Friday midday May 1

Saturday midday
Thursday midday

Preparation

Opening response

Favor us, Lord, and deliver us.
Lord, come quickly and help us.

If I went up to heaven, you would be there.
If I went down to the grave, you would be there too!

Psalm 139:8

Praise

Yesterday I was crucified with Christ;
today I am glorified with him.
Yesterday I was dead with Christ;
today I am sharing in his resurrection.
Yesterday I was buried with him;
today I am waking with him from the sleep of death. 

Gregory of Nazianzus (389)

The Word of God

Psalm 145:1-8

Refrain:
The Lord is great and so worthy of praise!

I will lift you up high, my God, the true king.
    I will bless your name forever and always.
I will bless you every day.
    I will praise your name forever and always.
The Lord is great and so worthy of praise!
    God’s greatness can’t be grasped.
One generation will praise your works to the next one,
    proclaiming your mighty acts.
They will talk all about the glorious splendor of your majesty;
    I will contemplate your wondrous works.
They will speak of the power of your awesome deeds;
    I will declare your great accomplishments.
They will rave in celebration of your abundant goodness;
    they will shout joyfully about your righteousness:
    “The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
    very patient, and full of faithful love.
    
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen.

Refrain:
The Lord is great and so worthy of praise!

Psalm prayer

King of the universe,
you show the bright glory of your reign
in acts of mercy and enduring love;
raise the spirits of the downcast
and restore those who have fallen away,
that we may sing forever of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture reading
Job 19:23-27

Oh, that my words were written down,
        inscribed on a scroll
    with an iron instrument and lead,
        forever engraved on stone.
But I know that my redeemer is alive
        and afterward he’ll rise upon the dust.
After my skin has been torn apart this way—
    then from my flesh I’ll see God,
        whom I’ll see myself—
        my eyes see, and not a stranger’s.

Silence may be kept.

Response

Happy are people who make peace, 
because they will be called God’s children.

Matthew 5:9

Prayers

Intercession and thanksgiving

Prayers may include these concerns:

The people of God, that they may proclaim the risen Lord
God’s creation, that the peoples of the earth may meet their
responsibility to care
Those in despair and darkness, that they may find the hope and light
of Christ
Those in fear of death, that they may find faith through the
resurrection
Prisoners and captives

Other intercessions and supplications may be offered as the Holy Spirit leads.

Prayer

Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end,
Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to you,
and all ages;
to you be glory and power
through every age and forever.
Amen. 

From the Easter Vigil

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Savior taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen.

Conclusion

May the risen Christ give us his peace.
Alleluia. Amen.