Cantica Gaudia

Ordinary Time, Fall: Thursday Evening Prayer

Opening: Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Canticle: You creatures of God, bless your creator;
Swift and cunning, violent and graceful,
Bless your creator;
All who creep and soar and dance across the earth,
Bless your creator;
Praise her and glorify her for ever.

You newborn babies, bless your creator;
Young and old, mature and ageing,
Bless your creator;
All you dying, bless your creator;
Praise her and glorify her for ever.

In pain and desolation, let us bless our creator;
In the place of delight, let us bless our creator;
In time of waiting, let us bless our creator;
Praise her and glorify her for ever.

Let all who live and grow and breathe
Bless our creator,
Praise her and glorify her for ever.

Psalm: Who will offer the dance of their own life,
       as a creation of devotion and beauty?
Only those who have come through the darkness
       and walk now in the Light
Can offer their lives in service to build the new world,
       where justice and freedom will truly flourish
Awaken, all you who are yet asleep,
       let us plant seeds for the commingling of heaven and earth;
For the Energy of Love radiates in everything, and
       receptive hearts are purified by its Fire.
Blessed are the children of Light,
       for they know their home in the Universal Heart.

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

Reading: This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all –
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
Who violently sweep your house
Empty of its furniture,
Still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
For some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
Meet them at the door laughing
And invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
Because each has been sent
As a guide from beyond.

The Lord’s Prayer Ground of all being, Mother of life, Father of the universe,
Your name is sacred, beyond speaking.
May we know your presence.
May your longings be our longings
in heart and in action.
May there be food for the human family today
and for the whole earth community.
Forgive us the falseness of what we have done
as we forgive those who are untrue to us.
Do not forsake us in our time of conflict
but lead us into new beginnings.
For the light of life, the vitality of life, and the glory of life
are yours now and for ever.
Amen.

Prayer: Trusting in your word, O Lord, we wait for your Spirit. Send her forth from your holy heaven to sanctify our deeps, which without her are empty and without form. Quicken us, O Lord, in your living kindness.

Collect: Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestors, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent; bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen.

Going Forth: The Maker's blessing be ours on our road, on our journey, guiding us, cherishing us.

The Son's blessing be ours, wine and water, bread and stories, feeding us, challenging us.

The Spirit's blessing be ours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom, comforting us, disturbing us.

The angels' blessing be ours, on our homes, on our living, guarding us, encouraging us. Amen.