Service of Contemplative Prayer in the Style of Taizé
Seekers Church
A Christian Community
In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour
Service of Contemplative Prayer in the Style of Taizé
January 2, 2005
CIRCLE TIME
ENTRANCE
Chant: Taize Songbook # 41
Veni Sancte Spiritus
Come Holy Spirit
REFLECTION
Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead, love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and neighbor, love for plea and gift and sign.
Christina Rossetti
CHANT Taize Songbook # 47
In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful…
SILENCE
CHANT Taize Songbook # 20
O Lord hear my prayer…
PRAYERS
CHANT Taize Songbook # 36
The Lord is my light, my light and salvation …
SCRIPTURE
READING FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES
READING FROM THE GOSPEL
SILENCE
OFFERING
Chant: Taize Songbook # 9
Bless the Lord, my soul …
COMMUNION
Leader 1: Friends, this is the joyful feast of the people of God.
Leader 2: We come to the Lord’s table as chosen people.
We come in our brokenness
and in our desire for life lived out of love.
People: O God, in our inmost spirits,
transform our sharing of bread and wine
into an opening of us into you,
into one another, into creation.
Increase your life within us
so that we may more totally be the body of Christ.
Leader 1: Friends, all persons who sincerely turn away from sin,
and desire to live a new life of loving and doing God’s will,
are welcome to receive this sacrament in faith.
Leader 2: Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.
She who comes to me shall never hunger;
he who believes in me shall never thirst.”
Come. Believe.
Leader 1: On the night of his arrest Jesus took bread,
and after giving thanks to God, broke it and said,
“This is my body which is for you; do this remembering me.”
(BREAKING OF THE BREAD)
Leader 2: After supper Jesus took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood; whenever you drink it, do this remembering me.”
(POURING OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE)
(SHARING OF THE ELEMENTS)
Chant: Taize Songbook # 49
Ubi caritas et amor …
Where there is charity and love …
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION
Unison: God of new life, with joy we have received this sacrament of bread and wine, giving you thanks for Jesus Christ, our peace and our hope. Unite your church throughout the world in continuing Christ’s ministry of love and servanthood, that your name may be praised in all the earth. AMEN.
CHANT Taize Songbook # 16
Gloria, Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
BENEDICTION
Leader: Go into the world in peace;
have courage; hold onto what is good;
return to no one evil for evil;
strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak;
help the suffering;
honor all people;
love and serve God,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
