Cantica Gaudia

Season of Lent: Wednesday Evening Prayer

Opening: O Love that keeps the heavens turning: draw us to you in all our yearnings.

Canticle: Lord, you now have set your servant free
To go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,
Whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations,
And the glory of your people Israel.

Psalm: Don’t crush me with your anger
Don’t singe me with your flame
But be gracious, for I am diminishing
And heal me, for I am terrified even to the bones of my body
And my heart is seared, and my soul shrinks

And you: how long
How long O Lord, how long?

Turn now
O turn and revolve my soul

This is the work of your natural kindness
For in faithless death there’s no one to remember you
And in mute narrowness no one to sing your thanksgiving songs

I am exhausted from my sighing
Every night my bed’s a lake of sorrow
A drowning flood of tears and sweat
My eyes are blind with grieving
They become weak with the force against me

You now leave me, narrowness and blindness!
For the voice of my weeping has been heard!

My lamentation has turned into courage
Now the narrowness that pressed against me is startled
Suddenly it is turned – shamed and disarmed --

Glory to God, our Creator, to God’s most Holy Word, and to the Spirit, indwelling; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

Reading: I had a natural passion for fine clothes, excellent food, and lovely conversation about all matters than concern the heart still alive. And even a passion about my own looks.

Have you ever walked across a stream stepping on rocks so not to spoil a pair of shoes?

All we can touch, swallow, or say aids in our crossing to God and helps unveil the soul.

Life smooths us, rounds, perfects, as does the river the stone, and there is no place our Beloved is not flowing, though the current's force you may not always like.

Our passions help lift us.

I loved what I could love until I held God, for then -- all things -- every world disappeared.

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: At the ending of day,
In the darkness of night
We seek an inner assurance of your presence.
Our body is still
And our soul is silent
As we listen for the renewing springs of your Spirit
Deep in the ground of our being
And in earth’s quietness all around us.
Guide us to the wellsprings of health
In the landscape of our soul
And to the hidden reservoirs of strength
In the people and places of our life
That we may be made well this night,
That we may be made well.

Collect: Almighty God, you along can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Blessing:  May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.