Prayers

Cardinal Newman’s Prayer

O Lord support us all the day long

Until the evening comes,

The shadows lengthen and the busy world is hushed,

The fever of life is over and our work is done.

Then Lord in your Mercy,

Give us a safe lodging,

A Holy rest and peace at the last.

Amen.

A Celtic Blessing

Deep Peace of the Running Wave to you.

Deep Peace of the Flowing Air to you.

Deep Peace of the Quiet Earth to you.

Deep Peace of the Shining Stars to you.

Deep Peace of the Son of Peace to you.

Amen.

“I Cry to You” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.

Help me to pray

And to concentrate my thoughts on you:

I cannot do this alone.

In me there is darkness,

But with you there is light;

I am lonely, but you do not leave me;

I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;

I am restless, but with you there is peace.

In me there is bitterness,

But with you there is patience;

I do not understand your ways,

But you know the way for me …

Restore me to liberty,

And enable me to live now

That I may answer before you and before me.

Lord, whatever this day may bring,

Your name be praised.

A Prayer by Thomas Merton

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me

Nor do I really know myself,

And the fact that I think I am 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 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 you will never leave me to face my struggles alone.

Commissioning

(Here is the commissioning Jeff usually gives at the conclusion of our Communion service at Christ Congregation).

Go forth into the world in peace,

Be of good courage,

Hold fast to that which is good,

Render to no one evil for evil.

Strengthen the fainthearted,

Support the weak,

Help the afflicted,

Honor all persons.

Love and serve the Lord,

Rejoicing always in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.