Friday: First , Third, and Fifth Weeks


Morning Prayer

Reading : Deuteronomy 30 :2-3

If you return to the Lord, and you and your children obey God with all your heart and with all your soul, just as I am commanding you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, gathering you again from all the peoples among whom you have been scattered.

Canticle of Zechariah
Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees , you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

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
Abba , our God hallowed be your name. May this day hasten the coming of your kingdom:
--- Your will be done on earth , as it is in heaven.

You will that your name be hallowed for all time :

You will that all people be nourished by daily bread:

You will that all people experience forgiveness:

You will that all people be sheltered from the evil one:

You will that all people experience the fullness of love and redemption:

Prayer
Good and gracious God, you see our every weakness , you know our every need. Despite our countless failings, we long to obey you with all our hearts and return to your embrace . Be with us this day , strengthen our resolve , and guide our coming and our doing . We ask this in the name of Jesus, who shows us the way. 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: Zechariah 1 : 3b- 4

Return to me , says the Lord of hosts , and I will return to you . Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.” But they did not hear or heed me, says the Lord.

Canticle of Mary
Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven . Whoever welcomes one such this child in my name welcomes me.

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

Jesus our teacher, you offered us children as models of innocence and humility. Today many children suffer from the effects of sin and deprivation, and so we pray for them .

For children lacking parental love and care :
--- May they be supported by the love of the Christian community .

For children displaced from their homes and countries:
--- May they find permanent homes within loving communities.

For children suffering from crippling and terminal illnesses:
--- May they find hope and comfort in the midst of their pain.

For children who resort to delinquency and crime:
--- May they find friends and mentors to guide them to goodness.

For children scandalized by the evil around them :
--- May they find the way to personal dignity and achievement .

For children in our Mercy care, in our schools, and other institutions:
--- May we minister to them with love and integrity.

Prayer
Jesus , we desire to support all persons who struggle for full dignity. We pray especially today for those who, because of their youth, are most vulnerable to society’s ills. Protect and guide them, and help us to minister to them in your name . 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.