Table of Contents
Liturgy for Contemporary Service in the Courtyard
April 11 and 25, 2024, 6 pm
Located in the Labyrinth Courtyard, entrance on 2700 block of Sixth Avenue. The Labyrinth will be open for walking throughout the day and after the service.
Thank you for joining us this evening for this outdoor worship service. Please follow along in this simple liturgy. Services take place on the second and fourth Thursday of the month, except for January, February, July, and December.
Regular text will be said by the leader, text in bold can be said in unison. Please participate as you feel led, or feel free to rest in quiet contemplation.
We are glad you are here.
Prelude
Ola Gjeilo , Tenebrae Choir
Gjeilo Ground
Welcome
The worship leader or a clergy person welcomes all to the gathering.
Opening
We begin with a few moments of silence, to center ourselves and enter into God’s presence.
Officiant: Alleluia, Christ is risen!
All: The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!
Officiant: Let us pray together.
All: As the darkness of evening closes in,
Blessed One, you are our Light,
Keep this community in peace and safety.
through the hours of the night to come.
As lamps fill our homes with brightness
send also the illumination of your Holy Spirit
to enlighten and cheer our hearts.
Grant us tranquil evening hours,
sleep in good conscience,
and a peaceful waking, renewed by your love,
through Christ, our Defender and Daystar. Amen.
Adapted from Simple Prayers for Complicated Lives, by Jennifer Phillips; New York: Church Publishing, 2006
The Officiant now lights the candles at the Altar as we meditate in silence.
Officiant: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:5.
Song of Praise
All: The whole bright world rejoices now, Alleluia.
The birds do sing on every bough, Alleluia.
Then shout beneath the racing skies, Alleluia,
To him who rose that we might rise, Alleluia.
And all you living things make praise, Alleluia,
He guideth you in all your ways, Alleluia.
The Psalms (Canticle For Easter)
Led by Lector
We read the Canticle responsively, one verse read by the leader, the next (in bold) by the congregation.
A Song of the Wilderness Isaiah 35:1-7,10
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, * the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
It shall blossom abundantly, * and rejoice with joy and singing.
They shall see the glory of the Lord, * the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weary hands, * and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to the anxious, “Be strong, do not fear! * Here is your God, coming with judgment to save you.”
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, * and the ears of the deaf be unstopped.
Then shall the lame leap like a deer, * and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness * and streams in the desert;
The burning sand shall become a pool * and the thirsty ground, springs of water.
The ransomed of God shall return with singing, * with everlasting joy upon their heads.
Joy and gladness shall be theirs, * and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
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.
The Lesson
Led by Lector
A Reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel
Ezekiel 36:24-28
I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
All: Thanks be to God.
The Reflection
A personal meditation on experiencing resurrection or renewal of life
Music
Creation is Waiting for Us by:
Alyssa Creasy, John Creasy, Ken Medema, Andra
Moran, Bryan Sirchio, Beverly Vander Molen
Ice caps are holding the flood gates
Melting with each passing day
Smoke from the wildfires now burning
Stealing our blue skies away
“Business as usual” mandates
Profits mean more than the poor
People at risk for erasing
Those on the margins pay more
CHORUS
Now is the time for a greater awakening
Creation longs for God’s children to see
Beyond our fear, convenience and
shortsighted greed
There is enough with justice and love
Together we can
Together we will
Together we must
All creation is waiting for us
There is a sacred connection
Deeper than all that divides
All things are stardust and soil
Strands in the web of all life
There is no time for deception
There is no time for delay
Holding and healing and saving
This is our challenge today
CHORUS
Prayers
Prayer leader: God be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader Loving God, in this season of resurrection we give you thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made.
All Give us thankful hearts, O God.
Leader We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
All Give us thankful hearts, O God.
Leader We thank you for the Easter promise of new life, symbolized by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
All Give us thankful hearts, O God.
Leader We ask you now to keep us mindful of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to the service of love,
and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days.
All Give us thankful hearts, O God.
Leader We pray in the name of the one who died and rose for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.
All AMEN
Adapted from The General Thanksgiving, Book of Common Prayer
Creative Response
Read by Frank Borik or Jen Jow
A Creation Care Poem by Susan Brecht
The light of God surrounds me, guiding me on my path.
It opens my eyes to wonder, as the world around me bursts into colour.
It fills me with joy and awe
at the beauty of God’s creation.
Leaves shimmer and dance in the breeze
as the light of God shines on them.
The rocks above grace the skyline.
The light dances on the water
as it cascades down the mountain.
The light of God surrounds me,
as birds soar overhead,
and ground squirrels scamper across my path.
I see that all nature is filled with God’s light.
It is a part of everything.
The light of God allows all the worries and cares I carry with me
to fall away,
as I rest in the present moment,
at one with nature and God.
The light of God surrounds us all.
Open our eyes to see and give thanks.
The Blessing and Dismissal
Officiant: May God bestow upon us Easter blessings. May God make us one in love and service. May God Grant us freedom and peace. In the name of the risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
All: Amen.
Leader: Let us go forth rejoicing in the promise of life renewed.
All: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
To Everything There Is a Season (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
Pete Seeger – Carolina the Band
To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven
A time to buid up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rain, a time of sow
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late
Facilitator: Jen Jow
Worship Leaders
Officiant: Wanda Porrata
Music: Frank Borik
Reflection: Carolyn Lief
Lector: Ellen Hargus
Creative Response: Frank Borik or Jen Jow
Thank you for worshiping with us tonight.
Our next service will be April 25th at 6:00pm and we will be celebrating Earth Day. After the service we will be going over to Barrio Star celebrating Dine Out for Life to End HIV. Proceeds of 25% go to SD LGBT Community Center. Please RSVP with Jen Jow 619-840-2327.
Would you like to participate in a future service? We practice community-led worship. Whether you would like to read something, contribute a spoken piece or musical offering, or help with organization- you are welcome! Please email jowj@stpaulcathedral.org.
