MORNING PRAYER
PSALM  
They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.

READING
Acts 6:2 – 5a
The twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to Prayer and to serving the word.” What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
 
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

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
We rejoice in the salvation which you have made ready for all peoples, and we pray.
Because Stephen reflected your Spirit, he was chosen for the ministry of distribution to the poor:
~ May that same Spirit encourage us in our efforts to create a world of equal opportunity for all.
Stephen bore the pains of martyrdom with fortitude and grace:
~ May we patiently accept the sufferings which enter our lives.
Stephen chose death rather than deny his faith in Christ:
~ Make us glad and courageous in our proclamation of the gospel.
We thank you for the example of those who espouse nonviolence as a way of life:
~ Let their witness promote peace among the nations.
We pray for those who suffer persecution in our day:
~ May their suffering call us to acts of justice and righteousness.
We pray for those called to the diaconate:
~ May they responsibly exercise their ministry of service.
 
Prayer
Faithful God, Stephen was called by the early Christian community to the ministry of care for the neglected. May the faith communities to which we belong be noted for their sensitivity to the needy among us and for the generosity of their response. May the ideal of the common good urge us to gracious sharing of our time and resources so that the needs of all will be met. We ask this through Jesus Christ who shared his life with us. Amen.
 
EVENING PRAYER
 
PSALM  
They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
 
READING
1 John 1:5b, 7
God is light and in this radiance there is no darkness at all. If we walk in the light as God is in the light, we are in union with one another, and the blood of Christ Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
 
CANTICLE OF MARY
But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

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
Holy God, you who are our light, we lift our prayers to you as the light of this day fades into night. Hear us, as we pray:
~ Be light for your people.
As we seek to follow the example of Stephen’s fidelity:
As we strive to express our faith with clarity and conviction:
As we work for the end of violence and injustice in our homes, our communities, our society, our church:
As we search for generosity of heart toward those who have wronged us:
As we discern how to embody your love in our world: