FIRST, THIRD AND FIFTH WEEKS
MORNING PRAYER
READING
Wisdom 11:23-24a
But you are merciful to all, for you can
do all things,
and you overlook people's sins, so that they
may repent.
For you love all things that exist,
and detest none of the things that you have made.
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
If you then, who are evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much more will
your Father in heaven give good things to those
who ask!
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
O God, your countless gifts fill us with astonish-
ment and gratitude. We pray today that we may
cherish the myriad things that you have made;
~ Hear us, O God
That we may support a consistent ethic of life,
opposing abortion, euthanasia, and capital
punishment, we pray:
That we may work for the transformation of
economic systems, so that all peoples may enjoy
a just share in the goods of the earth, we pray:
That we may work for the elimination of nuclear,
chemical, and biological weapons, we pray:
That we may take due care of our bodies, as a
sign of our gratitude for your gift of life, we pray:
THE LORD'S PRAYER
PRAYER
O God, you love all things that exist and detest
none of the things you have made. We praise and
we bless you for your abundant goodness to
us. Make us mindful of those who are deprived
of the necessities of life, from any cause, and
help us to be generous in sharing with them from
our resources. We ask this with confidence in
your ever-abiding love 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: 1 John 2:1b-2
If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with
the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is
the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for
ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
CANTICLE OF MARY
Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock and the door shall be opened for you.
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
Loving God, you invite us to bring our every
need before you, so that you may share your
abundant riches with us. In humility, we pray.
Our fear often keeps us from loving with our
whole mind, heart, and soul:
~ You have told us that perfect love casts out
fear; give us your love.
Our ignorance often keeps us from loving:
~ You are our teacher; give us your wisdom.
Our prejudice often keeps us from loving:
~ Your love is inclusive; help us to welcome
the stranger.
Our selfishness often keeps us from loving:
~ Your selfless love brought about our
salvation; give us generous hearts.
Our hardness of heart often keeps us from loving.
~ Your tender heart burns with love for all;
give us your compassion.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
PRAYER
O God, make us bold in asking for your
gifts and grateful in accepting them. By our
participation in the saving mysteries of Christ's
life, death, and resurrection, may our ordinary
actions, as well as our joys and sorrows, be
transformed. We make this prayer through the
One who is our advocate and friend. 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.