Section:
prayers
March 17
Environment:
Green cloth, small statue of St. Patrick or Celtic cross, flowers or a plant.
Hymn Suggestions:
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For the Beauty of the Earth (Kocher)
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Come, Worship the Lord (Talbot)
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Beatitudes (Ducote)
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How Great Thou Art (Hine)
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Christ Be Beside Me (BUNESSAN)
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Option:
Softly play instrumental Irish background music during reading or intercessions.
The Breastplate of Saint Patrick Recite antiphonally.
I rise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confessions of the Oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I rise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension
Through the strength of his coming for judgment.
I rise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In prayers of ancestors, In predictions of prophets, In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors
In deeds of the righteous.
I rise today
Through the strength of heaven
Light of sun, Radiance of moon
Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea, Stability of earth, Firmness of rock.
I rise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me.
I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life-giving rays,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep dark sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.
Christ to shield me this day,
So that there come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I rise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye who sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Translated by Mrs. C.F. Alexander in Celtic Daily Prayer, compiled by Andy Raine and John T. Skinner of the Northumbrian Community. Used with permission.
Reading:
Jeremiah 1:1-9
[Brief pause]
Hymn: “How Great Thou Art” (vs. 1, 2)
Intercessions:
Response: For this we place our hope in you, O God.
That those whose lives are dedicated to bringing the gospel message of justice, peace and reconciliation to other lands will continue to be strengthened by a deep connection to their spiritual roots, we pray...
That we may love and care for the earth, the air and the waters, we pray...
That the peace process in Northern Ireland may be strengthened in justice and with mutual respect for all parties, we pray...
That those who have gone before us in faith are now at rest with you, we pray...
Our Father
Closing Prayer:
Pray together, facing each other with hands raised in blessing. May God the Father who called us together to celebrate the feast of Patrick bless us, protect us, and keep us faithful. Amen
[pause slightly]
May Christ, the Lord, the high King of Heaven be near us at all times and shield us from evil. Amen
[pause]
May the Spirit who is the source of all holiness make us rich like St. Patrick in the love of God’s people. Amen.
[pause]
May Almighty God, three persons in perfect unity, bless us, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Closing Hymn
