to birth and opened our eyes to the wonder and beauty of creation, we give you thanks.
For your love for us, wild and freeing, which has awakened us to the energy of creation, to the sap that flows, the blood that pulses, the heart that sings, we give you thanks.
For your love for us, compassionate and patient, which has carried us through our pain, wept beside us in our sin, and waited with us in our confusion, we give you thanks.
For your love for us, strong and challenging, which has called us to risk for you, asked for the best in us, and showed us how to serve, we give you thanks.
O God, we come to celebrate that your Holy Spirit is deep within us, and at the heart of all life.  Forgive us when we forget your gift of love, made known to us in Jesus, and draw us into your presence.  Amen.

Collect: Lord of the deep waters, you call us from the safety of the shore to an adventure of the spirit: open wide our arms to embrace the world you dare to serve; through Jesus Christ, who gives life in abundance. Amen.

Going forth: Light of the world, shine in our darkness.