An order for morning prayer - ecumenical prayer cycle Canada

The following order was prepared by Theodore A Gill and included a fascinating reading from Stephen Neil's A history of Christian Missions , about which more soon.

Morning Prayer - The chapel of the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva
Tuesday 4 August 2009 - The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle focuses our attention this week on Canada and the USA


Huron carol, by Jean de Brébeuf, c. 1641

’Twas in the moon of wintertime, when all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead.
Before their light, the stars grew dim, and wondering hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus, your King, is born, Jesus is born. In excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark the tender Babe was found;
A ragged robe of rabbit-skin enwrapped His beauty round.
And as the hunter braves drew nigh, the angel song rang loud and high:
Jesus, your King, is born, Jesus is born. In excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on the helpless Infant there.
The chiefs from far before Him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus, your King, is born, Jesus is born. In excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free, O you of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and heaven is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
Jesus, your King, is born, Jesus is born. In excelsis gloria.

Prayer (United Church of Canada)

L: We come to you, O Lord, with thanks and praise for Creation.
We are thankful for the passion of the young,
for the youth among us who push us all to recognize
the urgency of the environmental crisis.

All: Thank you, Creator and giver of passion.

L: We are thankful for the insights of our Indigenous
brothers and sisters who draw on their
tradition and teach us about the sacredness of all
Creation and how to live in kinship with it.

All: Thank you, Creator and giver of passion.

L: We are thankful for the inspiration of those
among us who have already begun to live their
lives in ways to show a caring for the earth,
water, and the skies.

All: Thank you, Creator and giver of passion.
We thank you, God, for all signs of hope
that keep us from despairing
and point us toward new ways of living. Amen.

John 6 :35-40

Intercessions (based on a prayer of Karl Barth at the Basel city men’s prison)

Lord, be and remain the God of our salvation in the realm above
and amid the perplexities and frustration of human ventures and current events.
Transform us by your grace.

Tell and show all people that no one is lost to your sight,
but that no one can escape your sight, either!
Transform us by your grace.

Make yourself known everywhere
as the Lord of the pious and the godless, of the wise and the fools, of the healthy and the sick.
Be and remain the God of our salvation.

Be the Lord of our poor churches, Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox – and whatever else,
the Lord of righteous and of unrighteous governments.
Be and remain the God of our salvation.

Lord of Israel, and God of all nations, we join in prayer this week for your whole Creation,
and in particular for the people and churches of Canada and the United States of America.
Teach us that none is lost to your sight, but also that none may escape your sight.

Be the Lord of the well-fed and of the underfed,
and also of those who are called to speak and write,
whether they produce creations that are good or not so good.

Be our protector in whom we all may trust, our source of grace in whom we find forgiveness,
as well as the Judge to whom we will be responsible on the Last Day,
just as we are responsible to you now.
This we pray through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Jesus says: I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

Bless the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
Go forth in the power and love of the Triune God.
Thanks be to God. Amen.