Leader: Come, Lord Jesus: you too were weary when day was done;

& you met your friends at eventide.

All: Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader: Come, Lord Jesus: when evenings drew on, you too enjoyed

prayer and companionship at the close of the day.

All: Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader: Come, Lord Jesus: you kindled faith when lamps were low.

You opened the Scriptures and shed your light as darkness fell.

All: Come, Lord Jesus.

At the end of the week, we may like to call to mind any situation

or concern of which we have been conscious during

the week, & ask God to take it close to his heart

during this time of prayer.

We will listen to the hymn.

(Here am I, Lord – Sacred Weave Tr 4)

Here am I, Lord, I’ve come to do your will.

Here am I, Lord, in your presence, I am still.

Please say the psalm & its antiphon as indicated.

All: God is great; our God is high above all Gods.

Reader: Praise the name of our God, praise God, servants of the Lord,

who stand in God’s house, in the courts of the house

of our God. Praise our good God. Sing a psalm to our loving

God’s name. For God has chosen Jacob & Israel for his own

possession. For I know God is great, that our God is high above

all Gods. God does whatever he wills, in heaven, on earth, in

the seas. God summons clouds from the ends of the earth,

makes lightning produce the rain; from his treasuries God sends forth the wind.

All: Glory be to the Father, & to the Son, & to the Holy Spirit as it

was in the beginning, is now & ever shall be, world without end, amen.

All: God is great; our God is high above all Gods.

Please sing the 2^nd part of the psalm, a contemporary paraphase.

Cantors: Sons of Israel, bless our God!

Sing a psalm to God’s name for God is loving.

Side 1: Fortunate they are who have houses to dwell in,

Whose roots reach far in the ground of the past.

Side 2: Blessed are those with a language of their own,

Through which they can hear your marvellous works.

Side 1: Inheritors as we are of an ancient story,

We find our place in a greater world.

Side 2: Through art & music we are consoled & inspired,

Through the touch of our neighbours we know we belong.

Side 1: Let us live from the point of need: need of the poor, the outcast, the friendless,

The hurt child who lives in us all, the needy who bring us the gift of your presence.

All: Glory be to the Father & to the Son,

And to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, is now & ever shall be,

World without end, amen.

All: Sons of Israel, bless our God!

Sing a psalm to God’s name for God is loving.

Reading: John O’Donohue.

There is a quiet light that shines in every heart. It is what illuminates our minds to see beauty, our desire to seek possibility, & our hearts to love life. Without this subtle quickening our days would be empty & wearisome, & no horizon would ever awaken our longing. Our passion for life is quietly sustained from somewhere in us that is wedded to the energy & excitement of life. This shy inner light is what enables us to recognise & receive our very presence here as blessing. We enter the world as strangers who all at once become heirs to a harvest of memory, spirit & dream that has long preceded us & will now enfold, nourish, & sustain us. The gift of the world is our first blessing.

Silent reflection.

We will now listen to the Magnificat of Friendship & its antiphon.