Christ the King
EVENING PRAYER II
Greeting as in Morning Prayer
DOXOLOGY
PSALM 97
Light will rain down on the just, joy on the loyal heart.
The Lord rules: the earth is eager,
joy touches distant lands.
God is wrapped in thunder cloud,
throned on justice, throned on right.
Fire marches out in front
and burns up all resistance.
Overhead, God’s lightning flares,
the earth shudders to see it.
Mountains melt down like wax
before the Lord, the ruler of all.
Overhead God’s justice resounds,
a glory all people can see.
Idolators are the fools,
they brag of empty gods.
You gods, be subject to the Lord!
Zion hears, and is happy.
The cities of Judah are joyful
about your judgments, Lord.
You, Lord, you reach high
in majesty above the earth,
far higher than any god.
Those who love the Lord hate evil;
God shields their faithful lives
and breaks the hold of the wicked.
Light will rain down on the just,
joy on the loyal heart.
Be joyous in the Lord God,
you people of faith,
praise God’s holy name!
Philippians 2: 6–11
Let every tongue exclaim to the glory of God, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Though in the form of God,
Jesus did not claim
equality with God
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
human like one of us.
Flesh and blood,
he humbled himself,
obeying to the death,
death on a cross.
For this very reason
God lifted him high
and gave him the name
above all names.
So at the name of Jesus
every knee will bend
in heaven, on earth,
and in the world below,
and every tongue exclaim
to the glory of God the Father,
“Jesus Christ is Lord.”
READING
Titus 2:11 – 14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
CANTICLE OF MARY
Jesus Christ, yesterday, today and forever!
All glory and honor be yours now and forever!
I acclaim the greatness of the Lord,
I delight in God my savior,
who regarded my humble state.
Truly from this day on all ages
will call me blest.
For God, wonderful in power,
has used that strength for me.
Holy the name of the Lord!
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God
scatters the proud in their conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones,
and raises up the humble.
The Lord fills the starving
and lets the rich go hungry.
God rescues lowly Israel,
recalling the promise of mercy,
the promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham’s heirs forever.
INTERCESSIONS
Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to establish the reign of God’s peace and justice throughout the earth. You gave your life that we might know the full extent of your love for us. Hear us now as we pray to you.
Jesus, we name you Prince of Peace:
~ Grant peace to those areas of our world torn by civil war, violence and oppression.
Jesus, we name you Light of the World:
~ Lift the darkness of despair and hatred from the hearts of your people.
Jesus, we name you Wisdom of God:
~ Teach us how to drink deeply of the word of God present in the scriptures.
Jesus, we name you Good Shepherd:
~ Gather all who seek you into one fold and unite us as one community in love.
Jesus, we name you the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
~ Give us the courage to walk the path of discipleship.
Jesus, we name you Savior:
~ Fix our gaze upon your cross that we may learn the glory of your saving love.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Prayer
Let your justice and mercy reign over all the earth, O God of all peoples. You called all creation into being and formed all men and women in your image. May we always place you first in our hearts. Let us never seek to dominate or exploit our sisters or brothers, or treat carelessly what has been given to us as gift. In everything we do may we give glory to you. This we a