Day 1: Queen of Angels & Virgin

OPENING PRAYER
We gather this morning to join with the heavenly choir of angels and give thanks for their abiding love. Mary, Queen of Angels, summon the support of the heavenly hosts to guide us on our human journey as we live fully into our holy nature and remember that we are not alone.

OPENING SONG: Mary, Queen of Angels

FIRST READING: St. Bonaventure
Sensing that angels often visited there, according to the name of that church, which from ancient times was called Saint Mary of the Angels, (Francis) stayed there out of his reverence for the angels and his special love for the mother of Christ.

SUNG PSALM OPENING
O Love, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise. (Repeat)

PSALM 20
May you know peace
and feel the touch of the One we call by many names.
May you have the strength to meet the day’s troubles.
May all your plans prosper.
May your victories bring goodness to those around you.

To set yourself to these ordinary tasks
is to take up the holy work of your life.
Trust it—
money and possessions and glory;
these things come and go and
they will never make us feel secure.
Serenity is the goal.
It comes from living deeply in the gift of life
doing the work of love, cultivating our gratitude, and
noting the touch of Spirit in our lives.

SUNG DOXOLOGY
Glory to the Maker, Lover, and Keeper; as ago, in this breath, and will be ever. Amen, Amen.

As we open our hearts to scripture this morning, let us contemplate Mary’s profound encounter with her angelic messenger.

SECOND READING: The Gospel According to Luke (1:26-28 – NRSV)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And (the Angel) came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! God is with you.”

SILENT CONTEMPLATION

PRAYERS OF CONCERN
We offer prayers now for all that is in our hearts.

Creator God, we thank you that you created angels who can act as messengers, bringing words of life and possibility to us. Forgive us when we expect divine beings to look a certain way and so miss annunciations along our path. Help us to have eyes that can see beyond the surface of things and show us when we are entertaining angels unawares.

SUNG RESPONSE
Queen of Angels, be our guide. Creator God, empower us.

Divine Mother, thank you that in times of danger and difficulty there are angels ready to help and protect us. Forgive us when we would like to send angels to battle for us but come from a place of hatred or conflict. Remind us that you are their Queen and that you move from a place of love and compassion. Help us do the same.

SUNG RESPONSE 
Queen of Angels, be our guide. Creator God, empower us.

Beloved Mother, there are so many children who have never known the love of a father. Jesus said that the children’s angels see the face of His Father. Forgive us that we have created a form of masculinity that damages children, women, and men. Help us all to see, as the Angels do, the true face of the Divine Masculine even as we are embraced and held by your Mother’s love.

SUNG RESPONSE
Queen of Angels, be our guide. Creator God, empower us.

Please add the prayers you are longing to express.

SUNG RESPONSE 
Queen of Angels, be our guide. Creator God, empower us.

CLOSING SONG: Archangel Invocation

CLOSING BLESSING
You who sing among the angels
help us to feel their sheltering
and guiding presence in our days.
Reveal to us all the ways we are held,
comforted, uplifted by invisible forces;
remind us to call out for help when needed
and to lean into the grace
so freely offered to us.
Let us see how angels walk among us
in seen and unseen forms;
encourage us to offer gratitude for moments
of synchronicity and holy surprise
when we are met with kindness
and sacred possibility,
when we see a new pathway
where before was only bramble.
Mary, Queen of Angels,
gather your consort of love
around us; help us to know
you walk beside us always.

SUNG AMEN