The Morning Is Yours

Almighty God, Creator:
the morning is yours, rising into fullness.
The summer is yours, dipping into autumn.
Eternity is yours, dipping into time.
The vibrant grasses, the scent of flowers,
the lichen on the rocks, the tang of seaweed.
All are yours.
Gladly we live in this garden of your creating.

But creation is not enough.
Always in the beauty, the foreshadowing of decay.
The lambs frolicking careless:
so soon to be led off to slaughter.
Nature red and scarred as well as lush and green.
In the garden also:
always the thorn. Creation is not enough.

Almighty God, Redeemer;
the sap of life in our bones and being is yours,
lifting us to ecstasy.
But always in the beauty:
the tang of sin, in our consciences.
The dry lichen of sins long dead, but seared upon our minds.
In the garden that is each of us,
always the thorn.

Yet all are yours as we yield them again to you.
Not only our lives that you have given are yours:
but also our sins that you have taken.
Even in our livid rebellions and putrid sins:
you have taken them all away
and nailed them to the Cross!
Our redemption is enough: and we are free.

Holy Spirit, Enlivener:
breathe on us, fill us with life anew;
In your new creation, already upon us,
breaking through, groaning and travailing,
but already breaking through,
breathe on us.

Till that day when night and autumn vanish
and lambs grown sheep are no more slaughtered:
and even the thorn shall fade
and the whole earth shall cry Glory
at the marriage feast of the Lamb.
In this new creation, already upon us,
fill us with life anew.


--George Macleod (1895-1991), Church of Scotland, founder of the Iona Community

Matins

1

Somewhere, out at the edges, the night
Is turning and the waves of darkness
Beging to brighten the shore of dawn.

The heavy dark falls back to earth
And the freed air goes wild with light,
The heart fills with fresh, bright breath
And thoughts stir to give birth to colour.

2
I arise today

In the name of Silence,
Womb of the Word,
In the name of Stillness,
Home of Belonging,
In the name of the Solitude
Of the Soul and the Earth.

I arise today

Blessed by all things,
Wings of breath,
Delight of eyes,
Wonder of whisper,
Intimacy of touch,
Eternity of soul,
Urgency of thought,
Miracle of health,
Embrace of God.

May I live this day

Compassionate of heart,
Clear in word,
Gracious in awareness,
Courageous in thought,
Generous in love.

- John O'Donohue (1956-2008) Irish poet, philosopher, author, environmental activitist, popularizer of Celtic Spirituality, and Roman Catholic priest (1979-2000).

Iona Invitation to Communion 5

This table does not belong to any denomination,

church or community.
It belongs to Jesus.
It was at table that he met people,
heard their stories and shared his.
It was at table that he deepened his friendship
with poor folk and prostitutes,
the business class and puzzled bystanders.
It was at table that he shared profound insights
into who God is and what God wants.
And it was at table, with bread and wine,
that he initiated the sacrament we now celebrate.
So come to this table.
Leave behind any baggage of arrogance or unworthiness.
Do not think, ‘This is not for me.’
Think rather of Jesus saying, ‘I am for you,’
and accept his invitation to be the friend
he cherishes and longs to feed.

--from the Iona Community

Iona Invitation to Communion 4

We are here because Jesus has called us –

strangers and friends,
locals and visitors,
believers and doubters,
the certain and the curious.
It is always a mixed company that Jesus gathers
and invites to his table where, in bread and wine,
he meets us
and through him we, who are different,
are joined to each other.
So come,
not because you understand,
but because you are understood.
Come,
not because of how you feel,
but because God has food for you.
Come, not because you deserve a place,
but because Jesus invites you,
just as you are.

- from the Iona Community

Iona Invitation to Communion 3

As Jesus broke bread,
we break this bread.
As Jesus shared wine
we share this cup.

-- Iona Community

Iona Invitation to Communion 2

Take this bread, share this wine.

In these Christ comes to us
with love from God.
The gifts of God for the people of God.

-- From the Iona Community

Iona Invitation to Communion

Come, not because you are strong 

but because you are weak.

Come, not because of any goodness of your own,

but because you need mercy and help.

Come, because you love the Lord a little 

and would like to love him more.

Come, because he loves you 

and gave himself for you.

--George McLeod, from the Iona Community

Invitation to Communion based on Matthew 11:28-29

Jesus said,‘Come to me, all who are weary
and whose load is heavy;
I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble-hearted;
and you will find rest for your souls.’
(Matthew 11:28-29)

-- from Common Order 1994, Church of Scotland (Presbyterian)

St. Patrick's Evensong (verse version)

Jesus, Son of God most high,

May your holy angels keep
Watch around us as we lie
In our shining beds asleep.

Time’s hid veil with truth to pierce
Let them teach our dreaming eyes,
High King of the Universe,
High Priest of the Mysteries.

May no demon of the air,
May no malice of our foes,
Evil dream or haunting care
Mar our willing, prompt repose!

May our vigils hallowed be
By the tasks we undertake!
May our sleep be fresh and free,
Without stop and without break.

-- translated into verse in A Celtic Psaltery, 1917.

St. Patrick's Evensong (prose)

May your holy angels, O Christ, Son of living God,
Guard our sleep, our rest, our shining bed.

Let them reveal true visions to us in our sleep,
O High Prince of the universe, O great King of the mysteries!

May no demons, no ill, no calamity or terrifying dreams
Disturb our rest, our willing, prompt repose.

May our watch be holy, our work, our task,
Our sleep, our rest without stop, without break.

-- translated as prose by Kuno Meyer in Selections from Ancient Irish Poetry, New York, 1911.

Invitation to Communion based on Luke 13:29

This is the Lord’s table.

The Lord Jesus invites us
to share this joyful feast.
From east and west, from north and south,
people will come and take their places
at the banquet in the kingdom of God.
(Luke 13:29)

-- from Common Order 1994, The Church of Scotland (Presbyterian)

Celtic Blessing at Night

I lay my head to rest,

and in doing so,
lay at your feet
the faces I have seen,
the voices I have heard,
the words I have spoken,
the hands I have shaken,
the service I have given,
the joys I have shared,
the sorrows revealed,
I lay them at your feet,
and in doing so
lay my head to rest.

--From the Faith and Worship blog

Prayer for the Journey

Alone with none but thee, my God

I journey on my way.
What need I fear, when thou art near
O king of night and day?
More safe am I within thy hand
Than if an host didst round me stand.

-- St Columba (c.521-597) of Iona, whose feast day is today.

Lenten Communion Invitation from Iona

Like a tent in the wilderness 

the table of God stands open and ready 

as a place of sanctuary and safety, 

of hospitality and healing. 

So come, 

all you who are tired and travel-stained, 

footsore and famished; 

come with your fellow travellers 

and find companionship and comfort; 

for here, Jesus – 

who knows what it is to wander, watch and wrestle 

in desert places – 

waits to meet us and welcome us in, 

offering us rest and restoration, 

solace and strength, 

for the journey still to come.

-- Pat Bennet, from Walking the Wilderness: A Communion Liturgy for the Season of Lent (pdf purchased from Wild Goose Publications)

Prayer of St. Columba

Let me bless Almighty God,
Whose power extends over sea and land,
Whose angels watch over all.
Let me study sacred books to calm my soul.
I pray for peace,
Kneeling at heaven’s gates.
Let me do my daily work,
Gathering seaweed, catching fish,
Giving food to the poor.
Let me say my daily prayers,
Sometimes chanting, sometime quiet,
Always thanking God.
Delightful it is to live
On a peaceful isle, in a quiet cell,
Serving the King of Kings.

--St. Columba of Iona (521-597), Irish monastic, abbot, and missionary to the Picts in Scotland

The beautiful image is from a card I received from the artist, Kreg Yingst, who makes amazing religious prints at his shop, wORKINGaRTS, found on Etsy.

Irish Blessing- Poor in Misfortune

May you be poor in misfortune,

Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
And quick to make friends.
But rich or poor, quick or slow,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

-- Traditional Irish blessing

Prayer of St. Cuthbert

Softly as the dew-fall of heaven, 

may the Holy Spirit come upon me 

to aid me and to raise me,
to bind my prayer firmly
at the throne of the King of life.

God’s will would I do, 

my own will bridle;
God’s due would I give, 

my own due yield;
God’s path would I travel.

my own path refuse.

All whom I love,
into Your safe keeping;
all that I am,
into Your tender care;
all that will be,
into Your perfect will.

Amen.

--St. Cuthbert of Landisfarne (450-523), whose day is today.

Celtic Prayer for a Newborn

Lucky stars above you,

Sunshine on your way;

Many friends to love you,

Joy in work and play;

Laughter to outweigh each care,

In your heart a song;

And gladness waiting everywhere

All your whole life long.

-- Unknown

St. Columba's Boat Song

Cut in the forests, swept down the two-horned Rhine,
Our keel, tight-caulked, now floats upon the sea. 
Heia, men! Let the echoes resound with our heia! 
The wild gusts swell, the slashing torrents fall, 
But manly strength has force to tame the storm.
Heia, men! Let the echoes resound with our heia! 
To earnest effort, clouds and tempest yield;
Zeal and unceasing labor conquer all.
Heia, men! Let the echoes resound with our heia!

Endure and save yourselves for better things; 
O you who have suffered worse, this too shall end.
Heia, men! Let the echoes resound with our heia! 
So when the loathsome foe assaults our hearts, 
Tempting and shaking the depths of our hearts with passion,
Let your souls, men, remembering Christ, cry heia! 
In resolution fixed, scorn Satan's wiles. 
By virtues armed, defend yourselves with valor.
Let your souls, men, remembering Christ, cry heia!

Firm faith and holy ardor conquer all.
The ancient fiend, defeated, breaks his arrows. 
 Let your souls, men, remembering Christ, cry heia! 
The Source of Good and Being, the Highest Power,
Offers the warrior and gives the victor prizes.
Let your souls, men, remembering Christ, cry heia!

--St. Columba (521-597), Irish monk, abbot, poet, philosopher, and diplomat; founder of Iona Abbey

For Solitude

May you recognize in your life the presence, 
power, and light of your soul.

May you realize that you are never alone,
that your soul in its brightness and belonging
connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe. 

May you have respect for your individuality and difference.

May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique,
that you have a special destiny here,
that behind the facade of your life
there is something beautiful and eternal happening.

May you learn to see your self
with the same delight, pride,
and expectation
with which God sees you in every moment. 

--John O'Donohue (1956-2008), Irish poet, theologian, and philosopher, from To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings.