Candlemas Selah service 2008
This ‘festival of light’ marks the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. This day is also the feast day for Bridget of Kildare (c450) who established a Christian community in a former pagan shrine where a sacred fire was perpetually kept burning. Instead of stamping out the fire, Bridget kept it going as a symbol of Christ’s everlasting light making a profound impact on the local people.
PROCESSION OF LIGHT
Music from GODRIC (Johnson) Instrumental
A SHIELD ABOUT ME (Thomas/Williams) All sing
Thou O Lord are a shield about me
You’re my glory, you’re the lifter of my head
Thou O Lord are a shield about me
You’re my glory, you’re the lifter of my head
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,
You’re the lifter of my head
IN GOD ALONE (Taizé) All sing
In God alone my soul can find rest and peace,
In God my peace and joy.
Only in God my soul can find it’s rest,
Find it’s rest and peace.
PROCLAMATION
Celebrant: Light and peace,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: He is worthy of all thanksgiving and praise.
Celebrant: Blessed are thou, Lord our God, King of the universe!
You make our darkness to be light.
For with thee is the very well of life
and in they light shall we see light.
People: Blessed by our God for ever.
DON’T BE AFRAID (Iona Community) All sing
Don’t be afraid,
My love is stronger,
My love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid,
My love is stronger,
For I have promised,
Promised to be always near.
PSALM 138 (with responsive singing)
(All sing)
Sing, praise and bless the Lord,
Sing, praise and bless the Lord.
Peoples! Nations! Alleluia!
Reader 1
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down towards your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything.
On the day I called, you answered me,
you increased my strength of soul.
(All sing)
Sing, praise and bless the Lord,
Sing, praise and bless the Lord.
Peoples! Nations! Alleluia!
Reader 2
All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.
For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly;
but the haughty he perceives from far away.
(All sing)
Sing, praise and bless the Lord,
Sing, praise and bless the Lord.
Peoples! Nations! Alleluia!
Reader 3
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
and your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfil his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures for ever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
(All sing)
Sing, praise and bless the Lord,
Sing, praise and bless the Lord.
Peoples! Nations! Alleluia!
GREATER (Moss) All sing
Father become greater, greater,
So we become less.
You are the King of all that is holy. Amen.
Jesus become greater, greater,
So we become less.
You are the Way of all that is worthy. Amen.
Spirit become greater, greater,
So we become less.
You are the breath of all that is living. Amen
PRAYER A (From the Camina Gadelica)
Thou King of the Moon
Thou King of the Sun
Thou King of the Planets
Thou King of the Stars
Thou King of the Globe
Thou King of the Stars
Oh! Lovely thy Countenance
Thou Beauteous Beam
THE LORD IS MY LIGHT (Taizé) All sing
The Lord is my light,
My light and salvation:
In God I trust, in God I trust.
PRAYER B (From the Camina Gadelica)
Behold the Lightener of the Stars.
On the crests of the clouds
And the choralists of the sky
Lauding Him.
Coming down with acclaim
From the Father above,
Harp and lyre of song
Sounding to Him.
DOXOLOGY (Bourgeois / Ken) All sing
All praise to thee, my God, this night
for all the blessings of the light.
Keep me, oh keep me, King of Kings,
beneath Thine own almighty wings.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
followed by SILENT PRAYER (10 minutes)
LADY SOVEREIGNTY (Johnson) Instrumental
THERE IS ONE LORD (Taizé) All sing
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
There is one God who is Father of all.
CELTIC PRAYER (Newell)
I lie down this night with God
And God will lie down with me.
I lie down this night with Christ
And Christ will lie down with me.
I lie down this night with the Spirit
And the Spirit will lie down with me.
The Three of my love
will be lying down with me.
I shall not lie down with sin
Nor shall sin or sin’s shadow
lie down with me.
I lie down this night with God
And God will lie down with me.
JOURNEY PRAYER (Johnson) Solo chant
Father, bless to me this day,
And Jesus, bless to me this night,
Spirit, bless each hour of life,
Bless me, God of grace we pray.
Bless the path on which I go,
Bless the earth beneath my sole,
Bless me God and give Your love,
Bless my rest and my repose.
Father, keep me in Your eyes,
Jesus, keep me in Your love,
Spirit, keep me in Your Truth,
Bless me, God of grace I pray.
INVOCATION (Glenstal Abbey)
Thanks be to God who has shown us the light!
Lead me from darkness to light,
Lead me from sadness to joy,
Lead me from death to immortality,
Thanks be to God who has shown us the light!
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES
ALLELUIA (Gouzes) All sing
CHRIST HAS WALKED THIS PATH
(Johnson) Solo recessional chant
