Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism
Leader: O God, come to our aid
All: O Lord, make haste to help us. 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.
Please join in the refrain if you wish –
(When Love is Found Tr 16)
The Lord is kind & merciful, the Lord is kind & merciful,
Slow to anger, rich in kindness, the Lord is kind & merciful,
Bless the Lord, O my soul; all my being bless God’s name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; forget not all God’s blessings.
(Refrain)
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, full of
kindness.
God is good to all creation, full of compassion.
(Refrain)
The goodness of God is from age to age, blessing those who
choose to love.
And justice toward God’s children; on all who keep the
covenant. (Refrain).
Please say this psalm from side to side.
All: Lord heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
Side 1: Blessed are they who care for the poor & the
helpless, who are kind to the outcast within them.
God will deliver them in the day of their trouble,
rescuing the child who is battered & torn. God will
guard them & preserve their life.
Side 2: O God, you will not give us up to the will of our enemies – to hatred within & to hatred without.
In the day of our calamity you will sustain us, as warring turbulence threatens our life.
Side 1: Dear God, be merciful towards me, heal me for I
have failed to be like you. My enemies, with
whisper & shout, speak evil of me: ‘When will you
die & your name perish for ever’?
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: Lord heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
Psalm 45 will be sung side to side.
Cantors: The Lord of hosts is with us:
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Side 1: God is our refuge & strength’
A very present help in time of trouble.
Side 2: Therefore we shall not be afraid, even though the earth be moved,
Even though the mountains should crumble & fall into the sea,
Side 1: Even though the waters should foam & rage,
Assault the cliffs & make them shudder.
Side 2: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.
Here is God’s dwelling place & it will stand firm.
Side 1: God’s rescue dawns like the morning light,
God’s voice echoes through every land.
Side 2: When powerful nations panic & totter
And the whole world comes crashing down,
Side 1: You are, for us, the God of all powers,
A safe stronghold, the God of all peoples.
Side 2: Come & see, stand in awe
At the powerful thing God will do on earth,
Side 1: Putting an end to all war in the world,
Breaking the bow, shattering the spear into
splinters, throwing our weapons on the fire.
Side 2: ‘Be still & know that I am God: exalted among nations,
My name known at last on the earth’.
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 of hosts is with us:
The God of Jacob is our stronghold
Reading (John 10) followed by a time of silence.
The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.”
‘’Can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.
The Magnificat which will be sung as indicated.
Cantors: If you refuse to believe in me,
Believe in the works that I do in my Father’s name.
Side 1: My being proclaims your greatness,
And my spirit finds joy in you, God my Saviour,
Side 2: For you have looked upon me, your servant, in my lowliness;
All ages to come shall call me blessed.
Side 1: God, you who are mighty, have done great things for me.
Holy is your name.
Side 2: Your mercy is from age to age
Towards those who fear you.
Side 1: You have shown might with your arm
And confused the proud in their inmost thoughts.
Side 2: You have deposed the mighty from their thrones
And raised the lowly to high places.
Side 1: The hungry you have given every good thing
While the rich you have sent away empty.
Side 2: You have upheld Israel, your servant,
Ever mindful of your mercy –
Side 1: Even as you promised our ancestors;
Promised Abraham, Sarah, and their descendants for ever.
All: Give praise to the Father Almighty,
To his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
To the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,
Both now and for ever, Amen.
All: If you refuse to believe in me,
Believe in the works that I do in my Father’s name.
Intercessions: Different people to read different prayers.
As prophets of God’s kingdom, may we make God known by
leading lives of faith, hope & love …..silence …….Holy God,
All: Hallowed be your name.
Lord give strength to those suffering tonight, living here
amongst us. May they be aware of your presence & may we do
all we can to help them .………..silence …………Holy God,
All: Hallowed be your name.
We pray for young people. May they find a good purpose to
their lives & find opportunities to develop the gifts you have
given each of them. We pray especially for the young people of
this area. …… silence …….. Holy God,
All: Hallowed be your name.
Reader: We pray for people who have died today and for those who will die tonight.
We also remember in prayer those people whose anniversaries of death occur tomorrow, remembering especially:
Pause for people to add silently or aloud any further intentions.
Leader begins the Our Father.
Leader: Lord God, you sent your son to show us, and all your people the way to you. Grant that we may follow that way with all the pain & joy that it involves conscious of your presence. 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: You have called us to announce the time of your grace:
To comfort all who mourn:
All: To give them a garland of consolation.
Leader: Instead of the ashes of mourning:
All: The oil of gladness & healing.
Leader: As we go out to answer this calling we ask for God’s blessing:
All: May Almighty God bless us – the Father Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.