All Saints' Prayer

Heaven is here, and earth,
and the space is thin between them.
Distance may divide,
but Christ's promise unites those bounded by time,
those blessed by eternity.
Let heaven be glad, let the whole earth cry glory.
Heaven is here, and earth,
and we are encompassed all around by the communion of saints.

For all the saints who live beyond us,
who challenge us to change the world with them --
we give thanks.
Christ be with them, Christ within them,
Christ behind them, Christ before them.
Especially we give thanks for
those members of our Community far away:
encircle, embrace, and encompass those we name now.


For all the saints who live beside us,
whose weaknesses and strengths
are woven with our own --
we give thanks.
Christ beneath them, Christ above them,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger.
Encircle, embrace, ecompass all members of our Community,
and all the members of staff 
who offer hospitality and share the common life
with all who come.


For all the saints who went before us,
who have spoken to our hearts
and touched us with your fire --
we give thanks.
For the great company,
for Martin and Columba and Ninian
and Bridget and Hilda,
and for all the unnamed ones who are not forgotten
but held for all time in the memory of God,
and for our own most dearly beloved:
in the mystery of your love,
we are one with them now --
we give thanks....

(name the departed we are remembering)


-- adapted from the Iona Community, from In The Gift Of This New Day: Praying With the Iona Community, edited by Neil Paynter, 2015