Litany of Commitment Based on John 1

Come and see!
The light of God has come into our world
to proclaim God’s justice and love;
It has overcome the darkness and brought new life.

Come and follow!
Christ our companion has redeemed our world
He draws us into a loving family
From every tribe and family and culture.

Go and tell!
The Spirit has equipped us for service
To love our neighbours as we do ourselves
To bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth.

Come and see, come and follow, go and tell!
In God’s Love the nations of the earth will put their hope.


-- adapted from a prayer by Christine Sine

Blessing: The Gift of Stillness

May you grow still enough to hear
    the small noises earth makes in preparing for the long sleep of winter,
        so that you yourself may grow calm and grounded deep within.

May you grow still enough to hear
    the trickling of water seeping into the ground,
        so that your soul may be softened and healed,
            guided in its flow.

May you grow still enough to hear
    the splintering of starlight in the winter sky
        and the roar at earth's fiery core.

May you grow still enough to hear
    the stir of a single snowflake in the air
        so that your inner silence may turn into hushed expectation.

Peace..... the angel announced.
But peace is as much task as gift.

Only if we become calm as earth,
    fluid as water,
        and blazing as fire
will we be able to rise to the task of peacemaking,
and the air will stir with the rush of wings of angels arriving to help us.

This is why I wish you that great inner stillness
which alone allows us to speak, even today,
    without irony of "peace on earth"
    and, without despair, to work for it.

--Br. David Steindelrast, OSB, from the Process and Faith website

Christmas Affirmation

Let the love that shaped earth and heaven
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that created humanity
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that overcomes suffering and hatred
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that causes us to rejoice with loved ones
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that forgives and renews
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that brings reconciliation after separation
dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that brings the blessing of peace
dwell within us this Christmas.

And may we share that peace
with all people near and far.

Amen.

from Prayers for Christmas, posted on the Christian Aid website

Advent 1 Benediction adapted from 1 Thessalonians 3

May our God and Father Godself
and our Lord Jesus Christ direct you on your way;
And may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all,
just as God abounds in love for you.
And may God so strengthen your hearts in holiness
that you may be blameless before our God
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

And the Blessing of God Almighty,
Father Son, and Holy Spirit,
abide with you and remain with you always.

Amen.

-- from 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Advent Benediction (for Advent 1 C)

Go now and let the Lord steer you in the way of truth
Be on your guard so that you will not be caught up
in the trivialities and anxieties of the world.
Be alert at all times and pray for strength
to escape the traps that would keep you from God.

And may God make you increase in love for one another;
May Christ Jesus teach you how to live in God’s ways;
and may the Holy Spirit strengthen your hearts in holiness,
as you ready yourselves for the coming of the Lord.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
...In the name of Christ. Amen.

--Nathan Nettleton, from www.laughingbird.net, inspired by the Psalm,epistle, and gospel for the First Sunday in Advent, Year C.

Blessing for the days ahead

Go with confidence into the days ahead,
trusting in God's unfailing love and faithfulness.
God will not abandon you, for you are the
work of His hands-- his own creation-- and
His love endures forever.
So go in joy to love and serve the Lord!

-- the Northumbria Coomunity, in Celtic Daily Prayer, Book Two: Farther Up and Farther In

Photo: The Rose Window at All Saints' Chapel, Sewanee.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

The world is alive with your goodness, O God,
it grows green from the ground
and ripens into the roundness of fruit.
Its taste and its touch
enliven my body amd stir my soul.
Generously given
profusely displayed
your grsaces of goodness pour forth from the earth.
As I have received
sp free me to give.
As I have been granted
so may I give.

-- J Philip Newell, "Tuesday Morning Prayer", from Celtic Benediction: Morning and Night Prayer

Image: Rocky Valley labyrinth carving, Cornwall.

The blessing of light

May the blessing of light be upon you,
light without and light within...
And in all your comings and goings,
may you ever have a kindly greeting
with any you meet along the road.

-- from Old Gaelic, found in Celtic Daily Prayer Book 2, from the Nortumbria Community, p. 1091

Benediction: Living for God

For your goodness and generosity
in giving us all we need,
help us to praise you O God.

In every circumstance of life,
in good times and bad,
help us to trust you, O God.

In love and faithfulness,
with all that we have and all that we are,
help us to serve you, O God.

As we speak or write or listen
to those nearby or far away,
help us to share your love, O God.

In our plans and work
for ourselves and for others,
help us to glorify you, O God.

In every thought and word and deed,
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
this week, may we live for you, O God.

-- modified from Sunday Services, located at the Anglican Diocese of Sydney's Better Gatherings site

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

+In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

-- The Northumbria Community, from Celtic Daily Prayer Book One: The Journey Begins, p. 18

Benediction

The blessing of the Lord rest and remain on all his people,
in every land and of every tongue.
The Lord meet in mercy all who seek him.
The Lord comfort all who suffer and mourn.
The Lord hasten his coming,
and give us and all his people peace by all means.
Amen.

-- Handley Carr Glyn Moule, found at https://acollectionofprayers.wordpress.com/2016/09/10/a-blessing-5/

The Splendor of Eternal Light

May the Lord Jesus Christ,
who is the splendor of eternal Light,
remove from your hearts the darkness of night.
Amen.

May he drive far from you
the snares of the crafty enemy,
and always give you
his angel of light to guard you.
Amen.

That you may rise to your morning praises,
kept safe in him,
in whom is all the fullness of your salvation.
Amen.

--from the Mozarabic Psalter, 8th century, found at

Doxology

To the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us,
with the Father who made and created us,
and the + Son who redeemed us,
be given all honor and glory,
now and forever.

--Thomas Cranmer, 1489-1556
SaveSave

Sarum Blessing

May the Lord direct our hearts,
this day and for ever,
in the love of God
and in the patient waiting for Christ.
The Lord bless us
and preserve us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life;
through Jesus + Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Modified from the Sarum Rite of the 11th century; located at https://acollectionofprayers.wordpress.com/tag/blessings-and-benedictions/page/3/

Benediction for a holy life

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 people.

Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father,
the Son,
and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you for ever.

Amen.

-- from Prayers for All Occasions

Benediction adapted from St. Patrick

May the strength of God pilot us.
May the power of God preserve us.
May the wisdom of God instruct us.
May the hand of God protect us.
May the way of God direct us.
May the shield of God defend us.

Amen.

--adapted from St. Patrick, from Prayers for All Occasions

Benediction- Fruits of the Spirit (Pentecost)

May the true God of all things, who sent forth the Holy Spirit upon the apostles in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, send the Spirit now upon you, to guard you and impart to you her bounty, that the fruits of the Spirit--

love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
generosity,
faithfulness,
gentleness,
and self-control--

may be yours, this day and forever.

Amen.

-- adapted from Cyril of Jerusalem, from Prayers for All Occasions

Photo of a window from St. Martin's Church, Ellisville

A Celtic Evening Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.


found at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2013/10/25/a-celtic-evening-blessing/#6HhlDUfgLK82igvJ.99

Benediction- God go

God go before you to lead you,
God go behind you to protect you,
God go beneath you to support you,
God go beside you to befriend you.

Do not be afraid.
May the blessing of God:
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be upon you. 

Amen.

--John Claypool, from https://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/neal-plantinga-on-his-god-go-before-you-blessing/

Benediction- Blessed every step

May you be blessed every step of your path
by the great God of light.
May the sun shine upon you;
may the moon move the tide of your emotions
with every grace and magic;
may your hearts sing;
may your hearth be warm;
and may your every blessed day be filled with joy.

Amen.