Dying & Loss, Faith

The Golden Cord – John Oxenham

Through every minute of this day, Be with me, Lord! Through every day of all this week, Be with me, Lord! Through every week of all this year, Be with me, Lord! Through all the years of all this life, Be with me, Lord! So shall the days and weeks and years Be threaded on a golden cord, And all…

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Dying & Loss, Lament, Lent & Cross

Drop Drop Slow Tears

Drop, drop, slow tears,and bathe those beauteous feet,which brought from heaven the newsand Prince of Peace. Cease not, wet eyes,his mercies to entreat;to cry for vengeance, sindoth never cease. In your deep floods,drown all my faults and fears;nor let his eye see sin,but through my tears. – Phineas Fletcher (1582-1650) – A Good Friday hymn. – While not exactly a…

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Ancient, Confession, Dying & Loss

Lord Jesus Think On Me

Lord Jesus, think on me, and purge away my sin; from earthbound passions set me free, and make me pure within.. Lord Jesus, think on me by care and woe oppressed; let me your loving servant be, and taste your promised rest.. Lord Jesus, think on me, amid the bitter strife; through all my pain…

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Biblical, Creation, Praise

Trinity Christ Canticle

This corporate prayer is a poetic translation of Proverbs 8:22-36… I was there at the very beginning of God’s work: the first work, the act, the first move!       We praise you Christ – the wisdom of God! I was there from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.       We praise you Christ – the wisdom of God!…

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Mystics, Praise

Trinity Prayer – Richard Rohr

God For Us, we call You Father, God Alongside Us, we call You Jesus, God Within Us, we call You Holy Spirit. You are the Eternal Mystery That enables, enfolds, and enlivens all things, Even us and even me. Every name falls short of your Goodness and Greatness. We can only see who You are in what is. We ask…

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Lent & Cross

Crucifixion Prayer – John Wesley

O Jesus, poor and humble, unknown and despised, let me not be ashamed to follow you. Have mercy on me. O Jesus, hated and persecuted, let me not be afraid to follow you. Have mercy on me. O Jesus, betrayed and sold like an object, let me be content to call you master. Have mercy on me. O Jesus, accused and wrongfully…

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Lent & Cross, Longing, Poets

Batter My Heart – John Donne

Lord God, Batter my heart, Knock, breathe, shine in me, mend me. So that I might have victory, Overthrow me, break me, blow, burn in me, And make me new. Amen.   – John Donne 1573–1631AD.  English poet and pastor.

Confession, Lent & Cross, Orthodox

Lent Prayer – St Ephraim Of Syria

Lord God and Master of my life, take away from me the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power, and cheap talk. Replace it with your Spirit of faithfulness, humility, patience, and love. Yes, O Lord and King, Help me to see my own fault and sin, And not to judge my brother. Blessed are You, for all eternity. Amen.  …

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Ancient, Lent & Cross

Glory To The Suffering Christ – St Gregory The Great

Glory to you The Suffering Christ O Lord, You were insulted and hated, yet each day You free captive souls from the grip of the ancient enemy. You did not turn Your face away from the spitting and hate, yet You wash souls in saving waters. You accepted Your scourging without crying out, yet through your words You deliver us…

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Lent & Cross, Need Or Trial, Orthodox

Protection Prayer – St Basil

Blessed are You, O Lord, Master Almighty, Who lights the day with the light of the sun illuminates the night with flashes of fire, Who calls us to pass through the length of the day and to draw near to the beginning of the night; hear our prayer and the prayer of all You people; and as you have forgiven all our sins hear…

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Poets, Thanksgiving

We Thank Thee – John Oxenham

We thank Thee, Lord,That of Thy tender grace,In our distressThou hast not left us wholly comfortless. We thank Thee, Lord,That of Thy wondrous might,Into our nightThou hast sent down the glory of the Light. We thank Thee, Lord,That all Thy wondrous ways,Through all our days,Are Wisdom, Right, and Ceaseless Tenderness. . – John Oxenham (1952-1841) (Novel writer, journalist, poet, and…

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Holy Spirit & Pentecost, Preaching & Reflecting

Song To The Holy Spirit

Lord, Holy Spirit,You blow like the wind in a thousand paddocks,Inside and outside the fences,You blow where you wish to blow. Lord, Holy Spirit,You are the sun who shines on the little plant,You warm him gently, you give him life,You raise him up to become a tree with many leaves. Lord, Holy Spirit,You are the eagle with her young,Holding them…

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