PRAISE

Christ was obedient, even unto death.

Come, let us worship.

Give praise to the Father almighty,

to his Son, Jesus Christ, the Lord,

to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,

both now and for ever. Amen.

We adore you, Christ, and we bless you,

because by your cross you have redeemed the world.

     words of gratitude and adoration may be said here

Strengthen us to take up our cross every day

and follow you in the way that leads to eternal life.

Blessed be God for ever!

    REFLECTION  

    The following psalm[s], and scripture song, are said:

Psalm 42

¹ As a deer longs for flowing streams,
   so my soul longs for you, O God.
² My soul thirsts for God,
   for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
   the face of God?
³ My tears have been my food
   day and night,
while people say to me continually,
   ‘Where is your God?’

⁴ These things I remember,
   as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,^*
   and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
   a multitude keeping festival.
⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul,
   and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
   my help ⁶and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
   therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
   from Mount Mizar.
⁷ Deep calls to deep
   at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
   have gone over me.
⁸ By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
   and at night his song is with me,
   a prayer to the God of my life.

⁹ I say to God, my rock,
   ‘Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully
   because the enemy oppresses me?’
¹⁰ As with a deadly wound in my body,
   my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually,
   ‘Where is your God?’

¹¹ Why are you cast down, O my soul,
   and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
   my help and my God.

Psalm 43

¹ Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
   against an ungodly people;
from those who are deceitful and unjust
   deliver me!
² For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
   why have you cast me off?
Why must I walk about mournfully
   because of the oppression of the enemy?

³ O send out your light and your truth;
   let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
   and to your dwelling.
⁴ Then I will go to the altar of God,
   to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp,
   O God, my God.

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul,
   and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
   my help and my God.

A Song of New Life

[Jonah 2.2-9]

I called to you, O God, out of my distress and you answered me,

out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas,

and the flood surrounded me, all your waves and billows passed over me.

Then I said, I am driven away from your sight.

How shall I ever look again upon your holy temple?

The waters closed in over me, the deep was round about me,

weeds were wrapped around my head at the roots of the mountains.

I went down to the land beneath the earth,

yet you brought up my life from the depths, O God.

As my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, O God,

and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.

With the voice of thanksgiving, I will sacrifice to you;

what I have vowed I will pay, for deliverance belongs to the Lord!

Give praise to the Father almighty,

to his Son, Jesus Christ, the Lord,

to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,

both now and for ever. Amen.

    A short reading from the Bible

Romans 6.2-4

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

A time for reflection on the word of God …

… concluding with this responsory:

When I am lifted up from the earth,

I will draw all people to myself.

For this reason I have come to this hour.

I will draw all people to myself.

                                                John 12.32,37

    CANTICLE OF THE SEASON

    PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

a time for personal prayer and intercession …

… you may include this 'prayer for the earth':

God, we give you thanks

for the gift of life from the dust of the ground,

and for the new life that rises from the dust of death.

As all things hold together in Christ,

who died on the cross and rose to new life,

may we and all creation

be released from decay and renewed in his image.

 

… then sum up your prayers with these responses:

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance:

govern and uphold them now and always.

Day by day we bless you:

we praise your name for ever.

Keep us today, Lord, from all sin:

have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

Lord, show us your love and mercy:

for we have put our trust in you.

In you, Lord, is our hope:

let us never be put to shame.

    IN CONCLUSION