Cantica Gaudia

Ordinary Time, Late Summer: Saturday Noonday Prayer

Opening: Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

Psalm: The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul
The testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.
The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart
The commandment of the Lord is clear 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 altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, more than fine gold,
Sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.
By them also is your servant enlightened,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can tell how often they offend?
Cleanse me from my secret faults.
Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get dominion over me;
Then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.

Reading:  There is some kiss we want with
our whole lives, the touch of

spirit on the body.  Seawater
begs the pearl to break its shell.

And the lily, how passionately
it needs some wild darling!  At

night, I open the window and ask
the moon to come and press its

face against mine.  Breathe into
me.  Close the language-door and

open the love-window.  The moon
won’t use the door, only the window.

The Lord’s Prayer

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
Sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and for ever.  Amen.

Prayer: Jesus the true bread that comes down from heaven: leaven us with your Holy Spirit, that the world may know the abundance of life in your new creation. Amen.

Going Forth:  Let us go forth to love and serve the Lord, alleluia.