|
St James, Lower Darwen, Member of the Darwen Churches’ Partnership
An Order for Evening Worship in Winter
Hymn & Prayer Suggestions
A. Hymn Suggestions (from Hymns Old & New unless otherwise stated):
1. Hymn of Praise:
e.g. DEC: Immortal, invisible, God only wise (314)
OR O come, O come, Emmanuel (480)
OR Thou whose almighty word (684)
JAN: Brightest and best are the suns of the morning (86) – (Tune 1: Epiphany)
OR O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (552)
OR It came upon the midnight clear (330)
OR See amid the winter’s snow (588) – (Tune 1: Humility/Oxford)
FEB: Praise to the holiest in the height (572)
OR Bright the vision that delighted (86)
OR Blest creator of the light (79)
2. Hymn of the Magnificat:
e.g. DEC: Tell out my soul (631)
JAN: Sing we a song of high revolt (604) – (Magnificat Now – Alt Tune: Truro)
FEB: My soul magnifies the Lord (Magnificat from Faith, Folk & Nativity – plainsong setting)
OR the Magnificat from Common Worship at this point in the service
3. Focus on the Incarnation:
e.g. DEC: Like a candle flame (399)
OR The angel Gabriel from heaven came (634)
OR Born in the night, Mary’s child (80)
JAN: O little town of Bethlehem (508)
OR The first Nowell (641)
OR Let all mortal flesh keep silence (381)
FEB: Infant holy, infant lowly (321)
OR Who would think that what was needed? (750)
OR When God almighty came to be one of us (Song & Dance in Faith, Folk and Festivity – Tune: Northumbrian Air)
OR Christ is the world’s light (99)
4. Focus on Expectation and Mission:
e.g. DEC: Shine Jesus, shine (419)
OR Hail to the Lord’s anointed (259)
OR Come thou long expected Jesus (128)
JAN: Good King Wencelas looked out (242)
OR Angels from the realms of glory (36)
OR The Holly and the Ivy (645)
OR: Jesus Christ is waiting (349)
FEB: Christ whose glory fills the skies (105)
OR Brother, sister, let me serve you (88)
OR To God be the glory (695)
OR Lord Jesus Christ (411)
B. Alternative Intercession Response:
Intercessor: For it is better to light a candle
All: than to complain about the darkness.
C. A Collect or Prayer Suggestions for each month:
For December:
A collect for the Advent journey:
Living Jesus,
Whose presence on our daily road
We fail to see in the grief that surrounds us,
Warm our hearts with fresh confidence in your word
That in following you
We find the light of life on our path,
And the reassurance of your presence
To bring us out of the fears and dangers of the night
Into the bright hour of dawn and the promise of glorious day.
Amen.
(Isaiah 35 – The Road to Holiness)
TDG, 17.xii.06
OR
An Advent Prayer:
(Inspired by the Word of God in Zechariah 14:9 – on that day the Lord will be one and his name one - and by a bright frosty morning on the day before Advent)
God of all grace and peace and love,
As the sun shining bright over a deep frost
Warming and thawing the frozen beauty of the earth,
On that day when your name is one,
You shall unite all your peoples -
Not through war or conquest or subjection,
But through reconciliation,
Love of other and mutual respect
Bringing peace to the worlds you have created,
Redeemed, sanctified and blessed for evermore. Amen.
TDG, 29.xii.08
For January:
A Christmas Prayer:
God of Christmas and new birth,
Bringer of light and truth into darkness,
Bearer of hope for all seasons,
Desirer of joy to overcome pain,
And promise of peace for all the earth,
Enter our lives with your presence,
Fill our hearts with the love that overcomes,
Inspire us to make the journey of faith,
So that we too might find you
In the midst of our human need
And this world’s frailty,
The Word made flesh, God Incarnate,
Saving and reconciling God among us,
In whose name Immanuel we pray. Amen.
TDG, 28.xii.08
OR:
An Epiphany Prayer:
God of heaven and earth,
Of galaxies and universes,
Showing us the way,
Calling us to follow,
Bring us into your presence
So that turning away from the excesses of this life
And fixing our eyes upon those things of everlasting worth
We may know you near us
And rejoice in your eternal faithfulness
To bring us to reconciliation
In this world and the next. Amen.
TDG, 6.i.09
OR
For Christian Unity:
Covenant God,
Whose mission is to reconcile
And whose gift is peace,
Teach us, we pray, to prefer
Creation to destruction
Redemption to condemnation
Freedom to retaliation,
That in turning away from sinful division,
We may follow the path to new life
And renewed community,
As we seek to fulfil your will and desire
To draw all things into unity with you,
Our Maker, Saviour and Comforter,
Now and forever. Amen.
TDG, Nov. 03 (adapted)
OR
From the 2010 Prayer for Christian Unity material – You are Witnesses based on Luke 24:48
Grant us, O Living and Redeeming Lord,
the eyes to see into and beyond our traditions.
Give us the gift of discernment
so we can pass to each other those things
which build up your Body, which is your Church.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
OR
A Prayer for Churches Together in Lancashire and the Darwen Churches’ Partnership:
Generous and gracious God,
thank you for the many and varied gifts and insights
with which you have blessed your Church.
Strengthen the bonds of love and friendship
between all the partner churches,
that we may become one as you are one;
and that through our love and unity,
the world may see you as you are.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
one God in perfect community. Amen.
(From the Methodist District Prayer Handbook 2009-2010 – adapted)
For February:
A Prayer for All Seasons:
God of the seasons and ruler of the cosmos
As the earth’s autumnal winds
Scatter fresh seed onto damp wintry ground,
May the wind of your Spirit so blow over us
That we too may rise to new life
As hidden grain springing towards the light.
For you are the source of all life
And because of your light we see the light, (Psalm 36:9)
Bright as on a summer’s day,
Revealed in and through the love
Of our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
In whose name we pray. Amen.
TDG, 3.x.09
OR
Eternal God,
You are the light of the minds that know you,
The joy of the hearts that love you
And the strength of the wills that serve you;
Grant us so to know you,
That we may truly love you
And so to love you,
That we may fully serve you,
Whom to serve is perfect freedom
In Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(St Augustine)
Footnote
The above suggestions are not prescriptive, but they may assist busy people in their preparation. Other possibilities may come to mind as alternatives – for example prayers for homelessness and poverty action Sunday.
|
