Thursday, May 1, 2025 (International Worker’s Day)
Brief silence to quiet our hearts and to acknowledge that Christ is among us.
V. O God, come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
R. as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
The golden dawn has spread her rays,
The heavens now resound in praise,
The earth exalts in jubilee
While Darkness groans in agony.
For He, the King with glorious strength,
Has crushed death’s power with might arm,
He trampled darkness underfoot
And freed those who are languishing.
Although enclosed beneath a stone,
Well sealed and guarded carefully,
He rose triumphant in his might,
The glorious Victor over death.
Dissolved is all the agony,
And sorrow of the world below;
“The Lord is risen as he said,”
The shining angel testified.
Creator of all things, we pray
In this, our joyful Paschal time:
Defend the people whom you saved,
From falling prey to sin’s deep death.
To you, O Lord, who rose again,
To Father and to Paraclete,
May we give glory and all praise,
Both now and for eternity. Amen.
Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
A prayer for mercy: a pilgrimage song
To you have I lifted up my eyes,
you who dwell in the heavens;
my eyes, like the eyes of slaves
on the hand of their lords.
Like the eyes of a servant
on the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes are on the Lord our God
till he show us his mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
We are filled with contempt.
Indeed all too full in our soul
with the scorn of the rich.
(the disdain of the proud).
Thanksgiving for protection: a pilgrimage song
“If the Lord had not been on our side,”
this is Israel’s song.
“If the Lord had not been on our side
when they rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive
when their anger was kindled.
Then would the waters have engulfed us,
the torrent gone over us;
over our head would have swept
the raging waters.”
Blessed be the Lord who did not give us
a prey to their teeth!
Our life, like a bird, has escaped
from the snare of the fowler.
Indeed the snare has been broken
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Unshakable trust: a pilgrimage song
Those who put their trust in the Lord
are like Mount Zion, that cannot be shaken,
that stands for ever.
Jerusalem! The mountains surround her;
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and for ever.
The sceptre of the wicked shall not rest
over the land of the just
for fear that the hands of the just
should turn to evil.
Do good, Lord, to those who are good,
to the upright of heart;
but the crooked and those who do evil,
drive them away!
On Israel, peace!
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.
Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Baptism, which [the flood] prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
V. The disciples were glad, alleluia.
R. When they saw the Lord, alleluia.
Lord Jesus Christ, whom we love, and for whom we long, by the grace of your resurrection may we ever be reborn, and one day see you face to face in the glory which you share with the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
A prayer for commerce and industry
O Lord Jesus Christ, in your earthly life you shared our toil and
hallowed our labor: Guide those who maintain the commerce and industries of [our] lands, and give to all who labor pride in their work, a just reward, and joy both in supplying need and in serving you; who with the Father and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, world without end. Amen.
A prayer for the unemployed
Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of [our] lands so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive a just reward for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Time for prayer, with a particular focus on KLC—
At the end of each petition please say, “Lord in your mercy…”
and the rest of us will respond, “… hear our prayer.”
from Today’s Sacred Space
Presence
Lord God, give us a quiet, gentle and receptive spirit as we spend these few moments in prayer with You today.
Freedom
Everything has the potential to draw forth from us a fuller love and life.
Yet our desires are often fixed, caught, on illusions of fulfillment.
We ask that You, God, through our freedom, may orchestrate our desires
in a vibrant, loving melody, rich in harmony, fulfilling Your will through us.
Consciousness
Jesus, thank You for this moment where we am conscious of Your presence with us. Help us to be more and more aware of Your presence in our daily life, and in everyone we meet.
The Word of God
The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God’s wrath.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”
Reader: The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Response: Thanks be to you, Lord Christ.
Inspiration
It was God the Father’s plan to save us through his beloved Son whom he sent to us. We can never bypass Jesus Christ to get to the Father. Nor should we want to, since he has shared in our humanity and become our brother. Lord, help us to learn how to listen to you and to share our lives with you.
Conversation
Dear Lord, help us each day
to seek Your presence more and more.
Fill our hearts with love for You.
—A time of silence—
Amen
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen
The Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge. Charity registered in England and Wales. Charity Number: 1191741
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