“Morning Liturgy B” From the Iona Community

Wild Goose Working Group, A Wee Worship Book: Fourth Incarnation

(Chicago: GIA Publications, 1999,2006), pp. 19-24
Opening Affirmation
Among the poor;
among the proud,
among the persecuted,
among the privileged,
Christ is coming to make all things new.
In the private house,
in the public place,
in the wedding feast,
in the judgement hall,
Christ is coming to make all things new.
With a gentle touch,
with an angry word,
with a clear conscience,
with burning love,
Christ is coming to make all things new.
That the Kingdom might come,
that the world might believe,
that the powerful might stumble,
that the Christ might be seen,
Christ is coming to make all things new.
Within us, without us,
behind us, before us,
in this place, in every place,
for this time, for all time,
Christ is coming to make all things new.
Hymn of Praise (Celtic Hymn Book # 64)
God, our Creator, hear us sing in praise,
God, always tender. God who knows our ways.
God, always present, God who really cares.
We offer thanks for all the love you share.
We sing in praise for the great gifts you give:
all of creation, ev'rything that lives,
glories of nature, our own time on earth,
sending your Son among us proves our worth.
 (Page Two)
Refrain: Loud is our praise as we sing of you,
one with people of faith, ancient and new.
Bless us afresh with your grace, we pray.
Help us witness your love today.
Thanks for the blessings of the talents, skills,
Fam’lies and friendships, by which lives are filled.
Thanks for the graces, gifts you spread so wide:
Those that the world sees and those deep inside.
Even in hard times we can praise your name.
You’re always with us, loving just the same.
Sickness or sorrow, loneliness or doubt,
Help us remember your hand reaches out.
(Refrain)
Gathered together, sisters-brothers all,
baptized in Jesus, faithful to your call,
we are one fam’ly. May your will be done
and, for all people, may your Kingdom come.
'God who is love', you are Our Father true;
Jesus, our brother, fully human too;
Spirit, your presence, with us every day.
Love is your essence, Love our truest way.
(Refrain at the end)
Stephen Eric Smyth © 2005 Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
Used with permission CCLI # 3117248
Prayer
Let us pray:
Because you made the world,
and intended it to be a good place,
and called its people your children;
because, when things seemed at their worst,
you came in Christ to bring out the vert in us;
so, gracious God, we gladly say:
Goodness is stronger than evil;
Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness;
Truth is stronger than lies.
Because confusion can reign inside us, despite our faith;
because anger, tension, bitterness and envy distort our vision;
 (Page Three)
because our minds sometimes worry small things
out of all proportion;
because we do not always get it right,
we want to believe:
Goodness is stronger than evil;
Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness;
Truth is stronger than lies.
Because you have promise to hear us,
and are able to change us,
and are willing to make our hearts your home,
we ask you to confront,
control, forgive, and encourage us,
as you know best.
(Pause for silent reflection and prayer)
Then let us cherish in our hearts
that which we proclaim with our lips:
Goodness is stronger than evil;
Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness;
Truth is stronger than lies.
Lord, hear our prayer;
and change our lives
until we illustrate the grace
of the God who makes all thing new.
Amen.
The Word of God
In the beginning was the Word
And the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

Genesis 22: 1-14

Psalm 13
(Eugene Peterson, “The Message”, 2018)
Long enough, God—
you’ve ignored me long enough.
I’ve looked at the back of your head
long enough.
(Continued…)
 (Page Four)
Long enough I’ve carried this ton of trouble,
lived with a stomach full of pain.
Long enough my arrogant enemies
have looked down their noses at me.
Take a good look at me, God, my God;
I want to look life in the eye,
So no enemy can get the best of me
or laugh when I fall on my face.
I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—
I’m celebrating your rescue.
I’m singing at the top of my lungs,
I’m so full of answered prayers.
Loving and merciful God, hear the prayers of those who cry to you,
and shine with the light of your presence on those who live in the
shadow of death. May we rejoice in your saving help and sing you
songs of praise in the name of our risen Saviour, Jesus Christ.
(Psalm Prayer, BAS p. 717)
James 2: 14-24
For the Word of God in Scripture,
for the Word of God among us,
for the Word of God within us:
Thanks be to God.
Hymn
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove;
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour's love!
You spoke to us long, long ago,
gave us the written word;
we read it still, needing its truth
through it God's voice is heard.
Without your help we fail our Lord,
we cannot live His way;
we need Your power, we need Your strength,
following Christ each day.
Margaret V. Old (1932-2001) © Common Ground, 1998
Used with permission CCLI # 3117248
Meditation or Conversation
 (Page Five)
Hymn
The God of Abraham praise,
who reigns enthroned above,
ancient of everlasting days,
and God of love.
Almighty, great I Am!
by earth and heaven confessed,
I bow and bless the sacred name
forever blest.
The God of Abraham praise,
at whose supreme command
from earth I rise and seek the joys
at God's right hand.
I all on earth forsake,
its wisdom, fame, and power,
the Lord my only portion make,
my shield and tower.
Though nature's strength decay,
and earth and hell withstand,
to Canaan's bounds I urge my way
at God's command;
the watery deep I pass
with Jesus in my view,
and through the howling wilderness
my way pursue.
There dwells the Lord our King,
the Lord our Righteousness;
triumphant o'er the world and sin,
the Prince of Peace
on Zion's sacred height
God's kingdom still maintains,
and glorious with the saints in light
forever reigns.
Daniel ben Judah; Paraphraser: Thomas Olivers (1770)
(Public Realm)
Prayers
Holy God,
though this world depends on your grace,
it is governed and tended by mortals.
So we pray for those
who walk the corridors of power
 (Page Six)
in the parliaments of this and other lands,
whose judgements we value or fear.
(Names may be said aloud.)
May they always consider those they represent,
make decisions with courage and integrity,
and resist any temptation
to abuse the trust placed in them.
Lord hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.
We pray for those who hold key positions
in the worlds of finance, business and industry,
whose decisions may profit some
or impoverish many.
(Names may be said aloud.)
May they always value people higher than profit;
may they never impose burdens on the poor
which they would not carry themselves;
and may they never divorce money from morality
or ownership from stewardship.
Lord hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.
We pray for those in the caring professions,
who look after and listen to
kind, cruel and cantankerous folk,
and for those who make decisions
regarding the nation’s health and welfare.
(Names may be said aloud.)
May they always sense the sanctity of life
and every person’s uniqueness;
may they help and heal
by their interest as well as their skill;
and may they be saved from tiredness
and an excess of demands.
Lord hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.
 (Page Seven)
And let us remember those for whom we are responsible
and to whom we are accountable in what we do today.
(Names may be said aloud.)
May we show to them
the thoughtfulness, tolerance and kindness of Jesus.
Lord hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.
Lord, hear our prayers,
and if today we might be the means
by which you answer the prayers of others,
then may you find us neither deaf nor defiant,
but keen to fulfill your purpose, for Jesus’ sake
Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
[Let us] not offer to God
Offerings that cost us nothing. (I Chronicles 21:24)
May we go in peace, to love and serve the Lord. (Luke 7:50, 10:27, 4:8)
[May] we will seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)
Glory to God who made us, and the Christ who saved us,
and to the Holy Spirit who keeps us in faith.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and shall be for ever. Amen!
(From “Daytime Liturgy B”, Wee Worship Book p. 53)
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name!
Thy kingdom, come, thy will be done,
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
And forgive our sins
As we forgive each one of those
Who sins against us.
And lead us not to the time of trial
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom,
The power and the glory.
 (Page Eight)
Let every home and every dream
Be born in love again;
Let all the world sing with one voice;
Let the people say Amen!
Paul Field and David Deal © 1998 Meadowgreen Music Ltd.
Used with permission, CCLI # 3117428
Hymn
I heard the voice of Jesus say “come unto me and rest:
lay down, thy weary one, lay down,
thy head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
So weary, worn and sad;
I found in him a resting place,
And he has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down and drink and live.”
I came to Jesus and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am the dark world’s light;
look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
and all thy day be bright;”
I looked to Jesus and I found
In him my star, my sun;
And in that light of life I’ll walk
Till travelling days are done.
Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)
Closing Responses
From where we are to where you lead us,
Jesus now lead on.
From the security of what we know
to the adventure of what you will reveal,
Jesus now lead on.
To refashion the fabric of this world
until it resembles the shape of your kingdom,
Jesus now lead on.
Because good things have been prepared for those who love God,
Jesus now lead on.