Friday
MORNING PRAYER
READING
Jeremiah 30:21 – 22
Their prince shall be one of their own, their ruler shall come from their midst;
I will bring him near, and he shall approach me, for who would otherwise dare to approach me? says the Lord. And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
You shall be my people, and I will be your 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
God of the Covenant, your holy people long for your coming. In this Advent season we pray especially:
For the Jewish people, the first to hear your promise:
~ May they be ever faithful to the call you have given them.
For Christian peoples everywhere:
~ May they be ever faithful to their baptismal commitment.
For all who minister in your church:
~ May they be ever faithful to their holy vocations. For all the members of our Institute, our associates, volunteers, and co-ministers:
~ May we be ever faithful to the graces you have given us.
For us here present:
~ May we spend this day in fidelity to you.
PRAYER
With hearts full of longing and with confidence in your promise, we approach you this day, O God. Wherever your people gather, you are in our midst. Help us recognize your voice and respond to your invitation. We make this Prayer in the name of Jesus, our brother and your Son. Amen.
EVENING PRAYER
READING
2 Peter 3:8b – 10
With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. God is not slow about promises made, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
CANTICLE OF MARY
God’s promise is not delayed, but invites all to repentance.
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
Loving God, as night approaches, we remember your promises to us. You are our God, and we are your people!
We thank you for your abundant love and mercy towards us:
~ Keep us always faithful, O God.
We thank you for the richness of your truth revealed in the many religions of the world:
~ May we respect the beliefs of each person, O God. We thank you for the example of the faith of Mary and Elizabeth:
~ Help us to trust in your word without reserve, O God.
We thank you for people of all nations who have recognized the gifts and rights of women and children:
~ May every person and every nation soon come to this recognition, O God.
We thank you for each other:
~ Help us to sustain and support each other in friendship and love, O God.
PRAYER
Eternal and ever-loving God, this day has been another sign of your providence in our regard. We thank you for all who have touched our lives in any way, and we ask that you keep us ever mindful of your constant care. We await your coming in whatever guise it may come. We make our Prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.