Cantica Gaudia

Ordinary Time, Late Summer: Sunday Evening Prayer

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

Canticle: O Gracious Light
pure brightness of the everlasting Father in heaven.
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing praises, O God:
Father Son and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times
to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Psalm: I waited patiently for you
And you leaned toward me
And heard me
And raised me up from the pit
From the mud, from the clay
And set my foot upon a rock
So that my step was firm
And put a new song on my lips
Your song
That many may hear it with awe
And have confidence in you

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: Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt – marvellous error! –
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt – marvellous error! –
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt – marvellous error! –
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
warmth as from a hearth,
and sun because it gave light
and brought tears to my eyes.

Last night, as I slept
I dreamt – marvellous  error! –
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.

The Lord’s Prayer

Holy One,
We honor your name.
Let the world know your justice
Here as everywhere.
Give us the food we need
For both the body and the soul.
Forgive us the wrongs we do
As we forgive the wrongs of others.
Keep us safe from the evil
At large or of our own making.
We trust you for you made us and
We are yours, now and always.  Amen.

Prayer: In darkness and in light, in trouble and in joy, help us, heavenly Father, to trust your love, to serve your purpose, and to praise your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect: Now may every living thing, young or old, weak or strong, living near or far, known or unknown, living or departed or yet unborn, may every living thing be full of bliss.

Going Forth: May the warmth of God's holy love and the light of God's wisdom keep us through this night.