Cantica Gaudia

Ordinary Time, Fall: Wednesday Evening Prayer

Opening: I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me, night after night.

Canticle: Sing out, my soul,
Sing of the holiness of God:
Who has delighted in a woman,
Lifted up the poor,
Satisfied the hungry,
Given voice to the silent,
Grounded the oppressor,
Blessed the full-bellied with emptiness,
And with the gift of tears
Those who have never wept;
Who has desired the darkness of the womb
And inhabited our flesh.
Sing of the longing of God,
Sing out, my soul.

Psalm: As the hart thrills for the fresh brook
So do I thrill for you
I am thirsty for you – for my life –
When will I go there?
When will I be seen?
When will I enter your utter presence?

Glory to God, Source of all being, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be always.  Amen.

Reading: Offer only lovely things on my altars—
the bread of life, and jewels, and feathers, and flowers.
Let the streams of life flow in peace.
Turn from violence.
Learn to think for a long time how to change this world,
how to make it better to live in.
All the people of the world ought to talk about it
and speak well of it always.
Then it will last forever,
and the flowers will bloom forever,
and I will come to you again.

The Lord’s Prayer

Creator of all,
Alive in all things and greater than all things,
Your naming be held holy.
Your vision of our goodness be made manifest throughout the universe,
And your desires for us brought to fulfillment.
Give us that which is essential for our growth and work.
Offer forgiveness and healing to us as we forgive and heal those around us.
Protect us from unnecessary suffering and wasteful pain.
For all that is beautiful, strong and glorious has its roots in you
and expresses your will and your nature, which we share in, unendingly.  Amen.

Prayer: Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Collect: Each thing we have received, from you it came, O God. Each thing for which we hope, from your love it will be given. Kindle in our hearts within a flame of love to our neighbors, to our foes, to our friends, to our loved ones all, from the lowliest thing that lives, to the name that is highest of all. Amen.

Going Forth: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.