A new Advent Hymn/Carol to the tune of "Once in Royal"

 I have been pondering a common problem at this time of year; the fact that people sometimes see publicity for an "Advent Carol" service, and think that they might actually sing some carols, which is often not the case for specifically Advent services (except maybe "O Come Emmanuel"). This is why I often call them "Advent processions" or "A service of Darkness to Light". (of course you actually have to have a procession, or go from darkness to light to call it that.) 

In any case, a number of the traditional Advent hymns are not that well-known. So  my solution to this problem is to write a hymn to a well-known carol tune. I went for "Once in Royal" because it has a mournfulness about it, that seems to suit the themes of Advent. 

So anyway here we are. Feel free to use in services, streaming, projection, printing etc. and if you want to "tweak" it for your circumstances go ahead!

On our world of doubts and darkness,

greed and vio-lence, war and pain

prophets cry out in their sorrow,

“Come towards the light again.

Cease your greed and share your bread. 

Pave the highway of our God”.

 

Root of Jesse, souls are restless.

Graft our lives upon your law.

Day-Star, light salvation’s pathway;

in our hearts the ice can thaw:

He will melt our hearts of stone;

transformed minds reflect his own. 

 

Key of David, sin has bound us:

Our addictions weigh us down

with the chains of guilty mem-ories;

shedding tears, enough to drown.

Come O King, break down the bars

and release us, True Messiah! 

 

Come Redeemer of our cosmos, 

come Redeemer of our world.

Lord of Love, restore the broken,

come, O Wisdom, God’s true Word.

In the East your light will dawn;

God-With-Us will soon be born. 

 

SMW 2024

Mothering Sunday Blessing of Flowers

Yesterday I was looking around for a suitable blessing for our flowers, and I couldn't find one I like. So I wrote one of my own. Feel free to use, adapt, rewrite, etc. 

May God, who has written our names on the palm of each hand, 

and longs to gather us to safety as a mother hen shelters her chicks; 

bless these flowers, that they might be signs of our love and appreciation

of all those who love with a mother’s strong and caring love. 

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

30 Anniversary Service (Commemorating 30 years since women have been ordained as priests in the Church of England)

Here in Truro we had a rather lovely celebration service last Thursday, remembering 30 years of women priests in the Church of England. We also had a fabulous afternoon tea beforehand with the most wonderful cakes. You can see the service online here and listing to the wonderful music of our cathedral choir, with our girl choristers on the top line, and some beautiful pieces written by women composers. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Axh8YP1q4c&t=3799s

But there were two things that the planning group were keen to mark. 

The first thing we wanted to mark was the fact that many women have suffered greatly. It hasn't always been easy. Women have been encouraged to take on unpaid roles, have been criticised for their voices, their dress-sense, and even hounded out of jobs through bullying and bad-behaviour. 

And so I wrote a liturgy of lament, accompanied by Kyrie's from the choir,  but also including an element of release and renewal. Feel free to use this or adapt it as necessary. 

The Liturgy of Lament

Please sit or kneel

We bring before God all the times when ministering has been painful, all those broken and bruised, and cry for God’s mercy, forgiveness, and healing:

Voice 1: We cry out to God for those women whose voices have been silenced; those who have been publicly rejected or secretly undermined; those who have been encouraged to retire or to take unpaid roles.

Kyrie Eleison,

Lord have mercy.

Voice 2: We cry out to God for those women who have been bullied or badly-advised, those whose dual vocation as mother and priest has not been affirmed, those who have suffered from harassment or attacks.

Christe Eleison,

Christ have mercy.

Voice 3: We cry out to God for those women who worship in places or denominations where they still cannot be ordained; and we pray for all in those churches working for those vocations to be fulfilled.

Kyrie Eleison,

Lord have mercy.

The choir responds:

Kyrie Eleison, (Lord have mercy) Christe Eleison, (Christ have mercy) Kyrie Eleison. (Lord have mercy)

The bishop declares:

Through the cross of Christ and through faith in his mercy
may God set you free. Know that you are liberated by forgiveness. Be released to walk into the future freed from everything that restricts you.

Freed from everything that holds you back.

The congregation are sprinkled with holy water by the bishop and the archdeacon. 

Be with us, Holy Spirit;

nothing can separate us from your love.

 Be with us as of old,

fill us with your power,

direct all our thoughts to your goodness. 

Be present, Holy Spirit;

bring faith and healing and peace.

The second  thing we wanted to do was celebrate *all* the ministries that women have been involved in, including those we don't normally mention. People often talk about preachers, missionaries and youth workers. But what about accountants and archeologists who play an important part of maintaining and enabling our buildings to flourish? So I wrote a litany that did this. Again, please feel free to use it in your own situation and adapt as necessary. 

The Prayers

A litany of thanksgiving

Almighty God, Creator of the Universe and Author of Creation, you have blessed and enriched our lives with the ministry of women and men. For all this and for thirty years of women’s priestly ministry in England, we give our heartfelt thanks and praise.

We give you thanks, O God.

For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, who sent us all into the nations
to spread his words of love:
We give you thanks, O God.
For the wonder and the joy of an education for us all, and for all the achievements and blessings of the last thirty years.

We give you thanks, O God.

For teachers and for mothers, for missionaries and church-wardens:

We give you thanks, O God.

For readers and lay ministers, for children’s and youth workers:

We give you thanks, O God.

For lecturers and caterers, for academics and for scholars:

We give you thanks, O God.

For administrators and for counsellors, for cleaners and for preachers:

We give you thanks, O God.

For artists and musicians, for bellringers and embroiderers

We give you thanks, O God.

For archeologists and architects, for executives and accountants

We give you thanks, O God.

For chaplains and for advocates, for technicians and for publicists

We give you thanks, O God.

For our past and for our future, for the ways that we are present for the needy. For our calling as those who love and serve others:
We ask your help O God.
For the sick and those in trouble, for the injured and the dying, for the hungry and the suffering:

We ask your help O God.

For the stressed and those in poverty, for those struggling with addiction, for those who work long hours and their families and friends:
We ask your help O God.
For those searching for their role or on the journey of vocation,

And those searching for a new job or role:

We ask your help O God.

For those who suffer in silence. For the lonely and forgotten. For the grieving and the traumatised. For those known to you alone:
We ask your help O God.
May Jesus Christ our great High Priest hear our prayers and lead us all into his Kingdom where our joy will know no end. Amen.

Silence is kept:

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name;

through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Fling Wide the Gates

The new Ancient and Modern has a delightful hymn "Fling wide the gates" which is sung to the rousing tune of "Lift high the Cross". It is rather good for a Candlemass procession as the chorus is repeated, which makes life easier when trying to walk around with a candle. Anyway the hymn didn't have enough verses for a building as large as ours, so I wrote a few more, and then I realised we were still 2 verses short so wrote 2 more again! Feel free to use them if they are useful. The chorus and verses from psalm 24 (5-8 in this version) are by the late Michael Perry. You will need the appropriate licenses or permissions to use Michael's work though. 

Chorus: Fling wide the gates, unbar the ancient doors; 

               salute your king in his triumphant cause! 

1.Come see the Virgin bearing Christ the King,

  The Lord in his temple, light and life to bring. Chorus

2. Anna and Sim-eon, prophecy and praise,

    Rejoice in the saviour, God within their gaze. Chorus

3. This child will be a sign for all the world,

    The thoughts and the hearts of all will be revealed. Chorus

4. Growing in strength, in wisdom and in grace, 

    The pilgrims and prophets see their Maker’s face.  Chorus

5. Now all the world belongs to Christ our Lord:

    let all creation greet the living Word! Chorus

6. Who has the right to worship him today?

    All those who gladly serve him and obey. Chorus 

7. He comes to save all those who trust his name,

    and will declare them free from guilt and shame. Chorus 

8. Who is the victor glorious from the fight?

    He is our king, our life, our Lord, our light! Chorus 

9. Light for all nations, glory is revealed, 

    A sign for all people, ancient wounds are healed.  Chorus

Three Hours at the Cross

Here is a liturgy that I wrote for the three hours at the cross in Truro Cathedral on Good Friday 2023. Please feel free to use in your own church next year, and amend as you wish.

Three Hours at the cross

The First Half hour: Noon

The clergy enter informally, please remain seated.
Welcomes and introductions are given.
The congregation are invited to join in the responses in bold type

O sacred head! sore wounded,
with grief and shame bowed down, now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thy only crown!
How pale art thou with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish, which once was bright as morn!

What thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners' gain:
mine, mine was the transgression, but thine the deadly pain:

Lo! here I fall, my Saviour; 'tis I deserve thy place; look on me with thy favour vouchsafe to me thy grace.

What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest friend, for this, thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?

O make me thine for ever; and should I fainting be; Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee!

Words: Salve caput cruentatum
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) and Henry Williams Baker (1821-77).

Tune: Passion Chorale by Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1712)

NEH 90

Reader:

It was now about noon,
and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,
while the sun’s light failed;

Leader:

We gather in this place,
and we meet in the name of God, who is Father, Son, and Spirit,

And as the sounds of the city surround us, we are taken to a dusty far-off hill,
to the shadows of a noonday
where Jesus Christ is dying;

to stand beneath a tree, and mourn.

To pray and to ponder,
to sing laments and walk our pilgrim paths,
to weep within the silence and to cry out before our God:

Holy God,
Holy and Strong,
Holy and immortal one, Have mercy upon us.

Psalm 22:1-8  (accompanied by Byzantine harp)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me,

so far from my cries of anguish?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises
In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.

To you they cried out and were saved;

in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him.

Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

Reflection

Bishop Hugh

Free prayer

Whilst the musicians play, you are invited to visit the prayer stations around the cathedral nave, should you wish to do so

Gong and Silence

A gong is sounded. Please return to your seats for a period of silent reflection which will end when another gong is sounded.

Closing Prayer

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, our Saviour, let us come to you. Our hearts are cold;
Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful;

cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak;
strengthen them with our joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty;

fill them with your divine presence.
Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours;
possess them always and only for yourself. (St Augustine)

Organ Prelude

A short organ piece will mark the changeover period between the half hour slots.

The Second Half hour: 12.30pm 

The royal banners forward go,

the cross shines forth in mystic glow, where he in flesh, our flesh who made, our sentence bore, our ransom paid.

Where deep for us the spear was dyed, life’s torrent rushing from his side,

to wash us in that precious flood,
where mingled water flowed, and blood.

Fulfilled is all that David told

in true prophetic song of old,
the universal Lord is he,

who reigns and triumphs from the tree.

O tree of beauty, tree of light,
O tree with royal purple dight,
elect on whose triumphal breast
 those holy limbs should find their rest!

To thee, eternal Three in One,


let homage meet by all be done:

whom by the Cross thou dost restore,

preserve and govern evermore. Amen.

Words: Percy Dearmer (1867 – 1936) Tune: O Waly Waly: A&M 717

Reader:

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Leader:

Take us to the foot of the cross,
and let us see, as if for the first time;
the nails, the pain, the cursing of the crowd; without the old familiarity,
or the comfort of our distance.
Help us see, and help us know
the extent of your devotion,
in the midst of this monstrosity:
The Son of God condemned to die.

Holy God,
Holy and Strong,
Holy and immortal one, Have mercy upon us.

Scripture Readings

Luke 2:25-27,33-35

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God... Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

John 19:25-27

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Reflection

Bishop Hugh

Free Prayer

Whilst the music plays you are invited to visit the prayer stations, should you wish to do so

Gong and Silence

A gong is sounded. Please return to your seats for a period of silent reflection which will end when another gong is sounded.

Closing Prayer

Let us pray:

Crucified Saviour, naked God,
You hang disgraced and powerless. Grieving, we dare to hope,
as we wait at the cross
with your mother and your friend. Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.Amen. (New Zealand Prayer Book)

Organ Prelude

A short organ piece will mark the changeover period between the half hour slots.

The Third Half hour: 1.00pm Hymn

Be still, my soul, my resting place is Jesus,
in midst of storms he walks, to me he comes. His word is peace, peace in my troubled places, his love enfolds, my restless heart he calms.

To you I turn, in weakness please uphold me,
to you abandoned, hold me on your breast;
lead me to strength through trusting, peaceful quietness, for in your goodness, Jesus, I find rest.

To you I cry, I know that you will save me, with tenderness reach out to where I fell;
and, once again, reveal to me love's meaning, all shall be well, ah yes, all shall be well.

Words: Rosalind Brown (b. 1953). Tune: Finlandia, Sibelius (1865-1957) HOAN 43

Reader:

Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews.

Leader:

Help me be still;
in the rushing and the bustle and the noise of the city; help me be still enough to hear
the sounds of angels weeping,
the sounds of robbers taunting,
the sounds of women mourning
before the Son of God

Holy God,
Holy and Strong,
Holy and immortal one, Have mercy upon us.

Psalm 22: 11-18

Accompanied by Byzantine harp

Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.
Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet.
All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.

Reflection

Bishop Hugh

Free Prayer

Whilst the music plays you are invited to visit the prayer stations, should you wish to do so

Gong and Silence

A gong is sounded. Please return to your seats for a period of silent reflection which will end when another gong is sounded.

Closing Prayer

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus Christ,

crucified for us,
we kneel at the foot of your cross to watch with you. Help us to see the cost of our forgiveness
so that we may be made new through your love;
for the glory of your holy name.
Amen. (A New Zealand Prayer Book)

Organ Prelude

A short organ piece will mark the changeover period between the half hour slots.

The Fourth Half hour: 1.30pm Hymn

Here is love vast as the ocean Loving kindness as the flood
When the Prince of Life our ransom Shed for us His precious blood. Who His love will not remember Who can cease to sing His praise. He will never be forgotten Throughout Heaven’s eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion Fountains opened deep and wide Through the floodgates
of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide. Grace and love, like mighty rivers Flowed incessant from above. Heaven’s peace and perfect justice

Kissed a guilty world in love.

Words: William Rees (1902-1883)

Tune: Dim Ond Iesu D.Evans (1843-1913) A&M 143

Reader:

Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them;
for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing.

Leader:

And as our saviour hung upon the cross he dared to call God his father
Which gives us the courage to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture Readings

1 John 4:7-11,14, 1 John 5:6

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world....

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify:A the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree.

Reflection

Bishop Hugh

Free Prayer

Whilst the music plays you are invited to visit the prayer stations, should you wish to do so

Gong and Silence

A gong is sounded. Please return to your seats for a period of silent reflection which will end when another gong is sounded.

Closing Prayer

Let us pray:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds, hide me. Separated from you let me never be. From the malignant enemy, defend me. At the hour of death, call me.

Organ Prelude

A short organ piece will mark the changeover period between the half hour slots.

The Fifth Half hour: 2.00pm

Glory be to Jesus,
who, in bitter pains,
poured for me the life-blood from his sacred veins.

Grace and life eternal in that blood I find; blest be his compassion infinitely kind.

Blest through endless ages be the precious stream, which from endless torments did the world redeem.

Abel's blood for vengeance pleaded to the skies;
but the blood of Jesus
for our pardon cries.

Oft as it is sprinkled on our guilty hearts, Satan in confusion terror-struck departs;

Raise your thankful voices; swell the mighty flood; louder still and louder

praise the precious blood.

Words: Edward Caswall tr (1814-1878)

Tune: Caswall F Filitz (1804-1876) NEH 83

Reader:

with a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Leader:

Tear down the barriers
between your life and mine,
the unimportant idols
that swallow energy and time and let me enter into
a vivid comprehension
of your incalculable love expressed in pain and crucifixion.

Holy God,
Holy and Strong,
Holy and immortal one, Have mercy upon us.

Scripture Readings

John 4:10,13,14

Jesus answered the Samaritan woman, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

John 19

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

15

Reflection

Bishop Hugh

Free Prayer

Whilst the music plays you are invited to visit the prayer stations, should you wish to do so

Gong and Silence

A gong is sounded. Please return to your seats for a period of silent reflection which will end when another gong is sounded.

Closing Prayer

Let us pray:

Thirsting on the cross,
your Son shared the reproach
of the oppressed
and carried the sins of all;
in him, O God, may the despairing find you, the afflicted gain life
and the whole creation
know its true king,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From Common Worship Daily Prayer)

Organ Prelude

A short organ piece will mark the changeover period between the half hour slots.

The Sixth Half hour: 2.30pm Hymn

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the cross of Christ my God; the very things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.

See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down: did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe, spreads o'er his body on the tree; then am I dead to all the globe, and all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were an offering far too small;

love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all.

Words Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Tune: Edward Miller (1735-1807) NEH 095

Reader:

When the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!

Leader:

Take us to that place,
where we can see the devastation, and comprehend a morsel
of the gravity and magnitude,
as the ever-living Son of God bowed his head and died.
Holy God,
Holy and Strong,
Holy and immortal one, Have mercy upon us.

Psalm 22: 11-18

Accompanied by Byzantine harp

But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.

Reflection

Bishop Hugh

Free Prayer

Whilst the music plays you are invited to visit the prayer stations, should you wish to do so

Gong and Silence

A gong is sounded. Please return to your seats for a period of silent reflection which will end when another gong is sounded.

Closing Prayers

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, Lord of life,
you became as nothing for us:
be with those who feel worthless
and as nothing in the world’s eyes. You were laid in a cold, dark tomb and hidden from sight:
be with all who suffer and die in secret, hidden from the eyes of the world.

O Christ,
The Master Carpenter,
who at the last through wood and nails, purchased our salvation,
wield well your tools
in the workshop of the world,
so that we, who come rough-hewn
to your bench,
may here be fashioned
to a truer beauty by your hand.
We ask this for your name and for your sake. Amen.

From the Iona Community, Scotland As found in “Uniting In Worship” (JBCE 1988)

The burial gospel is read and the cross is carried out of the cathedral. The lights are extinguished.

Please leave in silence.

Intercessions for Epiphany

I have been asked to write some intercessions for the Epiphany Eucharist this evening. Here they are if you are seeking a set of intercessions. Feel free to use or amend them as you wish. 

As the magi offered gold, the gift for a King, we ask for your guidance for the rulers of our earth: for Putin and Russian leaders as their Christmas arrives, that they would now seek peace, for Ukraine, mourning and weeping the loss of her children, for Afghanistan, for Bethlehem and all of the West Bank, for Syria, for Libya and places forgotten by the news, and for China and all places where Covid and Flu are bringing misery. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

As the magi offered incense before our great High Priest, we ask for your blessing on the our priests and on our people. And so we pray for Bishop N for N and the parishes of our diocese, and for all who minister to others, and bring the light of hope within our world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the magi offered myrrh, a prophets healing antiseptic, so we ask for your healing help for all in pain this day. And so we pray for all who are in hospital, all in long term care. For the nurses, the doctors, the porters and paramedics, the EMTs and OTs, the carers and those whose wounds lie deep inside. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the myrrh scent of embalming filled both the stable and the tomb, so we bring before you all who mourn today. Those whose wounds of loss are fresh and raw, those buried or cremated or remembered this week and those who have lost the joy of Christmas because their loves ones are not there. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the magi looked for signs of the truth in the heavens, so we ask for your guidance for all who search for meaning in life. The truth seekers, and truth tellers, the journalists and pilgrims, the lost and the lonely, the heartbroken and confused. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the Holy family fled the horror of Herod so we pray for all who run from violence. The refugees. beaten partners and children, the victims of slavery and those bullied in their workplace. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the magi knelt in homage so we pray for ourselves. That we too would catch a glimpse of the glory found in Christ, that we too would have holy dreams and be guided on our journeys, and that one day we would too would truly see the face of Christ. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Intercessions for the Feast of the Naming of Jesus (the Circumcision).

On Sunday morning I was asked to do the interecessions on Sunday morning as we celebrated the naming of Jesus  (the Circumcision). Here is a generalised version of the intercessions I wrote. Feel free to use them in worship and amend as you wish. You may notice from reading my Evensong litany that, once again, I was inspired by a number of titles of Christ, but used fewer titles in the morning and tried to find ones which fitted the situations which were most in need of our prayers. 

Jesus name above all names, 

we pray for all who struggle with their call and their identity,

and all who have been cruelly and unkindly named or labelled;
we ask that the cruelty of racist or unkind labels would end
and pray for all who have been scarred by the spiteful words of others.

May your Holy Spirit whisper gentle words of love and guidance
into the ears of the wounded,
and bring remorse and a change of heart
to those tempted to taunt others.

Lord in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
guide the rulers of the earth.
Instil compassion and love within their hearts
until the angels song of peace on earth and goodwill to all
becomes a concrete reality.
We particular bring before you those in power in N, N and N (current conflict situations)
and all suffering the wounds of war.
We also bring before you people and families in conflict,
and all who have struggled with stress and debt, hunger and cold 

throughout this Christmas and New Year season.

Lord in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Emmanuel, God with us,

we ask you to have compassion on all who feel alone today.
Surround them with the embrace of your love,
and call people to act as your hands, your eyes and your ears
to listen and bring your comfort
to the lonely and those in pain.  

Lord in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Rock of Ages and Cornerstone,
bring your strength and healing power
 to all whose foundations are crumbling this day,
particularly those in chronic pain
and all who need your healing-help.
We particularly ask for that help for N, N and N (sick list)

Morning star, Dayspring and Light Everlasting,

shine upon all who sit in darkness and the shadow of death today. 

Come alongside those who are dying
and those who sit and wait beside them
and bring glimpses of your coming Kingdom to all who mourn.
We particularly remember before you N and N (recent famous deaths)

and those for whom those deaths have triggered unresolved grief
and we ask you to welcome into your everlasting kingdom
those we have loved and lost including N and N (RIP list), 

And N and N whose anniversaries occur at around this time. 

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.