Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Leader: Give us faith to believe that this Lenten pathway is
the path towards life. You spent time struggling in a
wilderness. You were tossed in the centre of the
storms & experienced fear. You whose friends
slept through your agony of heart, experienced
loneliness.
All: Please. O God, make straight the path before us. Calm the storms in our life & take our hand for the next step of the way.
Please sit & listen to ‘Give us, O Lord, a new heart’, from ‘Restless is the heart’ CD.
Please say this psalm from side to side.
All: Lord heal my soul, for I have sinned against you
Side 1: Happy are they who have regard for the lowly and the poor; in the day of misfortune the Lord will deliver them. The Lord will keep and preserve them; he will make them happy on the earth, and not give them over to the will of their enemies.
Side 2: The Lord will help them on their sickbed, he will take away all their ailments when they are ill. Once I said, ‘Oh Lord, have pity on me; heal me, though I have sinned against you.’
Side 1: But because of my integrity you sustain me and let me stand before you for ever. Blessed be the lord, the God of Israel, from all eternity and for ever. Amen. Amen.
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall
be, world without end, Amen.
All: Lord heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
Psalm 45 will be sung side to side.
Cantors: The Lord of hosts is with us:
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Side 1: God is our refuge & strength,
A very present help in time of trouble.
Side 2: Therefore we shall not be afraid, even though the earth be moved,
Even though the mountains should crumble & fall into the sea,
Side 1: Even though the waters should foam & rage,
Assault the cliffs & make them shudder.
Side 2: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.
Here is God’s dwelling place & it will stand firm.
Side 1: God’s rescue dawns like the morning light,
God’s voice echoes through every land.
Side 2: When powerful nations panic & totter
And the whole world comes crashing down,
Side 1: You are, for us, the God of all powers,
A safe stronghold, the God of all peoples.
Side 2: Come & see, stand in awe
At the powerful thing God will do on earth,
Side 1: Putting an end to all war in the world,
Breaking the bow, shattering the spear into
splinters, throwing our weapons on the fire.
Side 2: ‘Be still & know that I am God: exalted among nations,
My name known at last on the earth’.
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen.
All: The Lord of hosts is with us:
The God of Jacob is our stronghold
Reading (Matthew 5.) followed by a pause for silent reflection.
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You
shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to
judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a
brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone
who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the
court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the
fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother or sister has something against
you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and
be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
We will say the antiphon & sing the Magnificat.
All: If you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother or sister has something
against you, leave your offering there before your
altar, go and be reconciled first, and then come back
& present your offering.
Side 1: My being proclaims your greatness,
And my spirit finds joy in you, God my Saviour;
Side 2: For you have looked upon me, your servant, in my
lowliness:
All ages to come shall call me blessed.
Side 1: God, you who are mighty, have done great things for me:
Holy is your name.
Side 2: Your mercy is from age to age
Towards those who fear you.
Side 1: You have shown might with your arm,
And confused the proud in their inmost thoughts.
Side 2: You have deposed the mighty from their thrones,
And raised the lowly to high places.
Side 1: The hungry you have given every good thing,
While the rich you have sent away empty.
Side 2: You have upheld Israel, your servant,
Ever mindful of your mercy-
Side 1: Even as you promised our ancestors,
Promised Abraham, Sarah, and their descendants for ever.
All: Give praise to the Father Almighty,
To his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
To the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,
Both now and for ever, Amen.
All: If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your offering there before your altar, go and be reconciled first, and then come back & present your offering.
Intercessions:
Reader: In the greatness of your mercy, untie us from those things that bind us ………… pause ………
Cantors: We ask you, Lord,
All: Listen to our prayer.
Reader: From injustice, free our structures & all of us who accept these structures & do nothing to try to change them………… pause ………
Cantors: We ask you, Lord,
All: Listen to our prayer.
Reader: From a lack of compassion, deliver those with power & deliver us………… pause ………
Cantors:We ask you, Lord,
All: Listen to our prayer.
Reader: From violence of any kind, preserve us & those amongst whom we live………… pause ………
Cantors: We ask you, Lord,
All: Listen to our prayer.
Reader: We pray for people who have died today or who will die tonight. We also remember in prayer those whose anniversaries of death occur tomorrow, in particular:
Pause for people to add silently or aloud any intentions.
Leader begins the Our Father.
Leader: Bend our wills, Lord, so that during this Lenten time, we may grow closer to you and to each other. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Leader: Go in peace into all that this evening will bring you.
All: We go in faith & hope.
Leader: May the face of God be turned towards you.
May the hand of God be stretched out to hold you.
May the Spirit be found as wisdom within you.
All: Amen.