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From “Common Prayer: A Liturgy For Ordinary Radicals” (May 31, p. 298-299)

Feast of the Visitation
On May 31, the church celebrates Mary’s visit with her cousin Elizabeth, after she had learned from the angel Gabriel that she was carrying the creator of the universe in her womb.  Elizabeth was herself pregnant with John the Baptist at the time, and the gospel account tells us that he leapt for joy inside his mother when she embraced Mary.  The joy of these two hosts - Mary and Elizabeth - is a reminder to us of the delight that comes when we practice hospitality, inviting God to come right into our lives.

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.

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.

Come let us sing to the Lord: let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.

Sing and rejoice, O daughters of Zion: the Lord is coming and has now come.

Psalm 149:1-4
Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song: sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in his Maker: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people: and adorns the poor with victory.

Sing and rejoice, O daughters of Zion: the Lord is coming and has now come.

Zephaniah 3:14-18a        Luke 1:39-49

Sing and rejoice, O daughters of Zion: the Lord is coming and has now come.

Jeanne de Chantal, seventeenth-century founder of the Order of the Visitation said, “No matter what happens, be gentle with yourself.”

Prayers for Others

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, 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 who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Lord, you have done great things for us, many of which we have hardly noticed.  You are Lord over the past, sovereign in the present, and victorious in the future.  Even in our trials, we celebrate you.  Amen.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, 
 wherever he may send you. 
May he guide you through the wilderness, 
 protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing,
 at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing,
 once again into our doors.  Amen

Photo by Rosie Steggles on Unsplash