Skip to the service
Community Universalist Church

Daily Office

Evening · Thursday, 12 March 2026 · Ordinary Time

We hear God's CALL TO WORSHIP in Psalm 136:1–3

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his mercy endures for ever.

Give thanks to the God of gods,
    for his mercy endures for ever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
    for his mercy endures for ever.

We listen in silence for God's still small voice, CENTERING ourselves, becoming aware of God's presence within us and around us

We respond with CONFESSION using the words of Augustine of Hippo

Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord, and spare your servant from the power of the enemy. I contend not in judgment with you, who are the truth; I fear to deceive myself, lest my iniquity lie to itself. Therefore I contend not in judgment with you; for if you, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall abide it? Amen.

We PRAISE God in the EVENING PSALMPsalm 141:1-3 · Domine, clamavi

1Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me, *
and consider my voice when I cry to you.

2Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as the incense; *
and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.

3Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, *
and keep the door of my lips.

Gloria Patri

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.

We PRAISE God in THE PSALM OF THE DAYPsalm 76:1–8 · Notus in Judæa

1In Judah is God known; *
his Name is great in Israel.

2At Salem is his tabernacle, *
and his dwelling is in Zion.

3There he broke the flashing arrows, *
the shield, the sword, and the weapons of battle.

4How glorious you are! *
more splendid than the everlasting mountains!

5The strong of heart have been despoiled; they sink into sleep; *
none of the warriors can lift a hand.

6At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, *
both horse and rider lie stunned.

7What terror you inspire! *
who can stand before you when you are angry?

8From heaven you pronounced judgment; *
the earth was afraid and was still;

We hear God speaking to us in THE READING for the dayJudges 4:4–9

Thursday, 12 March 2026 · Ordinary Time

4Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time. 5She lived under Deborah’s palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgement. 6She sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh Naphtali, and said to him, “Hasn’t the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded, ‘Go and lead the way to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 7I will draw to you, to the river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into your hand.’ ”

8Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

9She said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the journey that you take won’t be for your honour; for the LORD will sell Sisera into a woman’s hand.” Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

World English Bible. Or read it at Bible Gateway in the NRSV: Judges 4:4–9 · the full passage, Judges 4:1–24.

We REFLECT in silence

We sing to God in THE CANTATE DOMINOPsalm 98 · Cantate Domino

1O sing to the Lord a new song, *
for he has done marvelous things.

2With his own right hand and with his holy arm *
he has won himself the victory.

3The Lord declared his salvation; *
his righteousness he has openly shown in the sight of the nations.

4He has remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel, *
and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.

5Show yourselves joyful to the Lord, all you lands; *
sing, rejoice, and give thanks.

6Praise the Lord upon the harp; *
sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving.

7With trumpets also and the sound of the horn, *
O show yourselves joyful before the Lord the King.

8Let the sea make a noise, and all that is in it, *
the round world, and those who dwell therein.

9Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, *
for he has come to judge the earth.

10With righteousness shall he judge the world, *
and the peoples with equity.

Gloria Patri

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.

We pray the LORD'S PRAYER as Jesus taught his disciples, in those words which are most meaningful to us

Our [ Father / Mother / Creator ] in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our [ trespasses / sins ]
as we forgive those who [ trespass / sin ] against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

We pray a PRAYER OF INTERCESSION in the words of John Bradford

Let your mighty hand and outstretched arm, Lord,
    be still our defense;
your mercy and loving kindness in Jesus Christ your dear Son,
    our salvation;
your true and holy Word,
    our instruction;
your grace and Holy Spirit,
    our comfort and consolation
    unto the end, and in the end.

Amen

We silently pray PERSONAL PRAYER

Followed by

Amen

We pray a PRAYER OF GENERAL THANKSGIVING

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. 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. And, we pray, give us such an awareness 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 ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

A concluding BENEDICTION or blessing

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.

Amen.