Evening Prayer - Vigil of the Annunciation

Light Proclamation (all stand)

Cantor: Light, peace and justice in Jesus the Christ.aALL (sing): Give thanks to our Maker, give thanks for the night.

Evening Hymn: Lord of All Hopefulness

Psalmody (sit)Psalm 113: From the Rising of the Sun

Psalm Prayer (all STAND)

PRESIDER: Who is like our God?

Who can raise the lowly? Who can lift up the poor?

Who alone can create life in sterile, barren places?

Only our God. The God of light and freedom,

The God of peace and nonviolence,

The God we name: “Steadfast Justice,”

And the God whose name we praise forever

through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.

(sit)Psalm 147: Bless the Lord, My Soul

Psalm Prayer (all STAND)

PRESIDER: God of tenderness and compassion,

May you continue to heal the brokenhearted

and bind up every wound,

as we pray through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever. AMEN.

Canticle Philippians 2:6-11

Women: Though in the form of God

Jesus did not deem equality with God

as something to be exploited.

Men: Rather, he was emptied,

taking the form of a servant,

being born in human likeness.

Women: Being seen in human form,

Christ was humbled

by being obedient to the point of death—

and not just death, but the cross.

Men: Therefore Jesus is highly exalted by God

and given the name

that is above every other name,

ALL: so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,

whether in heaven, on earth or below the earth,

and every tongue should confess to the glory of God:

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!(sit)

Reading 1 John 1:1-2

Homilette

Responsory (stand)

Presider: A flower has sprung from Jesse’s stock

and a star has risen from Jacob.

All: A flower has sprung from Jesse’s stock

and a star has risen from Jacob.

Presider: The Virgin has given birth to the Savior,

All: and the star has risen from Jacob.

Presider: Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

All: as it was in the beginning, is now

and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

A flower has sprung from Jesse’s stock

and a star has risen from Jacob.

(All make the sign of the cross a as the Gospel Canticle begins)

Canticle of Mary (sung: “Holy Is Your Name”) Luke 1:46-55

INTERCESSIONS

PRESIDER: In Christ, the Word-Made-Flesh, God’s kindness is forever

established among the children of earth. Let us pray that our fidelity to

Christ’s world will establish us forever in heaven.

[ALL SING: O GOD, HEAR US, HEAR OUR PRAYER.] (2 times)

Petition Leaders:

In the Word-Made-Flesh, our humanity has been embraced by God;

may we strive with loving hearts to always embrace the divine will.

In the Word-Made-Flesh, God’s steadfast love has been enfleshed;

may we enflesh Christ’s mercy to those who suffer in body, mind, and spirit.

In the Word-Made-Flesh, sinners are reconciled to God;

may our baptismal consecration to Christ lead others to the wellspring of mercy.

In the Word-Made-Flesh, the glory of God is shown among us;

may we constantly seek to renew all humanity

by the grace and peace of the Holy Spirit.

In the Word-Made-Flesh, a new covenant has been established for all peoples;

may our covenant with Christ

inspire us to work for greater healing among enemies.

In the Word-Made-Flesh, we are shown the way to eternal joy;

may our communion with Christ in his body and blood lead us to everlasting life.

ALL SING: O GOD, HEAR US, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

PRESIDER: Loving God, whose mercy is everlasting, in the incarnation

of your Eternal Word, humanity has been given a lasting hope. Hear our

prayers and may our lives faithfully reflect the mystery of your presence

among us, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer (spoken)

PRESIDER: Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us together

pray in the words our Savior gave us:

Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.

CLOSING PRAYER

Presider: Let us pray,

God of Creation, Your incarnation was made possible

Because a humble woman responded:

“let it be done to me according to your word.”

May we who are made new creatures by your grace,

respond with the faith of Mary when you call us to your

service. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

FINAL BLESSING

Presider: Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing:

We believe that in the dying of Christ, death has been destroyed forever.

May we follow Christ’s example and share in the resurrection. AMEN!

May the blessing of God rest upon us, may God’s peace abide in us, may

God’s presence illuminate our hearts, now and forevermore. AMEN!

May the bread and food we are about to share nourish our bodies, minds

and spirits. AMEN!

As we conclude our evening prayer and go forth to share bread and life

with each other, let us offer each other a sign of Christ’s peace.