Cantica Gaudia

Season of Lent: Thursday Noonday Prayer

Opening:  Give thanks to the Lord and call upon the Holy Name; make know God's deeds among the peoples.

Psalm: I waited patiently upon the Lord;
God stooped to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay;
He set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many shall see, and stand in awe, and put their trust in the Lord.
Happy are they who trust in the Lord!
They do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.
Great things are they that you have done, O Lord my God!  How great your wonders and your plans for us!
There is none who can be compared with you.
Oh, that I could make them known and tell them!
But they are more than I can count.

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: On the way to God the difficulties
Feel like being ground by a millstone,
Like night coming at noon, like
Lightning through the clouds.

But don’t worry!
What must come, comes.
Face everything with love,
As your mind dissolves in God.

The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
Now and for ever.  Amen.

Prayer:  Giver of the increasing good, take my thanks for all that has made me what I am: for all my yesterdays, their discipline, their pleasant songs, my unanswered prayers, nay even for those whelming hours in which I have seen how frail I am without you. And when tomorrow comes, with a new duty or with a new truth, may the door of my mind be open, and I at the door to bid them welcome. Amen. 

Blessing: God's wonder and wildness and strength be with us in all we do, today and always.