SECOND AND FOURTH WEEKS
MORNING PRAYER
READING
Hebrews 2:9-10
But we do see Jesus, who for a little while was
made lower than the angels, now crowned with
glory and honor because of the suffering of
death, so that by the grace of God he might
taste death for everyone. It is fitting that God,
for whom and through whom all things exist,
in bringing many children to glory, should make
the pioneer of their salvation perfect through
suffering.
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Jesus was made perfect through suffering.
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who shepherds the people and sets them free.
God raises from David’s house
a child with power to save.
Through the holy prophets
God promised in ages past
to save us from enemy hands,
from the grip of all who hate us.
The Lord favored our ancestors
recalling the sacred covenant,
the pledge to our ancestor Abraham,
to free us from our enemies,
so we might worship without fear
and be holy and just all our days.
And you child, will be called
Prophet of the Most High,
for you will come to prepare
a pathway for the Lord
by teaching the people salvation
through forgiveness of their sin.
Out of God’s deepest mercy
a dawn will come from on high,
light for those shadowed by death,
a guide for our feet on the way to peace.
INTERCESSIONS
The mercy of God was revealed in the death of
Jesus on the cross. For the grace to reverence
this mystery, we pray:
~ In your mercy, bring us new life, O God.
Where our sisters and brothers suffer at the
hands of our inhumanity, we pray:
Where systems flourish to protect the powerful
while neglecting the powerless, we pray:
where we take refuge in excuses and self-interest,
subsistence, we pray.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
PRAYER
Generous God, in the death and resurrection
of Jesus we have come to know the extent
of your love for us. Through the grace of this
revelation may we be strengthened for the
service to which you call us. As we move from
death to new life may we, like you, be unlimited
in our love for your people. We ask this through
Jesus Christ who surrendered his life for us.
Amen.
BLESSING
Purify our hearts, O God, that we may be freed from sin. Amen.
Renew our hearts, O God, that they may burn with love for you. Amen.
Open our hearts, O God, that we may welcome all persons as our brothers and sisters. Amen.
EVENING PRAYER
READING
Philippians 3:7-11
Whatever gains I had, these I have come to
regard as loss because of Christ. More than that
I regard everything as loss because of the surpas-
sing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things,
and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I
may gain Christ and be found in him, not having
a righteousness from God based on faith.
I want to know Christ and the power of his
resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings
by becoming like him in his death, if somehow
I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
CANTICLE OF MARY
To those who take up their cross generously, courageously and lovingly, God has promised the hundredfold.
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 for ever.
INTERCESSIONS
You invite us, O Christ, to journey with you
through Lent. Through our prayer and reflection,
may we uncover the deepest meaning of this
holy season:
~ May we repent and live the Good News.
Through this Lenten time we are called
to renewal:
Through this Lenten time we are invited
to deepen our prayer:
Through this Lenten time we are called
to almsgiving:
Through this Lenten time we are summoned
to greater courage:
Through this Lenten time we are forgiven
sot that we may forgive:
THE LORD'S PRAYER
PRAYER
Animated by your gospel, O Christ, we accept
the challenges of this holy season. Through
its graces may we take up our daily crosses with
generosity, courage and love. May we draw each
day nearer to you, preparing ourselves to live
as people of resurrection. We ask this in your
name, Jesus Christ, our model and guide. Amen.
BLESSING
Purify our hearts, O God, that we may be freed from sin. Amen.
Renew our hearts, O God, that they may burn with love for you. Amen.
Open our hearts, O God, that we may welcome all persons as our brothers and sisters. Amen.