EASTER WEDNESDAY
Evening Prayer
Psalter, Sunday, Week 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 Jesus lay in death's strong bands
for our offenses given;
but now at God's right hand he stands
and brings us life from heaven;
Therefore let us joyful be,
and praise the Father thankfully
With songs of alleluia.
Alleluia.
How long and bitter was the strife
when life and death contended;
the victory remained with life,
the reign of death was ended;
stripped of power, no more it reigns,
an empty form alone remains;
death's sting is lost for ever!
Alleluia.
So let us keep this festival
To which our Lord invites us;
The Savior who is joy of all,
the sun that warms and lights us;
by his grace he shall impart
eternal sunshine to the heart;
the night of sin is ended.
Alleluia.
Words: Martin Luther , 1524;
trans. Richard Massie, 1854, adapted by Anthony G. Petti
Music: Christ lag in Todesbanden
Meter: 87 87 78 74
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1: Mary Magdelene and the other Mary came to see the Lord's tomb, alleluia.
The Lord's revelation to my Master:
"Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet."
The Lord will wield from Zion
your scepter of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.
A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
"You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedeck of old."
The Master standing at your right hand
will shatter kings in the day of his wrath.
He shall drink from the stream by the wayside
and therefore he shall lift up his head. Glory...
Psalm Prayer: Father, we ask you to give us victory and peace. In Jesus Christ, our Lord and King, we are already seated at your right hand. We look forward to praising you in the fellowship of all your saints in our heavenly homeland.
Antiphon 1: Mary Magdelene and the other Mary came to see the Lord's tomb, alleluia.
Antiphon 2: Come and see the place where the Lord was buried, alleluia.
When Israel came forth from Egypt,
Jacob's sons from an alien people
Judah became the Lord's temple,
Israel became his kingdom.
The sea fled at the sight:
the Jordan turned back on its course,
the mountains leapt like rams
and the hills like yearling sheep.
Why was it, sea, that you fled,
that you turned back, Jordan, on your course?
Mountains, that you leapt like rams;
hills, like yearling sheep?
Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Our Father, who art in Heaven,
in the presence of the God of Jacob,
who turns the rock into a pool
and flint into a spring of water. Glory...
Psalm Prayer: Almighty God, ever-living mystery of unity and trinity, you gave life to the new Israel by birth from water and the Spirit, and made it a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people set apart as your eternal possession. May all those you have called to walk in the splendor of the new light render you fitting service and adoration.
Antiphon 2: Come and see the place where the Lord was buried, alleluia.
Antiphon 3: Jesus said: Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to set out for Galilee; there they will see me, alleluia.
The wedding of the lamb
Salvation, glory, and power to our God:
(Alleluia.)
his judgments are honest and true.
Alleluia (alleluia).
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants,
(Alleluia.)
all who worship him reverently, great and small.
Alleluia (alleluia).
The Lord our all-powerful God is King;
(Alleluia.)
Let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory.
Alleluia (alleluia).
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun,
(Alleluia.)
and his bride is prepared to welcome him.
Alleluia (alleluia). Glory...
Antiphon 3: Jesus said: Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to set out for Galilee; there they will see me, alleluia.
READING
Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. - Hebrews 7:24-27
In place of the responsory, the following is said:
This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it, alleluia.
MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon
Jesus went in with them, and while they were at table he took bread and said the blessing; he broke the bread and gave it to them, alleluia.
INTERCESSIONS
Christ rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Let us pray to him, saying:
Lord Jesus, you live for ever: hear our prayer.
Lord, remember all who minister in your service:
- may their holy lives be an example to your people.
Give to those who govern us the spirit of justice and peace,
- so that the human family may live in harmony.
Guide our days in the way of salvation,
- and fill the earth with your plenty for the sake of the needy.
Christ our Saviour, light of the world you have called creation from death to life,
- may your light shine for ever on our departed brothers and sisters.
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 that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
COLLECT
O God, who gladden us year by year
with the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection,
graciously grant,
that, by celebrating these present festivities,
we may merit through them to reach eternal joys.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
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