Resources for Prayer. Praying for Our Diocese at Candlemas and onwards

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1 Ministerial & Spiritual Development Office are responsible for the production of this brochure. Telephone: (01584) (answerphone when out of the office) Resources for Prayer This booklet was produced by the Ministerial & Spiritual Development and Curate Training Office January 2019 Praying for Our Diocese at Candlemas and onwards Mrs FA Bowkett, The Diocesan Office, Units 8-9 The business Quarter, Ludlow Eco Park, Sheet road, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1FDL t: e:

2 Litany for our Diocese: The response to Thy Kingdom come is Thy Will be Done. In all the people living and working in our Diocese In all the churches that make up our diocese, benefices, deaneries In our worship, our events, our shared life In all the schools, their staff and pupils In all those with ministries and roles in our diocesan life For all members of pccs, church wardens, those working with children, families and young people, readers, clergy In the staff and volunteers who serve the diocese, its offices, decision making and advisory bodies In the process of seeking a new Bishop In our seeking God s will 1 hereforddiocese Proceeding Christ has no body now on earth but ours, no hands but ours, no feet but ours. (Teresa of Avila) Ours are the eyes through which Christ s compassion cares for the people of the world. Ours are the feet with which Christ is to go about doing good. Ours are the hands through which Christ now brings a blessing. So I promise this day to keep awake, to live each moment to the full, to look with eyes of compassion, and to act with kindness. From Prayers for an Inclusive Church The Presentation of Christ (Luke ) God of Anna and Simeon, whose law makes known the gift of life, whose love exposes our hardness of heart: by your Spirit, may we receive your faithful word to Gentile and to Jew and know your reconciling presence offered for all the world; through Jesus Christ, the Light and the Glory of God. Amen. 18

3 Candlemas Procession Call to Prayer as we look towards a new Bishop Prayer of blessing of the Candles Lord God, the springing source of everlasting light, pour into the hearts of your faithful people the brilliance of your eternal splendour, that we, who by these kindling flames light up this temple to your glory, may have the darkness of our souls dispelled, and so be counted worthy to stand before you in that eternal city where you live and reign, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Other Resources From Day by Day by Jim Cotter An unfolding of the Nunc Dimittis Thanks be to God, I have lived to see this day. God s promise is fulfilled, and my duty done. At last you have given me peace, for I have seen with my own eyes the revelation you have prepared for all peoples, a light to the world in its darkness, the glory of all who serve your love. We continue to pray as a Diocese Thy kingdom come Candlemas celebrating the presentation of Jesus in temple The Gospel reading (Luke ) tells of the recognition by faithful Simeon & Anna of God s promise being fulfilled in the baby being brought to the temple light to the world Old Testament reading (Malachi 3.1-5) foretells the coming of God s messenger to the world in need of the purification of a refiner s fire and the cleansing of fuller s soap. At Candlemas, candles are used to remind us the light has come for all peoples to shine as a light in the world - our baptismal call of the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and enable our shining So in our prayer we seek discernment - for listening to the lead of the Holy Spirit freedom from the bondage of ungodly ties to be responsive to God s will for us Each Sunday about 10,000 people are worshipping God in the Hereford Diocese. These prayers offer a way of joining together in seeking God s will for our future. 17 2

4 Core Resources: Our Context & Role Blessings Our Context: Our Role: Inspiring our Generation to follow Jesus shining as lights in the world Appointment process for new Bishop Actively praying for us to recognise and respond to God s lead by Holy Spirit As we look to the future, with all the uncertainty that our changing world brings, its helpful to be clear as to what our role is and what it is not. This meditation, A Future not our Own describes our role clearly and profoundly. It was composed by Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw, drafted for a homily by Cardinal John Dearden in Nov for a celebration of departed priests. As a reflection on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Bishop Romero, Bishop Untener included in a reflection book a passage titled "The mystery of the Romero Prayer." The mystery is that the words of the prayer are attributed to Oscar Romero, but they were never spoken by him. Saint Oscar Romero was Archbishop of San Salvador who spoke out against poverty, social injustice and oppression. He was assassinated in 1980 while celebrating the Eucharist in a San Salvadorian hospital chapel. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, who was wounded for our sins, that you may bear in your life the love and joy and peace which are the marks of Jesus in his disciples; and the blessing Christ the Son of God, born of Mary, fill you with his grace to trust his promises and obey his will; and the blessing Christ, whose glory fills the skies, fill you with radiance and scatter the darkness from your path. Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, gladden your eyes and warm your heart. Christ, the Dayspring from on high, draw near to guide your feet into the way of peace. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. 16 3

5 Breaking the Bread in their unending hymn of praise: We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world. All God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life. Post Communion Prayer Lord God, the springing source of everlasting light, pour into the hearts of your faithful people the brilliance of your eternal splendour, that we, who by these kindling flames light up this temple to your glory, may have the darkness of our souls dispelled, and so be counted worthy to stand before you in that eternal city where you live and reign, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Our Role A Future not our Own It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the Church's mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything. This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own. 15 hereforddiocese 4

6 Our Need: Prefaces A prayer of Thomas Merton My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am actually following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and will never leave me to face my perils alone. 5 From Thoughts in Solitude by Thomas Merton (Burns & Oates 1958) pg 81 And now we give you thanks because, by appearing in the Temple, he comes near to us in judgement; the Word made flesh searches the hearts of all your people and brings to light the brightness of your splendour. - And now we give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord, who shares your eternal splendour and was presented in the Temple. He was revealed by the Spirit as the glory of Israel, that all peoples might find him, the light of the world. - And now we give you thanks because your eternal Word took our nature upon him in the womb of Mary the Virgin. The sword of sorrow pierced her heart when he was lifted high on the cross, and by his sacrifice made our peace with you. - It is indeed right and good, always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ, who is one with you from all eternity. For on this day he appeared in the Temple in substance of our flesh to come near to us in judgement. He searches the hearts of all your people and brings to light the image of your splendour. Your servant Simeon acclaimed him as the light to lighten the nations, while Anna spoke of him to all who looked for your redemption. Destined for the falling and rising of many, he was lifted high upon the cross and a sword of sorrow pierced his mother s heart when by his sacrifice he made our peace with you. And now we rejoice and glorify your name that we, too, have seen your salvation and join with angels and archangels 14

7 Introduction to the Peace Our Desire: In the tender mercy of our God the dayspring from on high has broken upon us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace. cf Luke 1.78,79 We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God s own people, that we may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. Gathered as his people we share his peace. 1 Peter 2.9 O come, O Holy Spirit Come O come, O Holy Spirit come, Come as holy fire and burn in us Come as holy wind and cleanse us Come as holy light and lead us Come as holy truth and teach us Come as holy forgiveness and free us Come as holy love and enfold us Come as holy life and dwell in us We pray for the life of our Diocese May the love of the Father fill our hearts May the light of Christ guide our living Prayers at the Preparation of the Table Father, in Christ there has sprung up a light for the righteous; accept the offering of your Church and grant that Christ may shine in us to the praise and glory of your name. Amen. May the breath of the Spirit give us life. We pray for the person God is preparing to be our Bishop We pray for all involved in the Bishop s appointment. We pray for ourselves as we prepare for the next phase of our Diocesan life. 13 hereforddiocese 6

8 Times and Seasons Candlemas Liturgy Liturgical meaning of Candlemas The child who has been manifested to the magi at his birth is now recognized by Simeon and Anna, when he comes to be presented in the Temple according to the Law of Israel. He is both a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of God s people Israel. But the redemption he will bring must be won through suffering; the Incarnation is directed to the Passion; and Simeon s final words move our attention away from the celebration of Christmas and towards the mysteries of Easter. (from Times and Seasons Introduction to the Season [of Epiphany] Candlemas Eucharist Liturgy -texts-and-resources/common-worship/churchs-year/timesand-seasons/epiphany#mmm116 This includes resources for the Candlemas Procession of light. Introduction to the Liturgy Dear friends, forty days ago we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now we recall the day on which he was presented in the Temple, when he was offered to the Father and shown to his people. As a sign of his coming among us, his mother was purified, as we now come to him for cleansing. In their old age Simeon and Anna recognized him as their Lord, as we today sing of his glory. In this Eucharist, we celebrate both the joy of his coming and his searching judgement, looking back to the day of his birth and forward to the coming days of his passion. 7 hereforddiocese Intersession Let us pray to the Father through Christ our light and life. Father, your Christ is acclaimed as the glory of Israel: look in mercy on your Church, sharing his light [Father,] your Christ in the Temple brings judgement on the world: look in mercy on the nations who long for his justice [Father,] your Christ, who was rich, for our sake became poor: look in mercy on all who are in need and those who suffer with him [Father,] your Christ is the one in whom faithful servants find their peace: look in mercy on the whole Church, which glories in your salvation [Father,] your Christ is the one destined for rejection: look in mercy on us as we turn towards his passion. Almighty Father, you kept faith with Simeon and Anna, and showed them the infant King. Give us grace to trust your promises, and patience to wait for their fulfilment; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 12

9 Gospel Acclamation Short Scripture Passages Alleluia, alleluia. This child is the light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. Alleluia. cf Luke 2.32 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Isaiah 60.1 Isaiah 49.6 Alleluia, alleluia. Our eyes have seen your salvation, a light to enlighten the nations and the glory of your people Israel. Alleluia. cf Luke 2.30,32 The Lord will be your everlasting light and your God will be your glory. We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. Isaiah John 1.14 Today the Lord is presented in the Temple in substance of our mortal nature. All Alleluia. Today the Blessed Virgin comes to be purified in accordance with the law. All Alleluia. Today old Simeon proclaims Christ as the light of the nations and the glory of Israel. All Alleluia. Praise to Christ, the light of the world. 11 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and set them free. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Luke 1.68 Colossians 4:2 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 8 Colossians 1:9-10

10 Confession Collects Hear the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ: I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me shall never walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. Let us therefore bring our sins into his light and confess them in penitence and faith. cf John 8.12 All Father eternal, giver of light and grace, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour, in what we have thought, in what we have said and done, through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We have wounded your love, and marred your image in us. We are sorry and ashamed, and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past; and lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light. Amen. Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. (or) Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel: make your home among us, and present us pure and holy to your heavenly Father, your God, and our God hereforddiocese