Table of Contents
Liturgy for Contemporary Service in the Courtyard
November 10, 2022 6 pm
Located in our Queen’s Courtyard. Entrance on 2700 block of Fifth Avenue 92103 (5th Ave. Side)
Thank you for joining us this evening for this outdoor worship service. Please follow along in this simple liturgy, based on the Doxology Life gathering at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Would you like to participate in next week’s service? This is a community driven service. Whether you would like to read something, contribute a spoken piece or musical offering, or help with organization- you are welcome! Please email jenjow7@gmail.com or call cell 619.840.2327
Prelude
—
Welcome
Let us begin the evening in silence.
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.
Officiant: Stay with us, Christ, for it is evening.
All: Make your church bright with your radiance.
Officiant: Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Officiant: Let us pray.
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Savior.
All: Amen.
The officiant now lights the candle at the Altar as you may light your own (electronic) candle. Please listen, watch, pray or keep silence.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:5.
O Gracious Light
Led by officiant, said by all
O gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
Amen
The Psalms
Psalm 85 Benedixisti, Domine
You have been gracious to your land, O Lord, *
you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.
You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *
and blotted out all their sins.
You have withdrawn all your fury *
and turned yourself from your wrathful indignation.
Restore us then, O God our Savior; *
let your anger depart from us.
Will you be displeased with us for ever? *
will you prolong your anger from age to age?
Will you not give us life again, *
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your mercy, O Lord, *
and grant us your salvation.
I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *
for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
and to those who turn their hearts to him.
Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have met together; *
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness shall go before him, *
and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.
Psalm 86 Inclina, Domine
Bow down your ear, O Lord, and answer me, *
for I am poor and in misery.
Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; *
save your servant who puts his trust in you.
Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God; *
I call upon you all the day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant, *
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, *
and great is your love toward all who call upon you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, *
and attend to the voice of my supplications.
In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, *
for you will answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, *
nor anything like your works.
All the nations you have made will come and worship you, O Lord, *
and glorify your Name.
For you are great;
you do wondrous things; *
and you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and I will walk in your truth; *
knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.
I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, *
and glorify your Name for evermore.
For great is your love toward me; *
you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.
The arrogant rise up against me, O God,
and a band of violent men seeks my life; *
they have not set you before their eyes.
But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, *
slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.
Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *
give your strength to your servant;
and save the child of your handmaid.
Show me a sign of your favor,
so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *
because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted 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.
The Lesson
A Reading from the Gospel According to Luke. Luke 15:1-2,11-32
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”‘ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe– the best one– and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ’son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'”
The Reflection
Lead by Frank Boric
Music
The Poem
Veterans Day
Epics and novels through the ages
have been written about heroes’ renown.
Here in the United States
our own heroes make us proud.
Those who serve in the army
we call soldiers, a brave infantry.
And those who serve in the airforce
are the airmen who protect you and me.
Those who set sail in the navy
are sailors who keep bad guys at bay.
The coast guard secures our domestic shore
And marines always lead the way.
Reservists serve when they are needed,
and the space force is just taking off.
But there have been many whose efforts
are at risk of being history lost.
So it’s to the airmen of Tuskegee,
To the bravery they showed in distress.
And to the Women’s Army Corps
who served their nation in a dress.
To the WASPS who flew in World War II
no matter what they were asked to fly.
They trained for the mission and lead with vision
and fearlessly took to the sky.
Our country has been served by so many
who answered the call to defend.
Even when society at large
didn’t treat them as equal citizens.
This is why we are proud of America!
Because in these United States we have challenged
the past and learned how to recover from prior mistakes.
We respect our diverse generations
like the Navajo who talked in the wind.
All our heroes deserve an epic.
All who would lay down their life for a friend, God, Family.
Country priorities mark the life of those who would serve.
So, thank you. America’s heroes sons, and daughters we do not deserve.
Prayers
God our refuge and strength, we bring before you today the many faithful people who serve and have served in the armed forces. We give thanks for their courage, persistence, and discipline in the midst of chaotic and violent situations, and for the many heroic deeds that have taken place in battle. As we lift up different concerns, we ask for your mercy and love to be known by those who suffer.
Relieve the pain of those who have been physically injured and maimed in conflict. Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Absolve those who feel guilty because they survived while their comrades did not. Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Cleanse the hearts of those who are haunted by the lives they have taken. Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Bring clarity and peace to those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lift up those who suffer from depression and post-traumatic stress syndrome. Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Comfort those who grieve for their lost friends and broken relationships. Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Encourage those who struggle to find employment as veterans. Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Give skill and compassion to those who work in VA hospitals and facilities that serve veterans’ needs and seek to help heal their wounds. Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Uplift and enlighten the family members and friends of veterans, who struggle to understand and support their loved ones. Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Gracious God, you long for us to live in peace and yet humanity is constantly at war. Forgive us for the violence we visit upon each other and for our lack of care for those who are wounded in any way by their military service. Guide us to have generous and loving hearts, and help us to strive for the peaceful world you intend. All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Amen.
The Blessing and Dismissal
Said by Officiant.
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!