Theme “Love”
Advent chalice lighting
We light our chalice candle as a symbol of hope, peace, joy, and love.
The light reminds us that love is the greatest power in the world,
the love we share and bless each other with,
here in our beloved community;
the love we take out into the world,
bearing and sharing the light,
wherever
Prayer based on Walk Whitman’s ‘Leaves of Grass’
May the soul sing the song of life to the God in our hearts, in pleasant exploration.
Let us not dally with the mystery of God but simply look around us as we travel the meandering road…
See God in everything.
Let us be pleased with our souls, whether sailing on the seas or
Let us open our hearts to prayer
Let us open our hearts to prayer.
Love is the doctrine of this church.
Love that transcends.
Love that forgives.
Love that nourishes.
Love that heals.
Love that reaches out to help.
Love that makes friendships strong.
Let us
O Soul of Love
87.87 (Tune: Huntington) Please request the music from Marianna on ringofvoices@gmail.com
O Soul of love, great well of peace,
help us to love, not fear;
we cherish stillness, quiet, space,
but worldly thoughts press near.
We need our friends, yet we hold back;
no-one is constant, true;
but human contact then we lack,
to touch our souls
Locks
What is it to lock
To shut away?
To preserve?
To keep safe?
To save?
But why?
To seal your heart from hurt
To keep everything inside
Safe and dying for want of freedom
I will unlock my imprisoned heart
I will throw away the key
Into some deep deep loch
I will free my
Fond words
Jan Struther wrote:
Hard words will break no bones:
But more than bones are broken
By the inescapable stones
Of fond words left unspoken.
And so let us pray:
So let us in the quiet of our minds speak fond words:
for those to whom we are close and who are close to us;
for those whose presence
Chalice lighting
The flame of the chalice consumes the candle
The flame of life consumes time
The flame of the spirit feeds on love,
Love that renews itself for ever.
May we give ourselves generously to love,
And open our hearts to receive it.
Chalice lighting
The flame rises from the chalice
as prayer proceeds from the heart.
The flame spends itself in giving light
But the heart is never spent in prayer.
May our hearts be inflamed with love
for all that is.