Preparation

Find a quiet place where you can be alone without distractions. Light candles (or a small fire). Take a few moments to center yourself.

Approach

Make the Sign of the Cross while saying:

In the name of God, the Three-in-One, the One-in-Three,
One holy and blessed Trinity, now and for ever. AMEN.

Druid Call for Peace

Deep within the still center of my being
May I find peace.
Silently within the quiet of the grove
May I share peace.
Gently (or powerfully) within the greater circle of humankind
May I radiate peace.

Greeting the Four Directions

Adapted from Canticle of the Creatures, St. Francis of Assisi

From the Center, facing East say:

Most High, all-powerful, good God,
all praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.

Walk to the East Quarter, light a candle and say:

All praise to you, O God,
through our Kindred Wind,
through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,
through whom you sustain your creatures.

Walk sunwise (clockwise) to the South, light a candle and say:

All praise to you, O God, 
through our Kindred Fire,
through whom you light the night,
Who is beautiful and playful, robust and strong.

Walk sunwise to the West, light a candle and say:

All praise to you, O God, 
through our Kindred Water,
so useful, humble, precious and pure.

Walk sunwise to the North, light a candle and say:

All praise to you, O God, 
through our Kindred Earth,
who sustains us and governs us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Walk to the Center, face East, light the God/Jesus/Sun candle and say:

All praise to you, O God,
through our Kindred Sun, who brings the day;
and through whom you give us light.
How beautiful, how radiant in splendor;
Bearing the likeness of the Most High.

Still facing East, light the Goddess/Mary/Moon candle and say:

All praise to you, O God, 
through our Kindreds Moon and stars;
in the heavens you have made them,
bright, and precious, and fair.

Bow, make the sign of the cross, and say:

All praise and honor to God, Eternal Spirit, Maker of all that is;
To Jesu, the Christ, Bearer of our humanity;
And to the Holy Spirit, Awen and Breath of life.
As it was in the Beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
So may it be.
AMEN.

The Druid’s Prayer

Grant, O God, Thy Protection;
And in protection, strength;
And in strength, understanding;
And in understanding, knowledge;
And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice;
And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it;
And in that love, the love of all existences;
And in the love of all existences, the love of God: Creator, Redeemer, and Life-Giver,
Mary our mother,
all the angels and saints,
All of creation that sustains and nourishes us,
and all goodness.

Adapted from Iolo Morganwg (attributed)

The Word of God

Psalmody

Psalm 19:1-6 OR Psalm 8

At the end of the Psalm say:

Glory be to God, the Three-in-One, the One-in-Three;*
one holy and blessed Trinity, now and for ever. AMEN.

Scripture Reading

Genesis 1:1-2:3 OR Job 12:7-10

At the end of the reading say:

For the Word of God in Scripture,

For the Word of God among us,

For the Word of God within us,

Thanks be to God

Iona Community

Canticle

A Song of Creation

Prayers

Prayers of Intercession

Offer prayers for the following:

• The members of your local congregation/grove/coven
• Those who suffer, those who are sick, and those in trouble
• The concerns of your local community
• The world, its people, and its leaders
• The universal Church, its leaders, its members, and its mission
• Those who have died
• Any other concerns or thanksgivings

The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
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;
And where 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 that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

The Prayer that Jesus Taught

Our Father, Who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Leave-Taking

Blessing

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield overshadow me.
Christ under me; Christ over me;
Christ beside me, on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Adapted from St. Patrick’s Breastplate,
From A Way of Living: A Worship, Prayer, and Liturgy Resource for the Lindisfarne Community, Jane Hall Fitzgibbon and Andrew Fitzgibbon

The Druid Vow

We swear by peace and love to stand,
Heart to heart, and hand in hand,
Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now,
Confirming this, our sacred vow.

Make the Sign of the Cross while saying:

In the name of God, the Three-in-One, the One-in-Three,
One holy and blessed Trinity, now and for ever. AMEN.

Extinguish candles/fire and leave the space.