COMMON OF
THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH

Evening Prayer I

God, come to my assistance.
 - Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
 -  as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Amen. Alleluia.


HYMN

Christ is made our sure foundation,
Christ is head and Cornerstone;
Chosen of the Lord and precious,
Binding all the Church in one,
Holy Zion’s help forever,
And her confidence alone.

To this temple, we implore you,
Come, great Lord of Hosts, today;
Come with all your loving kindness,
Hear your servants as they pray,
And your fullest benediction
Shed in all its brightest ray.

Grant, we pray, to all your people,
All the grace they ask to gain;
What they gain from you forever
With the blessed to retain,
And hereafter in your glory
Evermore with you to reign.

Praise and honor to the Father,
Praise and honor to the Son,
Praise and honor to the Spirit,
Ever Three and ever One:
Unified in power and glory,
While unending ages run.
Text: Urbs beata Jerusalem, 7th Century,Translator, John Mason Neale; Tune: Lauda Anima (Westminster Abbey) 87.87.87, John Goss, 1869


PSALMODY

Antiphon: The streets of Jerusalem will ring with rejoicing; they will resound with the song of praise.

Psalm 147:1-11

Praise the Lord for he is good;
sing to our God for he is loving:
to him our praise is due.

The Lord builds up Jerusalem
and brings back Israel's exiles,
he heals the broken-hearted,
he binds up all their wounds.
He fixes the number of the stars;
he calls each one by its name.

Our Lord is great and almighty;
his wisdom can never be measured.
The Lord raises the lowly;
he humbles the wicked to the dust.
O sing to the Lord giving thanks;
sing psalms to our God with the harp.

He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares the rain for the earth,
making mountains sprout with grass
and with plants to serve man's needs.
He provides the beasts with their food
and young ravens that call upon him.

His delight is not in horses
nor his pleasure in warriors' strength.
The Lord delights in those who revere him,
in those who wait for his love. Glory...

Antiphon: The streets of Jerusalem will ring with rejoicing; they will resound with the song of praise.


Antiphon: How safe a dwelling the Lord has made you, how blessed the children within your walls.

Psalm 147:12-20

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Zion praise your God!

He has strengthened the bars of your gates
he has blessed the children within you.
He established peace on your borders,
he feeds you with finest wheat.

He sends out his word to the earth
and swiftly runs his command.
He showers down snow white as wool,
he scatters hoar-frost like ashes.

He hurls down hailstones like crumbs.
The waters are frozen at his touch;
he sends forth his word and it melts them:
at the breath of his mouth the waters flow.

He makes his word known to Jacob,
to Israel his laws and decrees.
He has not dealt thus with other nations;
he has not taught them his decrees.   Glory...

Antiphon: How safe a dwelling the Lord has made you, how blessed the children within your walls.


Antiphon: In the holy city, throngs of saints make jubilee; angels pour out their songs of praise before the throne of God, alleluia.

The following canticle is sung with the Alleluia when Evening Prayer is sung; when the office is recited, the Alleluia may be said at the beginning and the end of each strophe.

Canticle  -  See Revelation 19:1-7

Alleluia.
Salvation, glory, and power to our God:
(Alleluia.)
his judgments are honest and true.
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants,
(Alleluia.)
all who worship him reverently, great and small.
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
The Lord our all-powerful God is King;
(Alleluia.)
Let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory.
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun,
(Alleluia.)
and his bride is prepared to welcome him.
Alleluia (alleluia). Glory...

Antiphon: In the holy city, throngs of saints make jubilee; angels pour out their songs of praise before the throne of God, alleluia.


READING      Ephesians 2:19-22
You are strangers and aliens no longer. No, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God. You form a building which rises of the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is fitted together and takes shape as a holy temple in the Lord; in him you are being built into his temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.


RESPONSORY
Your house, O Lord, must always be a holy place.
- Your house, O Lord, must always be a holy place.
For ever and ever,
 - a holy place.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
 - Your house, O Lord, must always be a holy place.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: All you who love Jerusalem, rejoice with her for ever

Or:

All generations will call me blessed; the Lord has looked with favor on his lowly servant.


INTERCESSIONS
Our Savior laid down his life so that all God’s scattered children might be gathered together. In our need, let us cry out:

                                        Remember your Church, Lord.

Lord Jesus, you built your house upon a rock,
- strengthen your Church with solid and lasting faith.

Lord Jesus, blood and water flowed from your side,
- give new life to your Church through the sacraments of your new and unending covenant.

Lord Jesus, you are in the midst of those who gather in your name,
- hear the prayers of your universal Church.

Lord Jesus, you prepare a dwelling-place in your Father’s house for all who love you,
- help your Church to grow in divine love.

Lord Jesus, you never cast out anyone who comes to you,
- open your Father’s house to all those who have died.


Our Father…


PRAYER
Inside the dedicated church:
Father,
each year we recall the dedication of this church to your service.
Let our worship always be sincere
and help us to find your saving love in this church.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Outside the dedicated church:
God our Father,
from living stones, your chosen people,
you built an eternal temple to your glory.
Increase the spiritual gifts you have given to your Church
that your faithful people may continue to grow
into the new and eternal Jerusalem.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Or:

Father,
you called your people to be your Church.
As we gather together in your name,
may we love, honor, and follow you
to eternal life in the kingdom you promise.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.


May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.



 
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