We put ourselves in the presence of God as we listen to some music.
Leader: Blessed is the Lord
All: for he is here amongst us.
Leader: Blessed is the Lord
All: for he has brought us together.
Leader: Blessed is the Lord
All: for he hears our prayers.
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.
Please join in with the hymn:
He is Lord, he is Lord, he is risen from the dead & he is Lord.
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
He is King, he is King, he is risen from the dead & he is King.
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is King.
He is Love, he is Love, he is risen from the dead & he is Love.
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Love.
Please say this psalm from side to side as indicated.
All: The Lord is my love and my refuge; in him I place my trust.
Side 1: Blessed be the Lord my rock who trains my arms for battle, who prepares my hands for war.
Side 2: He is my love, my fortress; he is my stronghold, my saviour, my shield, my place of refuge. He brings people under my rule.
Side 1: Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you keep them in mind; they are like a breath whose lives fade like shadows?
Side 2: Lower your heavens and come down; touch the mountains; wreath them in smoke. Flash your lightnings; rout the foe, shoot your arrows and put them to flight.
Side 1: Reach down from heaven and save me; draw me out from the mighty waters, From the hands of alien foes whose mouths
are filled with lies, whose hands are raised in perjury.
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 is my love and my refuge; in him I place my trust.
Please sing the 2nd part of the psalm as indicated.
Cantors: Blessed the people
Whose God is the Lord.
Side 1: So, we will sing a new song
On flute & trumpet singing your praise.
Side 2: We & our children shall be people of beauty
Burgeoning to life, maturing to vintage.
Side 1: The earth shall produce in abundance,
The sheep will lamb in their thousands;
Side 2: There will be no distress of miscarriage,
No loud lamentation in our streets.
Side 1: Let our sons then flourish like saplings
Grown tall and strong from their youth:
Side 2: Our daughters graceful as columns,
Adorned as though for a palace.
Side 1: Happy the people with such blessings;
Happy the people whose God is the Lord.
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: Blessed the people
Whose God is the Lord.
Reading: Colossians 1:23
You must, of course, continue faithful on a sure and firm foundation, and not allow yourselves to be shaken from the hope you gained when you heard the gospel which has been preached to everybody in the world. After a few moments of silent reflection, we are invited to respond aloud to the reading – maybe with an insight, or just the repetition of a single word or phrase that is important for you, maybe relating the text or part of it to something that has happened during the day or recently.
Please stand to sing the Magnificat from side to side
Cantor: The Lord has satisfied and filled with good things
Those who hungered for justice.
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: The Lord has satisfied and filled with good things
Those who hungered for justice.
Intercessions:
Reader: O God, you adorn the earth with the beauty of each season: ……………… silence …………… help us
All: to be awake to your loving care and to be good stewards of your creation.
Reader: Your Spirit dwells in our hearts, the very power of your love: ……………… silence …………… help us
All: to remember that you are at work in us, never asking what is beyond our power.
Reader: Lord, teach us to pray as you taught your disciples; ……………… silence …………… help us
All: to persevere in prayer, & live in a way that has integrity with our prayer.
Reader: Lord, make us increasingly aware of our responsibility for those who do not have enough to eat – ……………… silence …………… show us
All: how to live well and help us to distinguish want from need
Reader: We pray for people who have died today & for those who will die tonight. We also remember those whose anniversaries occur tomorrow especially:
Pause for people to add silently or aloud any further intentions.
Leader begins the Our Father.
Leader: Listen favourably to our evening prayer, Lord, and grant that as we follow your Son’s example, we may live by your ways and allow you to work in us.
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.
As we come to the end our time of prayer together, we will listen to, or sing a blessing. (Sacred Dance Tr 11. My Peace)
Peace to know, peace to live; peace to show & a peace to give,
It’s a peace to share & a peace that cares;
My peace I give unto you, my peace.