Leader: Let us listen; let our hearts keep seeking; let us listen as the spirit keeps calling us. Let us listen to God’s inspiration, to God’s invitation.
All: Speak to us, we are listening.
Please join in the hymn: Be Still:
Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here:
Come bow before Him now, with reverence and fear:
In Him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground;
Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here:
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;
He burns with holy fire, with splendour he is crowned;
How awesome is the sight – our radiant King of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;
Be still for the power of the Lord is moving in this place:
He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister his grace.
No work too hard for him. In faith receive from him.
Be still for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.
Please sing this psalm as indicated.
Cantors: Your faithful shall ring out their joy
As they enter your dwelling place, Lord
Side 1: Our God swore to David a firm promise
From which he will not withdraw:
Side 2: Your own offspring
I will set upon your throne.
Side 1: If your sons keep my covenant
And the decrees that I shall teach them,
Side 2: Their sons too, forever,
Shall sit upon your throne.
Side 1: For the Lord has chosen Zion;
He prefers her for his dwelling.
Side 2: Zion is my resting place for ever;
In her will I dwell, for I prefer her.
Side 1: In her will I make a horn to sprout fort for David;
I will place a lamp for my anointed.
Side 2: His enemies I will clothe with shame,
But upon him my crown shall shine.
All: 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.
All: Your faithful shall ring out their joy
As they enter your dwelling place, Lord.
A contemporary interpretation of the second part of the psalm will be
spoken by different people taking a verse each ad lib.
All: The Lord has chosen Sion as his dwelling place.
Yet more was promised to David that day, a descendant would inherit the
Covenant. Would we be shown a more lasting beauty, gloriously embodying the divine & the human?
And yet – most wonderful paradox – the beauty of God touched the
outcast: nothing in the crucified to delight us, only to faith’s eye is the glory revealed.
If the ugliest of scars can shine with new light, if you can fashion new
forms from the chaos, if poets can bring hope from genocide’s ashes, we
can rejoice once again in the beauty of God.
All: 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.
All: The Lord has chosen Sion as his dwelling place.
Reading: 1 Peter 3: 8-9
You should agree among yourselves and be sympathetic; love
each other; have compassion and be humble. Never pay back
one wrong for another, or an angry word with another one;
instead, pay back with a blessing. This is what you are called to
do so that you will inherit a blessing yourself.
As a silent response, let us pray for each other, asking that the qualities we find in this passage from Peter may be increasingly true of each of us.
Please stand to sing the Magnificat (Scottish Folk Melody) after saying the antiphon together.
All: The Lord brought down the mighty from their seats, and raised up the lowly.
My soul is filled with joy as I sing to God my saviour;
He has looked upon his servant, he has visited his people.
Refrain: And holy is his name.
I am lowly as a child but I know from this day forward
That my name will be remembered for all will call me blessed.
Refrain as above.
I proclaim the power of God; he does marvels for his servants;
Though he scatters the proud-hearted & destroys the might of
princes.
Refrain as above.
To the hungry he gives food, sends the rich away empty.
In his mercy he is mindful of the people he has chosen.
Refrain as above.
In his love he now fulfils what he promised to our fathers;
I will praise the Lord, my saviour, everlasting is his mercy.
Full Refrain: And holy is his name, through all generations, everlasting
is his mercy to the people he has chosen, & holy is his name.
Intercessions:
Reader: That we may each recognise you – our Risen Lord…silence… we pray,
All: Hear us, Risen Christ.
Reader: That, in you, those who are downtrodden may find hope … silence … we pray,
All: Hear us, Risen Christ.
Reader: That, in you, those whose lives are dark may find light…silence… we pray,
All: Hear us, Risen Christ.
Reader: That we may be open & ready to be used as instruments of your peace & joy…silence… we pray,
All: Hear us, Risen Christ.
Reader: That, in you, we, & others, may rejoice that life is eternal…silence… we pray,
All: Hear us, Risen Christ.
Reader: We pray for people who have died today, & those who will die tonight……………..
We also remember those whose anniversaries of death occur tomorrow including………
Pause for people to add silently or aloud any further intentions.
Leader begins the Our Father.
Leader: We offer you, Lord, our thanksgiving as we approach the close of this day. In your mercy, forgive what needs forgiveness and lead us along your way of life and of truth. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Leader: Into the Sacred Three, I immerse you.
Into their power & peace, I place you.
All: May their breath be ours to live.
May their love be ours to give.
Leader: And may Almighty God bless us – the Father Son and Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
For a few moments at the conclusion of our prayer, let us
reflect on our day as we listen to some music.