A Service of Prayer

in the Celtic Tradition

With resources adapted from Madonna Sophia Compton,
Meditations with Celtic Christians, © 2017.
Week of September 20, 2020, Pentecost XVI (Proper 25-A)
Call to Worship
Almighty Father, victorious Saviour, Holy Spirit,
You are stronger than the elements,
Stronger than the shadows, stronger than the fears,
Stronger than human wills, stronger than the spirits.
We enthrone you in this place
And lift you up with our praise.
In the name of the crucified and risen Christ
We set this place free from the power of the past;
In the name of Christ we say to all powers
That do not reverence Him:
Be gone from this place!
(Madonna Sophia Compton, Meditations with Celtic Christians:
Ancient Prayers and Hymns of the Celtic Church.
© 2017, The Raphael Group, Berkeley and Waco, TX.)
Hymn of Praise
This day God gives me Strength of high heaven,
Sun and moon shining, Flame in my hearth;
Flashing of lightning, Wind in its swiftness,
Deeps of the ocean, Firmness of earth!
This day God sends me Strength to sustain me,
Might to uphold me, Wisdom as guide.
Your eyes are watchful, Your ears are listening,
Your lips are speaking; Friend at my side!
God’s way is my way, God shield is round me,
God’s host defends me, Saving from ill.
Angels from heaven Drive from me always
All that would harm me Stand by me still!
Rising, I thank you, Mighty and strong One,
King of creation, Giver of rest;
Firmly confessing Threeness of Persons,
Oneness of Godhead: Trinity blest!
(Patrick’s “Breastplate Prayer”, trans. James Quinn, SJ . © 1969 Selab Publishing Co.
Used permission CCLI # 3117248. Tune: “Bunessan”)
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The “Caim”
The Three who are over us, protecting;
The Three who are under us, upholding;
The Three who are before us, summoning:
O Three who are in the earth below,
O Three who are in the air above,
O Three who are in Heaven beyond;
O Three Who’s power is seen
In the great pouring sea:
Father, Son, and Spirit:
Bless us all; bless me.
(Adapted from Compton, Meditations with Celtic Christians, 57.)

Prayer for Grace

Dear Father of mercy,
Be a bright flame before us;
A guiding star above us;
A smooth path below us;
The kindly Shepherd behind us.
Speak to us, in the creation all about us,
And in the Holy Scriptures before us:
We are but strangers on this journey.
Lead us home to the court of Christ,
And the Peace of Heaven.
(Adapted from Compton, Meditations with Celtic Christians, 110.)

Scripture Lessons and Psalm:

Exodus 16: 2-15,31,35
Psalm 105: 1-6,37-43,45
Hallelujah!
Thank God! Pray to him by name!
Tell everyone you meet what he has done!
Sing him songs, belt out hymns,
translate his wonders into music!
Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs,
you who seek God. Live a happy life!
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;
be alert for signs of his presence.
Remember the world of wonders he has made,
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his miracles, and the verdicts he’s rendered—

O seed of Abraham, his servant,
O child of Jacob, his chosen.
He led Israel out [of Egypt], their arms filled with loot,
and not one among his tribes even stumbled.
Egypt was glad to have them go—
they were scared to death of them.
God spread a cloud to keep them cool through the day
and a fire to light their way through the night;
They prayed and he brought quail,
filled them with the bread of heaven;
He opened the rock and water poured out;
it flowed like a river through that desert—
All because he remembered his Covenant,
his promise to Abraham, his servant.
Remember this! He led his people out singing for joy;
his chosen people marched, singing their hearts out!
…So they could do everything he told them—
could follow his instructions to the letter.
Hallelujah!
(Eugene Peterson, The Message/Remix:
The Bible on Contemporary Language. © 2006)

God of our salvation, through the death and resurrection of Jesus

Christ, you have fulfilled your promise to our ancestors in the faith
to redeem the world from slavery and to lead us into the promised
land. Grant us living water from the rock and bread from heaven,
that we may survive our desert pilgrimage and praise you for ever,
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
(Psalm Prayer from Anglican Church of Canada,
Book of Alternative Services, Toronto, 1985, p. 848.)
John 6: 26-35,37
Hymn of Faith
Put peace into each other's hands
and like a treasure hold it;
protect it like a candle flame,
with tenderness enfold it.
Put peace into each other's hands
with loving expectation;
be gentle in your words and ways,
in touch with God's creation.
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Put peace into each other's hands,

like bread we break for sharing;
look people warmly in the eye:
our life is meant for caring.
As at communion, shape your hands
into a waiting cradle;
the gift of Christ receive, revere,
united round the table.
Put Christ into each other's hands,
He is love's deepest measure;
in love make peace, give peace a chance
and share it like a treasure.
(Fred Kaan © 1989 Hope Publishing Company
Used with permission, CCLI # 3117428. Tune: “St. Columba”.)
Meditation
Affirmation of Faith
“Seeing a fig-tree alongside the road,
Jesus approached it, anticipating a breakfast of figs.
But when he got to the tree, there was nothing but leaves.
He said, ‘No more figs from this tree – ever!’
The tree withered on the spot – a dry stick.”
“Anyone who separates from me is deadwood,
gathered up and thrown on the bonfire.
But make yourselves at home with me
and my words are at home in you,
Then you can be sure that whatever you ask
will be listened to and acted upon.
This is how my Father shows who He is –
When you produce fruit;
When you mature as my disciples.”
Matthew 21:19; John 15:6-8, adapted from Eugene Peterson,
The Message/Remix: The Bible on Contemporary Language. © 2006)

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
There is no law against such things.”
(Galatians 5:22-23, New Revised Standard Version)
It were as easy for Jesus
To renew the withered tree
As to wither the new, were it
His will so to do.
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There is no plant in the ground

But is full of His virtue;
There is no form in the strand
But is full of His blessing;
There is no life in the sea,
There is no creature in the river,
There is no bird on the wing,
There is no star in the sky;
There is nothing beneath the sun
But proclaims His goodness.
Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
Meet it were to praise you!
(Compton, Meditations with Celtic Christians, 67.)

“May you be filled with the knowledge of God’s will

in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord,
fully pleasing to him,
as you bear fruit in every good work
and as you grow in the knowledge of God.”
Amen.
(Colossians 1:9-10, New Revised Standard Version)
Hymn of Offering
Spirit of God, come dwell within me.
Open my heart, oh, come set me free.
Fill me with love for Jesus, my Lord,
O fill me with living water.
Refrain: Jesus is living, Jesus is here. .
Jesus, my Lord, come closer to me:
Jesus, our Saviour, dying for me,
and rising to save his people..
Lord, how I thirst, O Lord, I am weak;
Lord, come to me, you alone do I seek.
Lord, you are life and love and hope,
O fill me with living water.
Lord, I am blind, O Lord, I can’t see;
Stretch out your hand, O Lord, comfort me.
Lead me your way, in light and in truth,
O fill me with living water.
(Helen Kennedy © 2005 Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
Used with permission CCLI # 3117248. Tune: “Mallaig Sprinkling Song”.)
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The Prayers
We awake this morning
In the presence of the holy angels of God.
May heaven open wide
Before us, above us, and around us.
That we may see
the Christ of our love;
And His sunlit company
In all the things of earth this day.
May those without shelter
Be under Your guarding
This day, O Christ.
May the wandering
Find places of welcome.
O Son of the tears,
Of the wounds,
Of the piercings:
May Your cross this day
Be shielding all in need.
Circle them, Lord;
Keep them within, keep hate without;
Circle them, Lord,
Keep faith within, keep suspicion without;
Circle us all, Lord,
Keep your light within;
Keep the darkness out.
On our hearts and on our homes,
The blessing of God be.
In our coming and in our going,
The peace of God be.
In our lives, and in our seeking,
The love of God be.
At our end, and new beginning,
May your arms, O God, welcome us;
And bring us to our final home.
(Adapted from Compton, Meditations with Celtic Christians,
pp. 40-41, 49, 43, 97, 108.)
Concluding Collect
Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth,
and ourselves in your image.
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Teach us to discern your hand in all your works

and to serve you with reverence and thanksgiving;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
(Anglican Church of Canada,
Book of Alternative Services, Toronto, 1985, p. 381.)
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.
…Let every heart's desire be joined
To see the kingdom come!
…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 # 3117248. Tune: “Auld Lang Syne”)

Hymn of Dedication
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.
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.
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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.
…'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.
(Stephen Eric Smyth © 2005 Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
Used with permission CCLI # 3117248. Tune: “Highland Cathedral”)
Commissioning
May the Christ who walks on wounded feet
walk with you on the road.
May the Christ who serves with wounded hands
stretch out your hands to serve.
May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart
open your hearts to love.
May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet,
And may everyone we meet
see the face of Christ in us.
(Adapted from A Traditional Celtic Benediction; Voices United,
Toronto: United Church Publishing House, 1996, # 349)
Benediction
May the Father take you in God’s fragrant clasp of love;
May the Virgin’s Son guide you through the maze of life;
May the generous Spirit release forgiving love within you,
Hour by hour, by day and night, in joy and in failure;
And may your feel all the saints in heaven, men and women,
urging you on to complete your course.
Amen.
(Adapted from Compton, Meditations with Celtic Christians, 95.)