The arms of God be around your shoulders, The touch of the Holy Spirit upon your head, The sign of Christ’s cross upon your forehead, The sound of the Holy Spirit in your ears. From The Lorica of St Fursa
Empty Vessel – Dwight Moody
Use me, my Saviour, for whatever purpose and way you require. Here is my poor heart, an empty vessel; fill it with your grace. Here is my sinful, troubled soul; refresh it with your love. Take my heart for your abode, take my mouth to spread abroad your glory, take my love for the advancement of believers. May I never…
Kyrie Eleison – From The Scottish Arbuthnott Missal
Father, True Essence of the Godhead, have mercy on us. Father, the Light and Creator of all things, have mercy on us. Father, who sealed humanity with your image, have mercy on us. Christ, True God and True Man, have mercy on us. Christ, Rising Sun, through whom are all things, have mercy on us. Christ, Perfection of Wisdom, have…
A Baptism Blessing
Holy Spirit come to open what is locked! (Touch the eyes) Holy Spirit, Open these eyes to the light of your presence, in every thing, to your work and your beauty in every one! (Touch the ears) Holy Spirit, Open these ears to hear your joy in all things, in all of life, and to deeply hear you in those…
Gardener’s Prayer
Bless, O God, my little plot of land, and the strength with which I’m tilling it, bless the seed I’m carefully planting, and the prayers I’m sowing with it. Bless the seasons that are coming, and the sunshine and the rain. Bless the days and shortening nights, and the hopes of my wee bairn. Bless, O Father of good giving,…
Blessing: ‘Nowhere By Accident’ – Richard Halverson
You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you. Wherever you are, God has put you there. God has a purpose in your being there. Christ lives in you and has something he wants to do through you where you are. Believe this and go in the grace and love and power of Jesus Christ. By Richard…
Christmas Prayer – St Augustine
Let the just rejoice, for their Justifier is born. Let the sick and infirm rejoice, For their Saviour is born. Let the captives rejoice, For their Redeemer is born. Let slaves rejoice, for their Master is born. Let free ones rejoice, For their Liberator is born. Let all Christians rejoice, For Jesus Christ is born. – St. Augustine of Hippo…
How Miraculous A King Would Bow – Hildegard of Bingen
How miraculous – that a king stoop to enter the world of the ordinary, of the commoner, of His subject, of woman. But God did this. Why? Because humility, ever the lowliest of the low, always rises and triumphs- over everything else. And didn’t that woman know the greatest happiness? Cleaning up the ugly first mess, in its place she set a beautiful bouquet:…
In Advent We Wait
In Advent we wait for you, God the maker, Jesus the storyteller, Holy Spirit of live. In Advent we cry to you, God of Justice, Jesus of Bethlehem, Holy Spirit of hope. In Advent we long for you, You, God, are our love, Our warmth, Our light. – Ruth Burgess
Lord of Light & Darkness
Jesus, Lord of light and darkness, Find us in the darkness, Find us in the light. Jesus, Lord of work and stillness, Make our work of worth, Make our stillness yours. Jesus, Lord of our past and future, Cover our anxiety with love, Cover our hopes with grace. Jesus, Lord of everything, Fill those who have nothing, Fill us with…
Beyond Noisy Words – Augustine
You, who fill heaven and earth, Always busy, always quiet, Who are present everywhere and everywhere are fully present, You who are not absent when far away, Who with your whole being fill Yet go beyond all things, You who teach the hearts of the faithful without the din of words, Teach us, We pray. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.…
Rebuke Us Not!
Holy god, Lord most gracious! Rebuke us not in your anger, nor chasten us in your wrath! Holy you have called us to come to you. We feel unworthy, for we have failed you again and again. We feel like running away, yet you keep calling us. Have mercy on us, O God. Have mercy! Holy God, Father most gracious!…