Celebrating Alban Arthan: A Liturgy for the Winter Solstice

December 22, 2022

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

From the Center, facing East say:

All praise and honor are yours, O God.
Angels and Archangels sing your praise.
Even at this darkest time of the year,
Winter’s barren trees and evergreens proclaim your glory.
The four corners of the earth honor you
And bring us your radiance and power.

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

With the Hawk of Dawn soaring in the clear, pure AIR,
With the ever green pines, cedars, and firs,
We await the return of light in the EAST.
With Mary, Our Mother, 
we pray for wisdom, perception, and vision.

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

With the great Stag in the heat of the chase,
With the prickly holly leaf and its blood-red berries,
We look to the SOUTH as we await the coming of the new Sun’s FIRE.
With the prophets of old and those among us now,
We pray for strength, passion, and courage.

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

With the Salmon of Wisdom who dwells in the sacred WATERS of the pool,
With the growing green and twisting ivy,
We turn to the restorative darkness of the WEST.
Finding strength in living community of believers and the communion of saints,
We pray for intuition, spiritual understanding, companionship, and love.

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

With the great Bear of the Starry Heavens,
With the deep and fruitful EARTH,
With the mistletoe that hangs between heaven and earth,
We turn to the NORTH, seeking stability and strength.
With all of creation that nurtures and sustains us,
We pray that our lives will bear good fruit in the coming year.

Walk to the Center, face East, light the God/Jesus/Sun and the Goddess/Mary/Moon candles.

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 in the Beginning, so now, and for ever.
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)

Song

The Word of God

Scripture Reading

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
John 1:1-9 (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised)

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

Arise, shine; for your light has come,*
    and the glory of God is rising upon you.
Though night still covers the earth,*
    and darkness the peoples;
Above you the Holy One arises,*
    and above you God’s glory appears.
The nations will come to your light,*
    and rulers to you dawning brightness.

No more will the sun give you day light,*
nor moonlight shine upon you;
but God will be your everlasting light,*
    your God will be your glory.
Your sun shall no more go down,
    or your moon withdraw itself;*
for God will be your everlasting light.
Isaiah 60:1-3; 19-20, adapted from The Song of the New Jerusalem, from A Way of Living: A Worship, Prayer and Liturgy Resource for the Lindisfarne Community, Jane Hall Fitz-Gibbon and Andrew Fitz-Gibbon. Copyright © 2006, Jane Hall Fitz-Gibbon and Andrew Fitz-Gibbon.

At the end of the Canticle say:

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

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

Collect

Great Light, we are very aware of the darkness of this season, but we are also aware that the natural light will increase from here on. Help us walk in your ways so that we can play our part in righteous living, as you work within us to increase the light to its full brightness. We ask this in the name of our Saviour, Jesu, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
adapted from The Celtic Year: A Rhythm of Prayer and Meditation for the Eight Points of the Celtic Year, David Cole, Text Copyright © 2020. The Bible Reading Fellowship

The Prayer that Jesu 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

May the evergreen trees remind us that, even in the darkest and most desolate of times, the new dawn is just over the horizon.

May the prickly holly with its red berries remind us of the fire of the Sun.

May the curling, twisting ivy remind remind us that we need each other for support and companionship.

May the mistletoe that hangs between heaven and earth, deriving strength from both, remind us to plant good seeds and bear good fruit in the coming year.

With Mary, our Mother, may we be willing to bring God into our world.

+++ In the name of God, Eternal Spirit, our Maker, Jesu, the Christ and bearer of our humanity, and the Holy Spirit, font of wisdom and inspiration. AMEN.

Extinguish candles/fire and leave the space.

Celebrating God’s Fool, St. Francis of Assisi

October 5, 2022

Celebrating God’s Fool, St. Francis of Assisi

Written by

davidcantus

Originally Published

October 5, 2022

Prayers, Rituals, Seasons and Celebrations

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.

Creating a Sacred Space

September 15, 2022

OMGs! I’m supposed to have an altar?!?!

One of the positive effects of the COVID pandemic has been an increasing awareness among many religious folks of the need for developing a personal spiritual practice: daily prayer, meditation, spiritual reading, and so forth. One of the first questions many people who engage in a personal devotional or ritual practice ask is how to create a sacred space, more specifically, how to set up an altar. If you go online, you’ll find that there are as many ways to build an altar as there are people who use them for their spiritual practice. Orthodox Christians will often have a corner or cabinet in their homes filled with various icons, while Catholics may have a space dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary or a particular saint. For some Protestant Christians it may be a space set aside for daily Bible reading and prayer. For my mother it was always the living room sofa early in the morning before getting ready for work. Many neo-Pagan practitioners have a variety of altars or shrines dedicated to one deity or another or to their ancestors. While some people have a space dedicated to devotional practice, others will use the same chair they watch TV from. For some that space may be the car, bus, or train on the way to work; I’ve played recordings of morning prayer from various sources during my 30–45-minute drive to work on several occasions. The takeaway from this is that there is no one correct or proper way to do this, so if you’re getting hung up on “the rules” you can breathe easy and concentrate on finding something that works for you.

Some General Principles

What religion or tradition are you practicing?

This may seem obvious, but it bears thinking about. Are you practicing Gardnerian Wicca, Russian Orthodox Christianity, ADF Druidry? If that’s the case, those traditions may have very specific guidelines for setting up your altar and you should follow those. But what if your path isn’t as clear? What if your practicing eclectic witchcraft or, in my case, Christian Druidry? Following on that, what element is dominant in your religious practice? Are you an eclectic Witch with an emphasis on Alexandrian Wicca? Are you a Christian doing Druid things or a Druid doing Christian things? Taking some time to ponder this question may help clear up any confusion. In my case, I’m a Christian doing Druid things; to complicate things a little more, my Christianity is a mashup of Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Celtic. What follows will be from this perspective since that is my experience and I cannot presume to speak for someone with a different experience.

Why do you want or need an altar?

When I first started exploring Wicca, I was tied up in knots when it came to doing rituals or magical workings. I was so scared of setting up my altar the wrong way or using the wrong color of candle or any number of things that I didn’t do anything for a long time. While decorated altars, candles, wands, athames, incense, and the like are great tools for focusing your prayer or ritual workings, you don’t need any of it. Everything you need is already within you. Don’t get so caught up in the external trappings that you don’t actually do anything. I’m a visually oriented and artistic person whose best experiences of church involved lots of color, symbols, as movement, so these things are important to me in my own practice. In fact, creating the physical space for my work is a key part of my practice. Other folks find all my stuff distracting. My partner actually commented that I have “way too much shit.” If you fall into that category and just having a quiet space is enough for you, then that’s all you need and you’re good to go. If you’re like me and find the visual aspect important, that’s great, too. In either case, please read on.

Where will you have your altar?

I have a room that I can set aside as a sacred space, but I’m aware that’s a luxury a lot of people don’t have. Regardless, here are some things to think about.

Is there a dedicated space for a permanent altar setup? This can be a table or cabinet in a corner, or a shelf in a bookcase?
If you live in a small place where space is at a premium, if you like to go out on a balcony or to a park, or if you travel a lot, you can create a “portable altar” by keeping a small box that is easy to carry around with you, a wooden box with a hinged top or a cigar box work well for this. It’s actually possible to use something as small as a mint tin or a small sewing notions box. If you’re crafty, you can use decoupage, paint, a wood-burning tool, etc. to personalize it. I keep a cloth, some LED candles, a small standing cross, a set of small icons, and a vial of holy water in mine.
It would be great if we lived in a society where everyone accepted everyone else unconditionally, but unfortunately that’s not the case. Maybe you live with others who might not understand or approve. I live in a hotbed of red-state fundamentalist evangelicals who are convinced that everyone who is not them is practicing devil worship, even other Christians. What they think of Druidry or witchcraft is pretty evident, so I understand the need to be somewhat careful with how open you can be. In that situation you might want a set up you can hide. This is easy to do by using a cabinet with doors or even a trunk or storage ottoman.

What’s important to you?

Everyone has different emphases for spiritual practice, even those who follow traditions with specific rules. When exploring what items to place on your altar, keep in mind those things most important to you.

Is devotion to a deity, saint, local spirit a priority in your practice? If so, you may want to place statues, drawings or paintings of and/or symbols associated with them on your altar. Some people have several altars, each dedicated to a different being or purpose.
If your altar has a devotional focus, you may want to think about using objects that help you focus your prayers and/or other offerings. Such objects might include candles, incense, water, journal, prayer book, bell or chimes, or a singing bowl.
Are there particular symbols that are symbolic of your faith? For example, Wiccans may want a pentacle, Druids an awen symbol, and Christians might want a cross of some sort.
Other items might include some sort of altar cloth and seasonal decorations or symbols. This can be anything and it’s fun to think outside the box. For altar cloths, I’ve used tablecloths, table runners, decorative towels, and placemats. Seasonal elements can include flowers and other plant material, a cornocopia in the fall, gnomes, Tarot cards or saint cards. Again, it’s fun to think outside the box and let your creative impulses run wild.

What’s the purpose?

Altars can be permanent with changes made according to season or they can be temporary, like a memorial altar to honor ancestors at Samhain or All Souls. They can be dedicated for a specific intention and dismantled when that intention is satisfied. If you’re setting up a space dedicated to praying and/or making offerings for a special intention, you might want to do a little research into colors, crystals, incenses, and so forth associated with that purpose.

What does this look like?

What follows are some photos of my space as it currently exists. These photos are from shortly before the Fall Equinox (Alban Elfed or Mabon).

My primary altar

This is my main indoor devotional altar, constructed on the top of a shelving unit with drawers that I use to store supplies. On the wall in the top center is an awen symbol I made using a grapevine wreath from a craft store and three feathers. Under the awen symbol is a Celtic cross. The four pictures are saints that are important to me. On the top left is Hildegard of Bingen, Holy Wisdom is on the top right. The lower left is occupied by an icon of my personal patron, St. Francis of Assisi. And on the lower right is a print of Brigid.

The centerpiece of the altar is a diptych of the Theotokos and Christ Pantokrator. An icon of the Holy Trinity sits to the right. That icon changes according to the season or occasion. My communion cup and plate are beside that. At the very front I have a vessel of holy water and a smaller bowl with salt, both symbols of purity. Other than a lot of candles (I may have a problem), there are seasonal decorations, in this case a cornucopia and a fall floral arrangement. I’m using a red tablecloth as an altar cloth. Not in the picture is a stand holding my prayer book and a Bible.

Directional Altars

The elements of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth are an important part of my spirituality and figure prominently in my devotions and rituals. Each element is associated with a direction – Air/East, Fire/South, Water/West, Earth/North. A quick search will reveal many concepts and objects that correspond to each element. My directional altars are small shelves I’ve hung on the walls in the four corners of my room and have at their center an icon of an Archangel surrounded by various symbols and objects I associate with that direction. [Disclaimer: I have the Archangels in different places than the “traditional” directions; basically, I swapped Raphael and Gabriel because their traditional placement doesn’t make sense to me.]

East

Starting in the East, this altar represents Air. Among other things, Air is the realm of communication. It also represents wisdom and intellect. At the center is an icon of the Archangel Gabriel, who most often shows up in the Bible delivering messages. I have a feather and several musical items: egg shakers, a tuning fork that belonged to an aunt, and various music-themed prints hanging on the wall around the shelf (including an image of St. Cecilia, patron of musicians).

I have a small owl figurine as a representation of the sacred hawk of dawn (because I found a hawk yet), the animal associated with the East in Revival Druidry. There is also a yellow-ish dragon, yellow being the color corresponding with Air and because I have a thing for dragons. I have a large singing bowl on a shelf in an adjacent bookcase.

South

Moving clockwise around the room, we come to the South, the realm of Fire. The Archangel Michael centers this altar. I have a representation of the Sun hanging above, an incense burner, two stones – citrine and sunstone, and a playful little lizard who never made it out to the garden this year. A red dragon and a stag, the Druid animal association, round out this altar.

West

Continuing on, we enter the realm of Water, the West. The Archangel Raphael, the healer, is here. In the West, Revival Druidry calls upon the Salmon of Wisdom who swims in the sacred pool. A glass fish and a fish windchime made by one of my aunts represent her. I have a couple of seashells, a piece of rose quartz, and a blue dragon. The moon lamp was not originally part of my plan for this space, but after thinking about it, it makes sense because the Moon is associated with inner working and intuition, both qualities of Water.

North

The North is the realm of Earth, watched over by the Archangel Uriel. Druid symbols include a couple of oak leaves, an antler, and a black bear figurine. There are also a couple of small stones and buckeyes, along with a green dragon. Hanging above the shelf is a pyrographic print of the Celtic Tree of Life. On a table underneath (not pictured) I have a small statue of Cernunnos and a print of the Green Man.

Some concluding thoughts

Sacred spaces are very personal, and there are myriad ways to construct one. The important thing is that your space, whether permanent, temporary, camouflaged or otherwise, works for you. There is no right or wrong way. What I’ve shared here is fairly elaborate, but I’ve only recently been able to do this. I used multi-function, camouflaged spaces and kept my supplies in a box in the closet or in a drawer for a long time. Experiment and play around. You’ll soon find out what works.

One final pic – my Nerd Shrine, just for fun. My collection of Star Wars, LOTR, and Harry Potter knick-knacks with Marvin the Martian front and center.

Bright blessings and may peace be with you!

Druid in the Hills Daily Prayer

July 18, 2022

This prayer is an adaptation of the Christian Liturgy of the Hours, or Daily Office, incorporating Druid and Christian elements, that can be used any time of the day.

Approach

Preparation

Find a quiet place where you can be alone without distraction.

Light candles or a small fire, if you like.

Take a few moments to center yourself. Here are a couple of ideas, if you’re at a loss for something.

Take some deep breaths – in and out. Focus on your breathing.
Chant the word, Awen, AH-OO-WEN, drawing out each syllable.
This prayer, the 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.

When you’re ready to begin, make the sign of the cross and say:

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

Greeting the Four Directions

For the following, if you like, stand and face each direction, or walk to that position. Pause after each line to visualize peace spreading to that direction.

May there be Peace in the North.
May there be Peace in the South.
May there be Peace in the West.
May there be Peace in the East.
Facing east,
Through the strength of heaven,
Light of the sun,
Splendor of Fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of rock -
May there be Peace in the Land, in the Sea, and in the Sky.
May there be Peace throughout the world.

The Druid 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, Eternal Spirit, Maker of all that is;
Jesu, the Christ, Bearer of our humanity;
The Holy Spirit, Fount of Wisdom, Awen, and Breath of Life;
Mary, Most Holy Theotokos and Our Mother;
All the angels and saints;
All Creation that nourishes and sustains us;
And All that is Good.
Adapted from The Druid Prayer, attributed to Iolo Morganwg

Chant some AWENS.

Depending on the time of day, face East, and say or chant one of the following.

O Dawning Sun (Morning)

O Dawning Sun, O Sign of Christ, O Sacred Seal
of All! We hail you as you arise from the
darkness of oblivion.

O Divine Word! O Christ! O Creator of the
Vastness of the Universe! We hail you Sun, as
you end the night, and come to create the Day.

We reunite ourselves with you in this moment, as
you travel through all the circles of the universe,
manifesting one Wisdom, one Beauty and one
Strength.
— Morning Prayer, The Order of St. Cyprian of Antioch

Light of the World (Evening/Sunset)

Light of the world, in grace and beauty,
Mirror of God’s eternal face,
Transparent flame of love’s free duty,
You bring salvation to our race.
Now, as we see the lights of evening,
We raise our voice in hymns of praise;
Worthy are you of endless blessing,
Sun of our night, lamp of our days
— Evening Prayer, Enriching Our Worship 1, The Episcopal Church

Song

Sing or play a recording of a chant, hymn, or other song. Here are my Spotify playlists for Morning and Evening:

Readings, Reflection, and Prayer

Psalms and Biblical Readings

Psalms and Readings from Scripture follow a cycle. You can find the Daily Office Lectionary of The Episcopal Church here.

The Mission of St. Clare site has the complete texts of the Episcopal Daily Office.

For the Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Hours, go to the Universalis site.

You can find an Orthodox version of the Daily Office at the St. Gregory the Great Orthodox Church site.

Canticles

A canticle is a biblical song outside of the Psalms. While the Book of Common Prayer lists suggested canticles for different days and seasons, the Song of Simeon can be used for Morning Prayer and the Song of Mary for Evening Prayer.

If used in a group setting the asterisk* indicates a change of reader or group of readers.

Morning Canticle – The Song of Simeon (Benedictus Dominus)

Blessèd are you, the God of Israel,*
You have come your people and set them free.

You have raised up for us a mighty Savior,*
Born of the house of your servant, David.

Through your holy prophets you promised of old*
To save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.

To show mercy to our ancestors,*
And to remember your holy covenant.

This was the oath you swore to our ancestors, Abraham and Sarah,*
To set us free from the hands of our enemies.

Free to worship you without fear,*
Holy and righteous before you, all the days of our life.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,*
For you will go before God to prepare the way.

To give God’s people knowledge of salvation*
By the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God*
The dawn from on high shall break upon us,

To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,*
And to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1: 68-79, from A Way of Living: A Worship, Prayer and Liturgy Resource for the Lindisfarne Community, Jane Hall-Fitzgibbon and Andrew Fitz-Gibbon, Copyright © 2006 Jane Hall-Fitzgibbon and Andrew Fitzgibbon, The Lindisfarne Community.

Evening Canticle – The Song of Mary (Magnificat)

My soul proclaims the greatness of God,*
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

For you, O God, have looked with favor on your lowly servant.*
From this day all generations will call me blessed:

You, the all loving, have done great things for me*
and holy is your name.

You have mercy on those who revere you,*
from generation to generation.

You have shown strength with your arm*
and scattered the proud in their conceit.

Casting down the mighty from their thrones*
and lifting up the lowly.

You have filled the hungry with good things*
and sent the rich way empty.

You have come to the aid of your servant, Israel,*
to remember the promise of mercy,

The promise made to our ancestors,*
to Abraham, Sarah, and their children for ever.
Luke 1: 46-55, from A Way of Living: A Worship, Prayer and Liturgy Resource for the Lindisfarne Community, Jane Hall-Fitzgibbon and Andrew Fitz-Gibbon, Copyright © 2006 Jane Hall-Fitzgibbon and Andrew Fitzgibbon, The Lindisfarne Community.

The canticle concludes with:

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

Intercessions

Help us, O God our Savior; 
Deliver us and forgive us our sins. 

Look upon your congregation; 
Give to your people the blessing of peace. 

Declare your glory among the nations; 
And your wonders among all peoples.

Do not let the oppressed be shamed and turned away; 
Never forget the lives of your poor. 

Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you;
And your favor to those who are true of heart. 

Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; 
So shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.

Offer prayers for the following:
The members of this group/grove/coven/congregation...
Those who suffer and those in trouble...
The concerns of this local community...
The world, its people, and its leaders...
The universal Church -its leaders, its members, and its mission...
Those who have died…

The Prayer of Jesus

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 Lord’s Prayer, The New Zealand Book of Prayer | He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa

Leave-Taking

The Oath of Peace

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.

Final 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, Northumbria Community

Extinguish any candles or fire. Take a moment to ground.

Make the Sign of the Cross, then leave the space.

Celebrating America 2022

July 4, 2022

Today is the 4th of July, “America’s birthday.” Red, white, and blue banners are everywhere, the smell of grilling hamburgers permeates the air, and somewhere, someone is playing that damn Lee Greenwood song. People are shooting off fireworks, lining the streets to watch parades, and listening to bands and orchestras in parks all over the country. Folks are celebrating.

For many of us, the celebration feels very different this year. We’re celebrating a birthday, but it feels like the birthday of a loved one who has recently died. It feels like a wake.

Several years ago, I attended a professional conference in Arlington, Virginia. I took some time to go into Washington DC and do the touristy stuff. If you’ve never been to DC, there are monuments everywhere covered with quotes expressing beautiful visions for the country. These truly are lofty ideals for the America that can be. I was struck by the vision of these earlier generations of American leaders yet sobered by the realization that we as a country have not lived up to these ideals; that, for some, the lofty vision of America was not meant for them.

The poet, Langston Hughes, pleaded:

Let America be America again,
The land that never has been yet —
And yet must be — the land where every man is free.
Langston Hughes, “Let America Be America Again” from The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes.
Copyright © Langston Hughes, 1955

Throughout the poem Hughes states in a parenthetical aside that “It was never America for me.”

Despite our shortcomings as a nation, I (and many others) wanted to believe that we were learning, growing, and striving to be better, that we were working to realize the lofty ideals set forth in our founding documents. It is a dream that now lies in ashes at our feet.

For the first time in our history, the Supreme Court has turned its back on precedent and actually taken away rights. With the overturn of Roe v. Wade millions of women no longer have the right to control what happens to their bodies, making them, as some have said, little more than livestock. Justice Clarence Thomas has set his sights on other rulings based on the 14th Amendment: the right to contraception, same-sex relationships, and same-sex marriage. Conspicuously absent from Thomas’ list of rulings that should be revisited is the ruling in Loving v. Virginia, which grants interracial couples the right to marry. Overturning Loving would invalidate his marriage.

The Supreme Court has been busy. They’ve issued rulings targeting the Establishment Clause, deregulating power plant emissions, and overruling state restrictions on carrying guns. Next term, it looks as if they’re going to hear cases concerning non-discrimination laws and how states decide election results. The latter has some deeply troubling implications.

It seems that every day brings news of yet another mass shooting, the latest one being today at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois. School shootings, road rage killings, using a gun to end an altercation betray our cultural obsession with violence. Our first resort is to solve problems with violence and guns are the tool of choice. Even the obscene number of children shot and killed attending school doesn’t seem to get through to some. One politician even said that he was willing to sacrifice children if it meant preserving the 2nd Amendment. The 2nd Amendment has become our culture’s Moloch, a Canaanite god associated with child sacrifice, a practice strongly condemned in Leviticus.

In my home state of Tennessee, our governor has aligned himself with entities that want to dismantle public education, standing by silently while representatives of those entities disparage our teachers and our state’s colleges and universities.

This is just the tip of the iceberg; I could probably fill several pages with a list of all the problems we have. I will say that many of us are experiencing an existential threat. We make jokes referencing Margaret Atwood’s A Handmaid’s Tale but, deep down, we believe that it’s not a joke and we are terrified.

²⁸One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” ²⁹Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; ³⁰you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12: 28-31, New Revised Standard Version

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28, New Revised Standard Version

I keep hearing that we are a Christian nation, but what I’m seeing has little to do with the teachings of Jesus who came to show us a better way to live., the Jesus who told that the greatest commandments were to love God with all our being and our neighbors as ourselves. Instead of caring for the poor, the sick, and those without housing we demonize them and blame them and/or their lack of morals, character, and faith for their condition. Instead of caring for the strangers in our land as our own we lock them up, and often send them back to the dangerous and life-threatening conditions they were trying escape. What happens to a culture that forgets that all are made in the image of God, that we are all God’s children? How long can we ignore that what we do to one we do to all of us? Is there hope for us as a nation? Can America survive a descent into a Randian hellscape where everyone is only concerned for themselves, and fuck everyone else? I would like to believe so. It won’t be easy, and it will most certainly get messy. I leave you with the concluding stanzas of Langston Hughes’ Let America Be America. (The entire poem is here.)

O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath—
America will be!

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain—
All, all the stretch of these great green states—
And make America again!

Attribution: The header image, under-distress-flag-upside-down by Susan Ackeridge, is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Child of the Light: A Reflection on Alban Hefin, the Summer Solstice

June 22, 2021

Child of the Light

A Reflection on Alban Hefin, the Summer Solstice

At 11:32 pm EDT on Sunday, June 20, Earth reached the point in its orbit of the Sun where the Sun appears at its northernmost point. In the northern hemisphere this is the longest day of the year, the time when there is the most light. Because of orbital mechanics and other science-y stuff, the Sun appears to stand still for a couple of days before apparently reversing course and heading back south. From this time on, the days will start getting shorter, although here in East Tennessee, we won’t reach the height of summer until August.

The longest day is a time of great mystery and power. It has long been known that without the Sun there would be no life on Earth, prompting veneration and worship of the Sun, or at least a deity who represents the Sun or controls its track across our skies. For agrarian communities, this has profound practical significance as the summer sees fields start to grow and produce a hopefully bountiful harvest in the coming weeks. The light has ample symbolism for us: life, sight, power, warmth. For some of us, the June solstice means that the hottest and most unpleasant part of the summer is about to hit us hard, sending us either running for air conditioning or to the lakes and beaches for relief from the heat. Then, of course there are those hardy souls who crave the sun and spend as much time outside as possible during the summer. (I am not one of those; give me snow and ice any day.)

Today we see earth-lovers, Druids, neo-Pagans, and others gather at Stonehenge and other sacred sites to welcome the Sun as it rises on the longest day. Christians also welcome the coming of the light by celebrating the birth of John the Baptist on June 24. The Gospel of John describes John the Baptist’s role in this way:

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
John 1:6-9 (NRSV)

Malachi 4:2 refers to the Sun of Righteousness who rises “with healing in his wings,” a figure many see as Jesus.

During the week leading up to the solstice, I have turned once again to David Cole’s The Celtic Year during my morning prayers. This is a nifty little book of devotional readings and prayers built around the eight-fold cycle of the Celtic year. For the week of readings around the Summer Solstice, the focus is mainly on light. Beginning with the creation of light in Genesis, David Cole leads the reader in a reflective journey on light, beginning with the creation of light in Genesis and ending with the saints who have gone before us to light the way. Here’s a summary of what I’m taking away at this point.

We need light to see; what we see and how we see it are largely determined by the source of light. The world looks a lot different when we see it by the Divine Light of God. What light do we see by?
Jesus is the Divine Light in human form. Following Jesus means that we try to be like him. How does the Divine Light of Christ guide us in our journey? Do we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us to make us better reflections of the Light?
Jesus said that we are the light of the world. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we not are not just Light Bearers; we are Light Projectors.
Sometimes the Light shows us things we don’t want to see. For Saul, the Light was blinding and revealed an entirely new path for him that was radically different from the one he had been following. Are we willing to let the Light show us new paths, or do we block it out so we can carry on with our plans?
Not only do we have a community of believers to accompany us on our journey, we have the example, the light, of all those who have gone before us, especially those whom we revere as saints. Their lives and work are a light that inspires us to this very day. This is an immense community and when we take our place within it, we shine brightly for all to see.

I want to walk as a child of the light,
I want to follow Jesus,
God set the stars to give light to the world,
The star of my life is Jesus.
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the City of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
--Kathleen Thomerson

Prayer for the Healing of Division

April 15, 2021

In Response to Injustice and the Harm We Do to Each Other

Loving Creator, Mother and Father of us all,
in whom there is no male or female,
in whom we are all one - 
Help us to truly see the connections among us;
Help us to truly love each other,
including those we feel are unworthy, 
those who make us uncomfortable,
And those whom we regard as our enemies.
For it is in loving that fear of the other is banished.

Loving Redeemer, God become human,
whose incarnation reunites earth and heaven,
who suffered humiliation, exclusion, denial, physical torture, and death 
at the hands of those who felt threatened by you - 
Hold in love those who experience discrimination and disenfranchisement,
Those who experience hatred and violence,
Those who are killed simply because they are different.
Help us to see the Divine in everyone,
For we are all one in Christ.

Loving Spirit of Wisdom, Giver of Life,
the Awen that inspires us,
who guides us to closer union with God - 
Help us to overcome our prejudices,
Help us to truly see that God contains the immense diversity of creation,
Help us to see the beauty in each other.
Help us to see past our discomfort and fear.
Help us to stop hurting and killing.
For our joy is truly found in love of one another and all creation.

+In the name of God, Eternal Spirit and Maker of all that is;
Jesu, the Christ and Bearer of our humanity;
and the Holy Spirit, Breath of Life, Awen, and Source of all Wisdom;
One, Holy and Undivided Trinity,
As it was in the beginning, is now,
And will be for ever.
So may it be.
Amen.