“English” language resources
Benediction for Lent
May you be brought closer to your God this Lent
May your words, filled with love
Be as water to the parched tongue of the one in the desert.
May your actions, filled with good intent
Be as a pillow to one with only rocks to lay their head on.
May your thoughts of kindness,
Honesty, inspired by the Druid’s blessing
May God bless us with honesty
And in our honesty with ourselves, wisdom.
And in wisdom, knowledge.
And in knowledge of ourselves, humility.
And in humility, acceptance.
And in acceptance of our limitations, trust in God.
And in our trust in God, courage to live as God wishes us to – happily, in love and
Blood of Christ: For Good Friday
“Our illuminator, Jesus, came down…
And he bore a crown of thorns. And
he put on a purple garment. And he
was crucified on a tree…”
– ‘The Letter of Peter to Philip’, 2nd/3rd century.
Blood of Christ,
shed for everyone.
Blood of Christ,
blood like ours, blood like everyone’s.
Blood of Christ,
blood of the
Chalice lighting for an animal service
We light this chalice thinking of the Spark of Life which infuses all creation.
From the smallest bacterium to the greatest whale, through the myriad shapes and sizes,
We recognise the Life-Force sustaining all,
And we give thanks that we are able to share it.
Chalice lighting
When you celebrate, celebrate well, but remember
that nearby someone is grieving; and when you grieve,
grieve well, but remember that nearby someone is celebrating.
Therefore, as we gather here in this special place, we mark both grief and celebration. For absent friends, and for those whose company we enjoy right now, we light this chalice.
The first paragraph was a
Springtime
As we gather in this springtime of marbles and piracies,
hop-scotch and jump-rope, we look forward to the coming
summer – the lengthening of the days, and the warmth of promise.
But we remember also the winter just gone, and the seeming
barrenness of the sleeping earth, and we think too of the seasons
and faces
Friends, draw close
Friends, draw close,
And let no one be a stranger
under the roof of this place
where we gather in fellowship,
in friendship,
in joy and in sorrow,
and with love.
Sharing time and sharing thoughts
sharing quietude
(and sharing too in the happy noise of Hymn number …)
Adapted from words of Keith Gilley
May the love of God
May the love of God surround us,
May the peace of God assure us,
And may the blessing of God rest with us
Until we gather here again.