Pray With Us

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ indwelling them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.

 

 

 

Leader:     There is no place where you cannot reach, Lord,

All:            God who made the heavens & earth.

Leader:     There is no journey which you have not travelled,

All:            God, who shared our life in Jesus Christ.

Leader:     There are no people beyond your care,

All:            God is spirit, the comforter:

                  Come, let us pray.

 

Please join in the hymn.

Refrain. A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you love one another as I have loved you.

By this shall people know you are my disciples, if you have love one for another – by this shall people know you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. (Refrain).

You are my friends if you do what I command you. Without my help you can do nothing. You are my friends if you do what I command you. Without my help you can do nothing. (Refrain).

I am the true vine, my Father is the gardener, abide in me: I will be with you. I am the true vine, my Father is the gardener, abide in me: I will be with you. (Refrain).

True love is patient, not arrogant, nor boastful; love bears all things, love is eternal. True love is patient, not arrogant, nor boastful; love bears all things, love is eternal. (Refrain).

 

 

Please say the first psalm & its antiphon as indicated.

 

All:          The Lord will give victory to his anointed one.

Side I:      The Lord answer you in time of distress; the name of

the God of Jacob defend you! May God grant you

what is in your heart & fulfil your every plan.

Side 2:     Now I know that God has given victory to the

                 anointed, that God has answered him from holy

                heaven with the strength of God’s victorious

                right hand.

Side 1:    Some are strong in chariots; some in horses; but we

are strong in God’s name. O God, grant victory to

the king, & answer us when we call upon you.

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 will give victory to his anointed one.

 

Please sing the 2nd psalm as indicated.

Cantors:We shall sing

And praise your power.

Side 1:   As monarchs of old rejoiced in your strength,

So may we exult in your help.

Side 2:  As a sovereign today may trust in your faithfulness,

             So do we rely on your steadfastness.

Side 1:  You have given us our heart’s desire,

Even the gift of your justice & wisdom.

Side 2: You came to meet us with your godly blessings,

             And placed crowns of gold on our heads.

Side 1: We asked you for life & you offer your gift:

Long days of contentment in your presence.

Side 1:You have destined even us for glory,

            Clothing us with splendour & honour.

Side 1: You have promised us everlasting joy,

And made us glad with the joy of your presence.

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:      We shall sing

           And praise your power.

 

Reading (Isaiah 55) followed by pause for reflection.

“For as the rain and snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth,
Making it bear and sprout,
And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
So will my word which goes out of my mouth;
It will not return to me without result,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

 

Please sing the Magnificat .

Cantors:    When you pray, go into your room & shut the door,

And pray to your father there.

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:         When you pray, go into your room & shut the door

               And pray to your father there.

 

Intercessions:

All (sung): O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer,

when we call answer us O Lord, hear our prayer, O

Lord, hear our prayer, come & listen to us.

Reader:    We ask you, Lord, to draw near – near to those

 involved in warfare & woundedness………………….. silence

                   ………………..

Reader:    Draw near to those who struggle to survive & to those who are lonely & afraid …………….. silence …………………

Reader:    Draw near to your Church in its frailty & its wanderings from your way …………silence ………………….

Reader:    Draw near to us & challenge us if we have fenced in

your love & kept it for ourselves  ……………. silence ……

Reader:    Draw near to us & expand our vision so that the world

may see the light of your life among us …… silence ……

All (sung)  O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer,

when we call answer us O Lord, hear our prayer, O

Lord, hear our prayer, come & listen to us.

Reader:     We pray for people who have died today & for those who will die tonight.  We also pray for those 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:     Loving God, breathe your patience & forgiveness into our homes & our relationships, so that we may learn to cherish & respect one another.  We make this prayer in Jesus’s name.

All:        Amen.

Leader:     Continue along the road of life in kindness, & may

Jesus be walking close to your wounds & stop to carry

you into healing, & may the God of love & the Spirit of

grace bless & keep you.

All:        Amen.

 

As our time of prayer comes to an end we will have some reflective music. (Sacred Dance. 5. Cadfan’s Blessing)