Therefore
having thrown off
all evil and
all deceit1
and hypocrisies
and envies and
all ‘running down’
as newborn babies
long for the spiritual, pure2, milk
so that by it
you might grow
toward salvation-
if you have tasted that the Lord is kind3.
God be in head and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes and in my looking;
God be in my mouth and in my speaking;
God be in my heart and in my thinking;
God be at my end and at my departing.
Having purified your souls
by obedience to the truth
constantly love one another
for sincere sibling love
from a pure heart,
having not been born
from a perishable seed
but from an imperishable (one)
through the living
and enduring word,
because
All flesh is from grass,
and all its glory is as the flower of grass–
The grass withers
and the flower falls off,
but the word of the Lord remains for ever.
This is the word that was proclaimed
for your sake.
O Lord
Open our eyes to your presence
Open our minds to your grace
Open our lips to your praises
Open our hearts to your love
Open our lives to your healing
And be found among us.
Amen.
And if you call on the one
who judges impartially
according to each person’s work,
as Father
conduct yourselves
in fear
for the time of your exile,
for you know that
not with transitory things
(even) silver and gold,
you have been ransomed
from your worthless conduct
handed down from your ancestors,
but by the precious blood –
as from a lamb,
without blemish
and without defect
– Christ’s,
(him) having been foreknown
– before the foundation of the world
having been made known
– in these last times,
for your sake,
who
because of him,
are believing in God
who raised him from the dead ones,
and gave him glory,
so that your faith and hope
are in God.
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Therefore
‘roll up the sleeves’ of your mind
be sober,
(and) set (your) hope fully
on the grace
that will be brought to you
when Jesus Christ will be revealed.
As obedient children,
do not be conformed to the previous evil-desires,
which (were yours) in ignorance
but as the one who called you, is holy
you yourselves also be holy
in all your conduct
because it is written:
You will be holy, because I am holy.
Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing –
a grateful heart.
George Herbert
Concerning the salvation
the prophets searched diligently
and sought carefully
who prophesied about the grace
(coming) to you
inquiring what sort of person
or time
the Spirit of Christ indicated
within them
when he predicted
the sufferings
(coming) to Christ,
and after these things,
glory.
It was revealed to them
they were not serving themselves but you,
in things
which have now been announced to you
through those who announced-good-news to you
by the Holy Spirit
sent from heaven,
into which angels longed to look.
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today – tonight -forever
Amen.
St Columba
…in which you will be full of joy,
although for a little while it is necessary to suffer
in all kinds of trials
– that your genuineness of faith
more precious than gold
though perishable
is tested by fire
that it might be found
unto praise
and glory
and honour
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
whom you have not seen
but you love;
You do not see him now
but because you believe
you are overjoyed
with inexpressible and glorious joy
receiving the goal of your faith
– the salvation of your souls.
O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.
Gertrude the Great
Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
who according to his great mercy
has given birth to us
into a life-giving hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead people,
– an inheritance
undying,
undefiled
unfading
kept in heaven for you
who, by Gods power
are being protected
by faith
for a salvation
ready to be revealed
on the last time.
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
Amen
St Anselm
Peter
apostle of Jesus Christ
to a chosen people
who are strangers
in the dispersion in
Pontus
Galatia
Cappadocia
Asia
and Bithynia
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father
by the sanctifying of the Spirit
for obedience
and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ-
let grace and peace
be multiplied to you.
Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.
Thomas More (c.1478-1535)
PSALM 5
1 Hear my words, O Lord, give heed to my groaning:
listen to my cry, you that are my king and my God.
2 In the morning when I pray to you,
surely you will hear my voice:
at daybreak I lay my prayers before you, and look up.
3 For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness:
nor can any evil dwell with you.
4 The boastful cannot stand in your sight:
you hate all those that work mischief.
5 Those who speak lies you destroy:
you abhor the treacherous, O Lord,
and those that are stained with blood.
6 But because of your great goodness
I will come into your house:
I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe and fear of you.
7 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness,
for my enemies lie in wait:
make straight your way before me.
8 For there is no truth in their mouth:
and within they are eaten up by malice.
9 Their throat is an open sepulchre:
and their tongue speaks smooth and flattering words.
10 Destroy them, O God,
let them fall by their own contriving:
cast them out for their many offences,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who put their trust in you rejoice:
let them shout with joy for ever.
12 Be the defender of those who love your name:
let them exult because of you.
13 For you will bless, O Lord, those that are righteous:
you will cover them with your favour as with a shield.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen
The leader’s. With strings. A composition. David’s.
When I call, answer me,
my faithful God!
Under pressure you widened me;
be gracious to me and listen to my plea!
You people, how long will the one I honour be for shaming,
will you be loyal to something empty, will you seek a lie? (Rise)
So acknowledge that Yahweh has distinguished the committed person for himself; Yahweh is the one who listens when I call to him.
Tremble and don’t do wrong;
say it in your heart on your bed and be quiet. (Rise)
Offer faithful sacrifices, and put your confidence in Yahweh.
Increased numbers of people are saying,
‘Who will enable us to see good fortune?
– the light of your face has fled from upon us, Yahweh.’
You’ve put rejoicing in my heart
from the time when their grain and their new wine has increased.
In well-being I will lie down and sleep, all at once,
because you alone are Yahweh;
you enable me to live in confidence.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
stay beside me to defend me,
within me to guide me,
before me to lead me,
and above me to bless me,
that with you and in you,
I may live, and move and have my being,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
(unknown)