Holy Week Night Prayer Wed 8th April 2020, 8:30pm
Approach
The angels of God guard us through the night,
and quieten the powers of darkness.
The Spirit of God be our guide
to lead us to peace and to glory.
It is but lost labour that we haste to rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of anxiety.
For those beloved of God are given gifts even while they sleep.
Silence
E te whānau/My brothers and sisters,
our help is in the name of the eternal God,
who is making the heavens and the earth.
Dear God,
thank you for all that is good,
for our creation and for our humanity,
for the stewardship you have given us of this planet earth,
for the gifts of life and of one another,
for your love which is unbounded and eternal.
O thou, most holy and beloved,
my Companion, my Guide upon the way,
tāku whetū mārama i te pō / my bright evening star.
We repent the wrongs we have done:
Silence
We have wounded your love.
O God, heal us.
We stumble in the darkness.
Light of the world transfigure us.
We forget that we are your home.
Spirit of God, dwell in us.
Eternal Spirit, living God,
in whom we live and move and have our being,
all that we are, have been, and shall be is known to you,
to the very secret of our hearts
and all that rises to trouble us.
Living flame burn into us,
cleansing wind, blow through us,
fountain of water, well up within us,
that we may love and praise in deed and in truth.
Silence
Eternal Spirit, flow through our being and open our lips,
that our mouths may proclaim your praise.
Let us worship the God of love.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Psalm 134
We your servants bless you, O God,
as we stand by night in your house.
We lift up our hands towards the holy place,
and give you thanks and praise.
Bless us from all places where you dwell,
O God, creator of the heavens and the earth.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be;
World without end. Amen.
Reading for Wednesday (Matthew 6:31-34)
Do not ask anxiously, What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What shall we wear?
The whole world runs after such things.
Set your heart and mind on God’s commonwealth and justice first, and all the rest will come to you as well.
So do not be anxious about tomorrow.
Today has enough problems of its own; tomorrow can look after itself.
Silence
Reflection
Hymn
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world we pray,
that you, with love and lasting light,
would guard us through the hours of night.
From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
from nightly fears and fantasies;
redeem through us our evil foe,
that we no lasting harm may know.
O wisest Guide, grant all we ask,
fulfil in us your holy task,
surround us with your love and care,
and lead us on, your life to share.
All praise to God, sustaining us,
redeeming and transforming us,
thanksgiving in eternity,
Prayers begin (Te reo Māori optional)
Into your hands, O God, I commend my spirit,
Tōku wairua ki ōu ringaringa, e te Atua,
For you have redeemed me, O God of truth and love.
Nāu nei ahau i hoko, e te Atua o te pono, o te aroha.
Keep me, O God, as the apple of an eye;
Ko koe hei totara whakamarumaru mōku;
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
Huna ahau ki raro i ōu parirau.
Alleluia. The Lamb who was slain has conquered. Alleluia.
All who follow the Way will share in the victory. Alleluia, alleluia.
Song of Simeon / Nunc Dimittis
Praise be to God, I have lived to see this day.
God’s promise is fulfilled, and my duty done.
At last you have given me peace,
for I have seen with my own eyes
the salvation you have prepared for all nations -
a light to the world in its darkness,
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory be to God, sustaining, redeeming, sanctifying,
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever.
Amen.
Silence
Lord, have mercy.
E te Ariki kia aroha mai.
Kyrie eleison.
Christ, have mercy.
E te Karaiti kia aroha mai.
Christe eleison.
Lord have mercy.
E te Ariki kia aroha mai.
Kyrie eleison.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Prayer continues...
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen.
The minister and people pray responsively.
I will lie down in peace and take my rest,
Ka takoto ahau, ka whakatā,
For it is in God alone that I dwell unafraid.
I roto i te Atua e kore ahau e wehi.
Let us bless the Earth-maker, the Pain-bearer, the Life-giver,
Tātou ka whakapai i te Kai-hanga, i te Kai-whakamārie, i te Kai-hōmai i te ora,
Let us praise and exalt God above all for ever.
Tātou ka whakapai, ka whakanui i te Atua mō ake tonu atu.
May God’s name be praised beyond the furthest star,
Whakanuia te ingoa o te Atua ki ngā Tūārangi,
Glorified and exalted above all for ever.
Whakapaingia, whakamoemititia mō ake tonu atu.
Final Prayer
Lord,
it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.
In your name we pray.
Amen.
Sentence for Wednesday
O God,
strengthen your servants with your heavenly grace,
that we may continue yours for ever,
and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more,
until we come to your everlasting kingdom.
Final Versicle
The divine Spirit dwells in us.
Kia noho te Wairua o te Runga Rawa ki a tātou.
Thanks be to God.
Whakamoemititia a Ihowā.
At this point you will be returned to view the group present.
It may be appropriate to continue in discussion before we break for the night.
The angels of God guard us through the night,
and quieten the powers of darkness.
The Spirit of God be our guide
to lead us to peace and to glory.
It is but lost labour that we haste to rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of anxiety.
For those beloved of God are given gifts even while they sleep.
Silence
E te whānau/My brothers and sisters,
our help is in the name of the eternal God,
who is making the heavens and the earth.
Dear God,
thank you for all that is good,
for our creation and for our humanity,
for the stewardship you have given us of this planet earth,
for the gifts of life and of one another,
for your love which is unbounded and eternal.
O thou, most holy and beloved,
my Companion, my Guide upon the way,
tāku whetū mārama i te pō / my bright evening star.
We repent the wrongs we have done:
Silence
We have wounded your love.
O God, heal us.
We stumble in the darkness.
Light of the world transfigure us.
We forget that we are your home.
Spirit of God, dwell in us.
Eternal Spirit, living God,
in whom we live and move and have our being,
all that we are, have been, and shall be is known to you,
to the very secret of our hearts
and all that rises to trouble us.
Living flame burn into us,
cleansing wind, blow through us,
fountain of water, well up within us,
that we may love and praise in deed and in truth.
Silence
Eternal Spirit, flow through our being and open our lips,
that our mouths may proclaim your praise.
Let us worship the God of love.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Psalm 134
We your servants bless you, O God,
as we stand by night in your house.
We lift up our hands towards the holy place,
and give you thanks and praise.
Bless us from all places where you dwell,
O God, creator of the heavens and the earth.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be;
World without end. Amen.
Reading for Wednesday (Matthew 6:31-34)
Do not ask anxiously, What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What shall we wear?
The whole world runs after such things.
Set your heart and mind on God’s commonwealth and justice first, and all the rest will come to you as well.
So do not be anxious about tomorrow.
Today has enough problems of its own; tomorrow can look after itself.
Silence
Reflection
Hymn
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world we pray,
that you, with love and lasting light,
would guard us through the hours of night.
From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
from nightly fears and fantasies;
redeem through us our evil foe,
that we no lasting harm may know.
O wisest Guide, grant all we ask,
fulfil in us your holy task,
surround us with your love and care,
and lead us on, your life to share.
All praise to God, sustaining us,
redeeming and transforming us,
thanksgiving in eternity,
Prayers begin (Te reo Māori optional)
Into your hands, O God, I commend my spirit,
Tōku wairua ki ōu ringaringa, e te Atua,
For you have redeemed me, O God of truth and love.
Nāu nei ahau i hoko, e te Atua o te pono, o te aroha.
Keep me, O God, as the apple of an eye;
Ko koe hei totara whakamarumaru mōku;
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
Huna ahau ki raro i ōu parirau.
Alleluia. The Lamb who was slain has conquered. Alleluia.
All who follow the Way will share in the victory. Alleluia, alleluia.
Song of Simeon / Nunc Dimittis
Praise be to God, I have lived to see this day.
God’s promise is fulfilled, and my duty done.
At last you have given me peace,
for I have seen with my own eyes
the salvation you have prepared for all nations -
a light to the world in its darkness,
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory be to God, sustaining, redeeming, sanctifying,
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever.
Amen.
Silence
Lord, have mercy.
E te Ariki kia aroha mai.
Kyrie eleison.
Christ, have mercy.
E te Karaiti kia aroha mai.
Christe eleison.
Lord have mercy.
E te Ariki kia aroha mai.
Kyrie eleison.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Prayer continues...
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen.
The minister and people pray responsively.
I will lie down in peace and take my rest,
Ka takoto ahau, ka whakatā,
For it is in God alone that I dwell unafraid.
I roto i te Atua e kore ahau e wehi.
Let us bless the Earth-maker, the Pain-bearer, the Life-giver,
Tātou ka whakapai i te Kai-hanga, i te Kai-whakamārie, i te Kai-hōmai i te ora,
Let us praise and exalt God above all for ever.
Tātou ka whakapai, ka whakanui i te Atua mō ake tonu atu.
May God’s name be praised beyond the furthest star,
Whakanuia te ingoa o te Atua ki ngā Tūārangi,
Glorified and exalted above all for ever.
Whakapaingia, whakamoemititia mō ake tonu atu.
Final Prayer
Lord,
it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.
In your name we pray.
Amen.
Sentence for Wednesday
O God,
strengthen your servants with your heavenly grace,
that we may continue yours for ever,
and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more,
until we come to your everlasting kingdom.
Final Versicle
The divine Spirit dwells in us.
Kia noho te Wairua o te Runga Rawa ki a tātou.
Thanks be to God.
Whakamoemititia a Ihowā.
At this point you will be returned to view the group present.
It may be appropriate to continue in discussion before we break for the night.
