Dedication of the Sibiu Deisis icon

Morning service- Monday 9 June 2008 ~ Dedication of the Sibiu “Deisis” icon

Welcome

Hymn: Many are the lightbeams (no. 40)
Call to prayer
L: God is with us, Christ goes with us,
and the Holy Spirit leads us,
through light and shadow,
through heights and depths,
through fire and water, into new life.

All: We worship in the name
of God the Father,
in the name of Jesus Christ,
in the name of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Introduction to the Service
Psalm 36
All: Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.
Women: Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
Your judgments are like the great deep.
Men: You save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
Women: How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Men: They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

All: For with you is the fountain of life.
In your light we see light. Amen.
Hymn: Lumière de Dieu (No. 11 – Français, English, German)
Affirmation of faith (Ruthann)

L: We believe, Lord Jesus,
that you are the true light
that enlightens all
who come into the world.

All: We believe
and we confess.

L: We believe, Lord Jesus,
that you are the light of the world,
and that in you
we discover the light of life.

All: We believe
and we confess.

L: We believe, Lord Jesus,
that as we walk in light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and you cleanse us from all sin.

All: We believe
and we confess. Amen. (Jn 1,9; Jn 8,12; 1 Jn 1,7)

Hymn: Lumière de Dieu (No. 11 – Español, Italiano, Français)

Bible reading: John 1,5-14; 3,25-30 (Smaranda)
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
Now a discussion about purification arose between John's disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him." John answered, "No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease."

Meditation on the Sibiu “Deisis” icon - Luca Negro

Hymn: Am văzut lumina cea adevărată (No. 3)

Prayer (from the Romanian Orthodox Tradition)

Lord’s Prayer

Blessing