Leader: Let us pray to God – father, son & spirit.
All: There is no other God.
Leader: From whom we come, with whom we stay, to whom we return.
All: You, we bless, name above all names, Holy One.
Leader: Amen, alleluia!
All: Amen, alleluia!
Please join in the hymn
O Strength & Stay, upholding all creation,
Whoever dost thyself unmoved abide.
Yet day by day the light in due gradation
From hour to hour in all its changes guide.
Grant to life’s day, a calm unclouded ending,
An eve untouched by shadows of decay.
The brightness of a holy death-bed blending
With dawning glories of the eternal day.
Hear us, O Father, gracious & forgiving,
Through Jesus Christ thy co-eternal Word,
Who, with the Holy Ghost, all things living
Now and to endless ages art adored.
Please sing this psalm from side to side as indicated.
Cantors: The Lord
Surrounds his people
Side 1: Those who trust in you, Lord, are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but endures forever.
Side 2: As the mountains are round about Jerusalem,
So you are round about your people both now & for evermore.
Side 1: For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest
upon the land allotted to the righteous,
Lest the just put forth their hands to do wrong.
Side 2: Do good, Lord, to those who are good,
And to those who are upright in their hearts!
Side 1: But those who turn aside to crooked ways,
You will lead them away with evildoers!
All: Peace be in Israel.
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
Surrounds his people.
Please listen to or join in with the next psalm
(Fountain of Life – Track 10)
Oh Lord, my heart is not proud, nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great, nor marvels beyond me. Truly I have set my soul in silence & peace;
at rest as a child in its mother’s arms, so is my soul.
Reading: Romans 12 9-12.
Love must be completely sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another warmly as Christ did; be eager to show respect for one another. Work hard – do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a full heart. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, & pray at all times.
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 remain seated for the Magnificat, joining in with the refrain, if we wish, of Val Goldsack’s setting of the Magnificat – (Light Divine CD).
My soul rejoices in God, & my spirit sings to my saviour,
The almighty has worked such marvels for me, holy is his name -Magnificat sings my soul, Magnificat!
His mercy is from age to age on those who follow his way.
He has scattered the mighty & the proud, & raised the lowly high -Magnificat sings my soul, Magnificat.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
Sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant, Israel, as he promised long ago.
My heart rejoices in God & my spirit sings to my saviour,
And my soul glorifies the loving Lord, holy is His name.
Magnificat sings my soul, Magnificat.
Magnificat sings my soul, Magnificat.
Intercessions:
Reader: Lord of all, give your Church such maturity & wisdom that
we may not be swayed from our purpose & calling, but
know increasingly our dependence on you in all things, &
so be able to proclaim your gospel joyfully…silence… You,
Lord,
All: hear our prayers.
Reader: Lord of all, give to our homes, schools, places of work &
leisure, your harmony & peace. Give us the grace to
respect each other, not to judge but to show compassion
to all …silence… You, Lord,
All: hear our prayers.
Reader: Lord, speak your peace into the hearts of all who are
agitated, anxious or confused. Lay your hands of
healing on those who are ill & let them know your love,
…silence… You, Lord,
All: hear our prayers.
Reader: Lord of all, the order & complexity of creation sings
your praise, & we give voice to it now as we offer you
our song of lives rededicated to the work of your
kingdom…………..silence…….. You, Lord,
All: hear our prayers.
Reader: We pray for people who have died today & for those who
will die tonight. We pray also for those whose
anniversary of death occurs tomorrow, remembering
especially:
Pause for people to add silently or aloud any further intentions.
Leader begins the Our Father….
Leader: Let our evening prayer rise up before you, God our Father, and let your blessing come down upon us, so that now & forever your grace may help us to live as true followers of your Son. 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 our time of prayer comes to an end, we will listen to, or join in with, a sung blessing.
The peace of Christ be with you,
The love of Christ enfold you,
The joy of Christ inspire you;
The strength of Christ uphold you,
And the beauty of Christ be within you,
All the days of your life.
Amen.