UCC-UEK Meeting Evening Prayers
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Christus spricht: “Den Frieden lasse ich euch, meinen Frieden gebe ich euch. Nicht gebe ich euch wie die Welt gibt. Euer Herz erschrecke nicht und furchte sich nicht.” Johannes 14:27
Christ says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14:27
Opening Sentence:
Liturgist: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Community: And also with you!
Opening Hymn: Erhalt uns Herr bei deinem Wort Nr. 122, Cantate Domino und steure deiner Feinde Mord; die Jesum Christum deinen Sohn, wollen sturzen von deinem Thron.
Our Lord of glory, Jesus Christ, power in obedience manifest, defend your church in dangerous days and liberate us for your praise.
Evening Litany of the Taize Community:
Liturgist: O Lord, open my lips,
Community: And my mouth shall declare your praise.
Liturgist: O Lord, make haste to my rescue,
Community: Lord, come to my aid!
Liturgist: To you I have lifted up my eyes, to you who dwells in the heavens:
Community: My eyes, like the eyes of slaves on the hand of their masters.
Liturgist: Like the eyes of a servant on the hands of her mistress.
Community: So our eyes are on the Lord. ‘til God shows us mercy.
Liturgist: Have mercy upon us, O God, have mercy, we are filled with contempt.
Community: Indeed all to full is our soul with the distain of the proud.
Evening Psalm: Psalm 46:1-3 (in German, then in English)
A Prayer of the Community: (offered in unison) Irish
Guard for me my eyes, Jesus Son of Mary, lest seeing another’s accomplishments makes me covetous. Guard for me my ears, let they hearken to slander, lest they listen constantly to folly in the sinful world. Guard for me my heart, O Christ, in your love, lest I ponder wretchedly the desire of any iniquity. Guard for me my hands, that they be not stretched out for quarrelling, that they may not, after that, practice shameful supplication. Guard for me my feet upon the gentle earth, lest, bent on profitless errands, they abandon rest. Amen.
Hymn of the Community: God of love and truth and beauty, Nr. 116, Cantate Domino
Hallow’d be your name;
Fount of order, law and duty,
Hallow’d be your name.
As in heav’n your hosts adore you,
And their faces veil before you,
So on earth, Lord, we implore you,
Hallow’d be your name.
Gott der Liebe, Wahrheit, Schonheit,
Heilig sei dein Name!
Quell fur Leben, Recht und Freiheit,
Heilig sei dein Name!
Wie die Engel Lob dir geben,
mit verhulltem Antlitz beben,
lass uns, Herr, hier vor dir leben:
Heilig sei dein Name!
Two Readings from Scripture: Micah 6:6-8 (in English and German)
Romans 1:16-17
A Prayer of the Community (offered in unison)
Gracious God, let our prayer come before you like incense. The raising of our hands like an evening oblation.
Filled with your abundant mercy and peace, with all our heart and mind, we call up you. Kyrie eleison.
For your universal Church, here and throughout the world, we call upon you. Kyrie eleison.
For laity and pastors, for all the baptized, for all servants of the Word, we call upon you. Kyrie eleison.
For the unity of the Church, for peace among all nations, we call upon you. Kyrie eleison.
For Palestinians and Israelis, for Iraqis and North Americans, for Africans, and Asians, for Europeans, for Latin Americans, for those who dwell in the islands of the sea, we call upon you. Kyrie eleison.
For those of us who are weak in our faith, and for all who are turning to you in conversion, we call upon you. Kyrie eleison.
For all who are facing the dangers of travel, for those in prison, the condemned or exiled, we call upon you. And for the children. Kyrie eleison.
For all who are sick in body or mind, we call upon you. Kyrie eleison.
For one another, that we may be signs of sisterly and brotherly love in your Church, we call upon you. Kyrie eleison.
For all who fall asleep this night in tears or in terror or in disappointment or doubt, we call upon you. Kyrie eleison.
Grant to us, each one, a restful night and restore strength to body and soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Kryrie eleison. Amen.
Closing Hymn: (Refrain) There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole,
There is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin sick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
(Refrain)
Don’t ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend,
who, if you ask for knowledge, will never fail to lend.
(Refrain)
If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus, who died to save us all.
(The New Century Hymnal, 553)
Benediction:
The Churches
Two, in the darkness, sought the Cross, But in their blindness found it not;
This way and that, in dole and loss, They sought the Cross, but found it not.
“This way!” – the one insistent cried; “Nay, this!” – the other quick replied;
And each the other’s hope denied.
“I tell you, my way is the right!” “Nay then, you stumbler in the night,
My way alone leads to the light!”
“Perverse! – Go then your own wrong road!” “I go – for my way leads to God.”
And each his own way brusquely strode.
And up above, upon The Tree, Christ’s wounds broke in fresh agony.
(John Oxenham)