Morning prayer - that all may be one

At the Ecumenical Centre we often try to follow the daily readings followed by the community at Grandchamps. Their gospel readings for Thursday and Friday 20 and 21 May are from John17 - "that all may be one".
Inspired by this Theodore Gill put together the following order for morning prayer on Friday. This order will also be used for the opening devotions of the WCC staff executive group which meets all day.

Morning Prayer, Ecumenical Centre
Friday 21 May 2010

For Christian worship
Holy God: you call us to worship,
and by your Spirit you prompt us to prayers and praise.
Keep us from responding in prayer and song with ritual disinterest.
Fill us with wonder at the mystery of your unfailing love for all;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the king of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Let all who hear now to his temple draw near,
joining in glad adoration.

Loué soit notre Dieu, dont la splendeur se révèle
quand nous buvons le vin pour une terre nouvelle.
En Jésus-Christ le monde passe aujourd’hui
vers une gloire éternelle.

Lobe den Herren, was in mir ist, lobe den Namen.
Lob ihn mit allen, die seine Verheissung bekamen.
Er ist dein Licht, Seele, vergiss es ja nicht.
Lob ihn in Ewigkeit. Amen.

Gospel lesson – John 17:11d-26

[When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted his eyes to heaven and said:] “Holy Father, keep them in your name which you have given me, that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name. Those whom you gave me I have kept; and none of them is lost, except the son of perdition so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word; that they all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you; that they also may be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory which you gave me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one: I in them, and you in me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you have loved me.

“Father, I desire that they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which you have given me; for you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known you, but I have known you; and these have known that you sent me. And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Silent meditation
And silent prayer, especially for the people and churches of Malawi and Zambia

Litany for the Unity of Christ’s Church
[adapted from The Worshipbook (Philadelphia, USA: Westminster Press, 1970)]

O God: you welcome us by baptism into one holy church, and join us by faith to Christians in every time and place. May your church on earth be a sign of the loving communion you promise.
Make us one with Christ, and joyful in your kingdom.

Deliver us from evil, Lord: From religious pride that belittles the faith of others, or claims true wisdom, yet will not love…
Good Lord, deliver us.
From mistaken zeal that will not compromise; from honouring tidy doctrines, rather than you…
Good Lord, deliver us.
From a worldly mind that drums up partisan spirits; from division and divisiveness; from preserving systems that have served their purpose and seen their day…
Good Lord, deliver us.

As you sent disciples from every land, O God, gather us now, from the ends of the earth, into one fellowship that responds to your calling and praises your name.
Gather us in one faith, one hope, one love.

Make us one, Lord, in our eagerness to speak good news and set all captives free.
Give us your Holy Spirit.
Make us one, Lord, in concern for the poor, the hurt and the downtrodden, to show your love.
Give us your Holy Spirit.
Make us one, Lord, in worship; help us find the way to break bread together in unity and to sing your praise in a harmony of voices.
Give us your Holy Spirit.
Make us one, Lord, in faithfulness to Jesus Christ, who never fails us, and who will come again in triumph.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

God our Father: Give us your Holy Spirit so that we may have among ourselves the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, and proclaim him to the world. May every knee bow down to him, and every tongue confess him Lord, to the glory of your Triune name.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer
in the language of one’s choice

Blessing

Let us embrace this new day, confident of God’s mercy, grace and saving power.
Thanks be to God: Alleluia! Amen.

Halle-, halle-, halle- luja
Halle-, halle-, halle- luja
Halle-, halle-, halle- luja
Halleluja, Halleluja!

And Ash Wednesday order of morning prayer

This simple order of morning prayer was prepared by Theodore Gill of the World Council of Churches

MORNING PRAYER – Ash Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Mark 1:9-13
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the
wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the
angels waited on him.

Prayer
Lord, we depend upon you alone.
Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cry come to you.
Lord our God: you led your people out of the house of slavery,
when slavery seemed inevitable.
You offer your people hope, when all seems hopeless.
Reveal to us again that, with you, all things are possible.
Teach us to doubt the “inevitability” of any human plan.
Prove to us the power of repentance,
and the triumph inherent in the things that make for peace.
Lord, we depend upon you alone.
Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cry come to you.
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil that distracts us from your saving purpose.
Deliver us from the curse of war, and the human sin and pride that lie behind it. Deliver us from national vanity and political greed
that pose as patriotism or principle;
from blind boasting and self-worship that admit neither guilt nor shame.
Deliver us from leaders who lust for power and possessions,
but also from leaders deceived by their own self-righteousness.
Deliver us from human power and wisdom
that divert our eyes from Jesus, our ruler who reigns from the cross.
Lord, we depend upon you alone.
Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cry come to you.
Deliver us from seeking first the kingdoms of this world,
from trusting in weapons, and from mistrusting the councils of peace.
We pray for your guidance among leaders of the nations,
and among citizens who may have an impact on them.
We pray for the United Nations, for all international agencies
and other instruments of caring, that they may contribute to justice and reconciliation. Deliver your creation, Lord,
from everything that prevents the fulfillment of your promise of peace.
Lord, we depend upon you alone.
Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cry come to you.
Almighty God: we pray for manifestations of your kingdom on earth
to people of every nation, race and class. And we pray for your church in the world: This week, we pray especially for Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain –
and for people and churches of all nations caught up in war and terror –
and for the life and ministry of our own congregations.
We pray for those who suffer, who mourn, who seek some sign of hope.
We pray for those whom we once remembered regularly in our prayers,
but have since forgotten. Hold them in your heart, Lord, for you alone are faithful.
And with Christians throughout the ages, we pray –
each in our own language – the prayer that Jesus taught us, saying…
(The Lord’s Prayer)

Blessing and Benediction
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find.
Knock, and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and whoever seeks, finds.
And for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Lord, have mercy upon us; Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and grant us your peace.
Go out from this place in peace, to love and serve the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised!
And may the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be upon us now, and remain with us always. Amen.

A simple order for morning prayer in the workplace

These order of prayer was prepared by Hielke Wolters.

The joy of living and working in the space of God’s love
Morning prayers Ecumenical Centre, February 12, 2010

Assurance of God’s love
God’s love is costly, generous, and trustworthy,
Deeper than our expectations, higher than our hopes,
Accept in your heart the promise of new life,
And proclaim with your lips
the inexhaustible goodness of God.

Holy, Holy, Holy,
Love’s empowering might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
We give you glory, God most high!

Reflection: Love your enemies (Matthew 5: 43-48)

Closing prayer
Sending God,
You call each of us to share in your mission,
to proclaim,
to nurture,
to love,
to transform,
to renew.

Help us to be faithful to your calling.
Give us wisdom and insight to discern your voice.
Give us patience and humility to work with others.
Give us courage and strength when we feel overwhelmed
by the tasks before us.

Remind us of your presence with us.
Surround us with your all-embracing love.
Fill us with the joy and energy of your Spirit.
Prompt us to recall the example of Jesus.

And as you now send us out,
to our offices and our meetings,
to our duties and our responsibilities,
keep us close to you,
this day and for ever more.

From and inspired by Francis Brienen (ed.),
What does the Lord require?, CWM

Morning Prayer from Iona

Mark Taylor has been leading morning prayers this week in the Ecumenical Centre based on this outline from the Iona Community

Iona Community Prayers

Opening Responses
The world belongs to God
THE EARTH AND ALL ITS PEOPLE
How good and how lovely it is
TO LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY
Love and faith come together
JUSTICE AND PEACE JOIN HANDS
If Christ’s disciples keep silent
THESE STONES WOULD SHOUT ALOUD

Song or chant

Confession
Loving God, Maker of all
HAVE MERCY ON US
Jesus Christ, Servant of the poor
HAVE MERCY ON US
Holy Spirit, Breath of life
HAVE MERCY ON US
Let us in silence admit our frailty and confess our failings

Silence

Before God, with the people of God, I confess to my brokenness:
To the ways I wound my life, the lives of others and the life of the world
MAY GOD FORGIVE YOU, CHRIST RENEW YOU, AND THE SPIRIT ENABLE YOU TO GROW IN LOVE
Amen

BEFORE GOD, WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD, WE CONFESS TO OUR BROKENNESS:
TO THE WAYS WE WOUND OUR LIVES, THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND THE LIFE OF THE WORLD
May God forgive you, Christ renew you, and the spirit enable you to grow in love
AMEN



Move among us, O God; give us life
LET YOUR PEOPLE REJOICE IN YOU
Make our hearts clean within us:
RENEW US IN MIND AND IN SPIRIT
Give us again the joy of your help
WITH YOUR SPIRIT OF FREEDOM SUSTAIN US.

Word and Wisdom
Listen now for Word and Wisdom:

(Readings)

This is the word of God
FOR THE WORD OF GOD IN JESUS
FOR GOD’S WISDOM ALL AROUND US
FOR GOD’S WORD AND WISDOM IN US
THANKS BE TO GOD

Affirmation
With the whole church
WE AFFIRM THAT WE ARE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE, BEFRIENDED BY CHRIST, EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT
With people everywhere
WE AFFIRM GOD’S GOODNESS AT THE HEART OF HUMANITY, PLANTED MORE DEEPLY THAN ALL THAT IS WRONG
With all creation
WE CELEBRATE THE MIRACLE AND WONDER OF LIFE, THE UNFOLDING PURPOSES OF GOD, FOREVER AT WORK IN OURSELVES AND THE WORLD

Song or chant

Prayer for the Iona Community (ALL)
O God, who gave to your servant Columba the gifts of courage, faith and cheerfulness, and sent people out from Iona to carry the word of your gospel to every creature, grant, we pray, a like spirit to your church, even at this present time.
Further in all things the purpose of our Community, that hidden things may be revealed to us, and new ways found to touch the lives of all.
May we preserve with each other sincere charity and peace, and if it be your holy will, grant that a place of your abiding be continued still to be a sanctuary and a light.
Through Jesus Christ, Amen

Universal Prayer for Peace (ALL)
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill our lives, our world, our universe.
Peace, peace, peace.

Prayers of the Community
God of power and promise,
You gather and scatter your people to the ends of the earth;
But wherever we go, we are never beyond the reach of your love.
Gather us together now with the Iona Community as we share in the common prayer…

(Prayers of gratitude and concern are invited)

(The leader prays for the priorities of the community, for the world, for the Full and Associate Members)

May they not fail you
NOR WE FAIL THEM

The Lord’s Prayer (ALL)
(In our own mother-tongues)

Silence

Closing responses
In work and worship
GOD IS WITH US
Gathered and scattered
GOD IS WITH US
Now and always
GOD IS WITH US

Copyright (c) Iona community

April 4th Morning prayer

WORSHIP ECUMENICAL CENTRE, Friday, 4 April, 2008.

Call to worship

Leader: O Lord open our lips
All: And our mouth shall show forth your praise.
L: O God make speed to save us.
A: O Lord make haste to help us
L: O God show your mercy upon us.
A: And grant us your salvation.
L: This is the day which our Lord has made.
A: Let us all rejoice and be glad in it.

O God, early in the morning I cry to you. Help me to pray and to concentrate my thoughts on you: I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness. But with you there is light; I am lonely, but you do not leave me; I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help; I am restless, but with you there is peace. In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience; I do not understand you ways, but you know the way for me.
Restore me to liberty, and enable me so to live now that I may answer before you and before men. Lord, whatever this day may bring, your name be praised. Amen
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Agape 64 O healing river

Psalm 46
Men: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Women: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;

Men: Though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

Women: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.

Men: God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.

Women: The nations are in an uproar,
the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.

Men: The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

New Testament Reading: 1 Peter 3 8-12

Tribute to Martin Luther King on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his death.

Intercessions
We trust that beyond the absence:
there is a presence.
That beyond the pain:
there can be healing.
That beyond the brokenness:
there can be wholeness.
That beyond the hurting:
there may be forgiveness.
That beyond the silence:
there may be the word.
That through the word:
there may be understanding.

All: That through all understanding: there is love.
Amen

Let us pray,
Lord God of our birth and our creation, we thank you for the amazing gift of life. Help us to treasure all life and work toward ending violence. Strengthen us to abide by your laws, to keep your commandments to love and respect others, as ourselves.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy hear us

God of Grace, we pray for the church, for the leaders of the churches and this week in the Ecumenical prayer cycle we pray for people and churches of Brunei, Malaysia and Singapour. Strengthen and guide them so that they may follow your ways.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy hear us

Lord, we thank you for our community in the ecumenical centre, for the spirit of fellowship and the bonds of friendship - unite us in our worship and work.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy hear us

God of all nations, we pray for a closer dialogue between all people, so that fear is replaced with trust and understand, and our lives are enriched by the diversity of cultures, so that we can live in peace.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy hear us

Compassionate god, may the peace we speak of be such an integral part of our lives that we may become vessels of peace in our homes, communities and the world.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy hear us

God of love and care, embrace all those who suffer with your healing touch, we pray particularly today for those suffering from war – Iraq, the Middle East and Darfur. Bless and protect those who protect and care for them.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy hear us

Father God, we entrust to you our families, friends, colleagues, those we love and those we find it hard to love. We hold in your presence those who are sick we thank you for the lives of those who have left us, especially remembering today the life of Martin Luther King.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy hear us

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow charity;Where there is injury, pardon;Where there is error, the truth;Where there is doubt, the faith;Where there is despair, hope;Where there is darkness, light; andWhere there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master,Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;To be understood as to understand;To be loved as to love;For it is in giving that we receive;It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life.
Amen. Saint Francis of Assisi

The Lord’s Prayer

Grace
The blessing and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit through his love for humanity be with us all now and always.
Amen.

An order for morning prayer during Easter time

The following order for morning prayer was prepared by Yvette Milosevic for morning prayer on Thursday, 3rd April, 2008 in the Ecumenical Centre Geneva

Leader: O Lord open our lips
All: And our mouth shall show forth your praise.
Leader: O God make speed to save us.
All: O Lord make haste to help us
Leader: O God show your mercy upon us.
All: And grant us your salvation.
Leader: This is the day which our Lord has made.
All: Let us all rejoice and be glad in it.

Sing Thuma Mina 6

PSALM 16:
1 Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge.
2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."
3 As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.
5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
11 You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

READING: Acts 2: 14a, 22-32

Sing Thuma Mina 46

Prayer
Lord, when I am hungry,
give me someone needing of food;
When I am thirsty,
send me someone needing a drink;
When I am cold,
send me someone to warm;
When I am grieved,
offer me some to console;
When my cross grows heavy,
let me share another's cross too;
When I am poor,
lend me to someone in need;
When I have not time,
give me someone I can help a little while;
When I am humiliated,
let me have someone to praise;
When I am disheartened,
send me someone to cheer;
When I need understanding,
give me someone who needs mine;
When I need to be looked after,
send me someone to care for;
When I think only of myself,
draw my thoughts to another.
Mother Theresa of Calcutta

Prayers of Intercession

O God of Grace, we thank you for bringing us here together today, people from different churches and countries, we thank you for the work of the World Council of Churches and other church organizations, the YMCA and YWCA , all with office in Geneva, we thank you for the many ecumenical and international agencies based in Geneva, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the agencies of the United Nations. We ask for help to make time in our busy lives to nurture the spirituality which is a gift from you to each of us.
God of Grace,
Hear our prayer

O God of Peace, we pray for the peoples and churches of Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore. We thank you for those who struggle for human rights against great odds. We ask you to strengthen the people who are persecuted for their faith. Guide them through your paths of peace, justice and reconciliation.
Inspire political leaders with your Holy Spirit.
God of Peace,
Hear our prayer.

O God of Love, help us to be the voices of Your vision of hope and love. Help us to grow in our own faith, so as to be able to reach out in faith to others of faith, instead of condemning them or shutting them out because of our own small-mindedness, ignorance or fear
God in your love,
Hear our prayer

O God of Compassion, we ask you to open us to one another and to enable us to see that of God in each of our colleagues. Enable us to reach out to each other for support, break down barriers between us, help us to care for the vulnerable and sick, and to share with those in need.
God in your Compassion,
Hear our prayer

Lord our God,
Enlighten your church,
That wherever it may be,
It will never seek for its interests
But will only serve you faithfully.
Grant your church wisdom and courage,
That it may break down all boundaries,
So that humankind will become one again.
In Jesus’ name.

THE LORD'S PRAYER (each in your own language)

CLOSING PRAYER

Eternal God,
the sun never sets on the earth you created.
Grant to all your peoples, from east to west,
the light and life that are ever new in Christ.
From morning until evening let us praise you,
and in your presence do our work day by day,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.