Clouds and Glory: Prayers for the Church Year, Year A

Clouds and Glory: Prayers for the Church Year, Year A

by David Adam
Clouds and Glory: Prayers for the Church Year, Year A

Clouds and Glory: Prayers for the Church Year, Year A

by David Adam

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Overview

Clouds and Glory is the final volume in a three-volume collection of prayers and other resources based on the New Common Worship Lectionary used widely around the world. Written in the Celtic style for which David Adam is well-known, and linked to the Sunday readings, these prayers and intercessions may be used by congregations for the Prayers of the People, as well as by individuals seeking to supplement their personal devotions.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780819218872
Publisher: Church Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date: 06/01/2001
Pages: 160
Product dimensions: 5.00(w) x 7.75(h) x (d)

About the Author

DAVID ADAM (1936-2020) is one of the best-loved figures in Celtic spirituality. The author of many successful books published in English, Finnish, German, Polish, and Welsh, he was vicar of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne for thirteen years. After retirement, he continued to write, lecture, speak, and lead as a spiritual director.

Read an Excerpt

CLOUDS AND GLORY

PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH YEAR


By DAVID ADAM

Church Publishing Incorporated

Copyright © 2001 David Adam
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8192-1887-2



CHAPTER 1

Advent

The First Sunday of Advent


* * *

Isaiah 2. 1–5: Ps. 122: Romans 13. 11–14: Matthew 24. 36–44

Lord, we watch, we wait,
we look, we long for you.
Dispel the clouds and darkness
and awaken us to your glory,
that we may walk in your light,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, you are ever among us.
Open our eyes to your presence,
that your church may be true to its mission,
that each congregation may proclaim your goodness,
that all of us may show forth your glory.
Lord, come down,
come in, come among us.

To the nations that are looking for freedom,
to the peoples that are longing for liberty,
to the individuals striving for justice,
to all who are seeking to improve the world,
to all who are seeking to improve themselves,
Lord, come down,
come in, come among us.
To our homes as we prepare for your coming,
to our loved ones as they reveal to us your love,
to our work, that it may show forth your presence,
into our leisure and into our pleasures,
Lord, come down,
come in, come among us.

To all who long for release,
to all who cry in pain,
to the sick in body, in mind and in spirit,
to those who can no longer cope,
to all who are oppressed and in darkness,
to all who watch and wait and weep for you,
Lord, come down,
come in, come among us.

That we may know that life is eternal,
that loved ones departed are in your keeping,
that we may rejoice in hope,
that we may come to your glory,
Lord, come down,
come in, come among us.


THE PEACE

May you see the glory of God in every place, and in every face; and the peace of the Lord be always with you and also with you.


THE BLESSING

God, who ever comes to you, draw you to his love, draw you to his light, draw you to himself; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.


The Second Sunday of Advent


* * *

Isaiah 11. 1–10: Ps. 72. 1–7 [18–19]: Romans 15. 4–13: Matthew 3. 1–12

In God's power, in his peace, in his presence, we place ourselves today.
Holy God, Holy and Strong One, Holy and Mighty One,
protect us by your power, provide us with your peace,
fill our lives with your presence,
and awaken us to your coming;
through Jesus Christ the King of Glory,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.

Lord of righteousness, you yearn for the salvation of your people.
Forgive your church as it wastes its gifts
and misuses its resources.
Increase in us deeper relationships and greater sensitivity.
Give us a zeal for your gospel and to proclaim your love.
Let our lives be good examples to others.
We pray for the church to which we belong, that it may be open to you.
We pray for the work of the whole church, that it may proclaim you.
O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power
and come among us.

We pray for world rulers, statesmen and politicians
that they may discover the road that leads to peace,
that they may accept the peace you offer them,
that captives may be freed,
the oppressed find relief,
the weary find rest,
the hungry find sustenance and the homeless shelter.
We pray for all relief organizations
and for all who seek to bring in your kingdom.
O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power
and come among us.

That our hearts may be opened to your coming in others,
to see you in our loved ones,
to see you in our neighbours and in our friends;
that we may welcome you in the stranger and the needy;
that we may serve you in the service of others;
O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power
and come among us.

That the ill and the housebound may behold traces of your glory;
that the despairing and depressed may find new hope;
that the lonely and the neglected may know your love;
that those who walk in darkness may know your light;
that all in weakness may find strength in you;
O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power
and come among us.

That the departed may rejoice in eternal life;
that they may be numbered with your saints in glory,
O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power
and come among us.


THE PEACE

The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope; and the peace of the Lord be always with you and also with you.


THE BLESSING

The Lord open your eyes to his coming,
open your ears to his voice,
open your hearts to his love;
and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.


The Third Sunday of Advent


* * *

Isaiah 35. 1–10: Ps. 146. 5–10: or Canticle: Magnificat: James 5. 7–10: Matthew 11. 2–11

Almighty God, who through the prophets promised that light would conquer the darkness, shine in our hearts and in our minds, and so use us that we may lead others to your splendour and the greatness of your power which is revealed in your Son Jesus Christ, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and for ever. Amen.

Come, Lord God,
give strength to the hands that are tired
and to the knees that tremble with weakness.
You are the God who cares for all who are down,
you come down to where we are to uplift us.
You are the God who gives us hope.
You come to rescue us.
Come, Lord our Saviour.

Lord, may your church travel the road of holiness,
may we grow in faith, grow in love, and grow in number.
We pray for the church to which we belong and for the church in.........
May the good news be preached to the poor,
May the gospel be proclaimed in all places.
Lord, we need your help and your strength.
You come to rescue us.
Come, Lord our Saviour.

We remember before you the discouraged and fearful,
all whose freedom is limited by tyranny,
all whose lives are restricted by poverty,
all who are abused by those in power,
all whose dreams are destroyed by mockery.
You are the God who gives us hope.
You come to rescue us.
Come, Lord our Saviour.

We pray for the time when the lame will leap for joy,
when the deaf will hear,
when the blind will be able to see,
when the dumb will shout your praise,
when the handicapped will find freedom,
when sorrow and grief are done away
and all will sing and shout for joy.
We remember all who long for this time.
We pray for friends and loved ones in sickness,
we remember those who are terminally ill.
You are the God who gives us hope.
You come to rescue us.
Come, Lord our Saviour.

You are the Lord and giver of life,
you give life which is eternal.
We give you thanks for the saints in glory.
We remember before you all who have served this community in the past.
We remember loved ones departed this life.
You come to rescue us.
Come, Lord our Saviour.


THE PEACE

Tell everyone who is discouraged, 'Be strong, do not be afraid! God is coming to your rescue.' The peace of the Lord be always with you and also with you.


THE BLESSING

Make a place for God in your hearts and in your lives, for he comes to you this day and always; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.


The Fourth Sunday of Advent


* * *

Isaiah 7. 10–16: Ps. 80. 1–7 [17–19]: Romans 1. 1–7: Matthew 1. 18–25

King of kings yet born of Mary, you come to dwell among us in great humility, you reveal the great love of God towards us and that we are called to be his own people. Come now among us and give us your peace, that we may live to your praise and glory, Christ our Saviour, who is alive and lives and reigns with the Father and the Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

In the church that looks for you,
among the people who proclaim you,
with all who seek to serve you,
among all who dedicate their lives to you,
with all who proclaim that they love you,
now with us as we worship you,
with the church in .............. and the church throughout the world,
Immanuel,
God, you are with us.

With the nations striving towards the light,
with the seekers for freedom and justice,
among those who enrich and extend our lives,
with all who bring peace on earth,
with the peoples lost in darkness,
with the nations caught up in war,
Immanuel,
God, you are with us.

In our homes as we prepare for your coming,
in our relationships and in our loving,
in our sharing and in our caring,
in our actions and our interactions,
now, within our community,
Immanuel,
God, you are with us.

With the outcasts and the poor,
with the unemployed and the homeless,
among the scorned and rejected,
with the refugees and the stateless,
with the persecuted and those who suffer injustice, Immanuel,
God, you are with us.

With all who are in pain or sorrow,
With .............. in
their illness,
With .............. in
their anxiety,
with all who fear the future,
with those whose life on earth is coming to an end,
Immanuel,
God, you are with us.
With the whole church on earth,
with our loved ones at rest,
with the saints in glory,
Immanuel,
God, you are with us.


THE PEACE

From on high the Father has sent the Son to dwell among us that we may know and share his peace. The peace of the Lord be always with you and also with you.


THE BLESSING

God is with you, a light to your path, a companion on the road, a friend for your journey, a sure support and presence at all times; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you now and always. Amen.

CHAPTER 2

Christmas

Christmas Day


* * *

Any of these sets of readings may be used on the evening of Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day.

I
II
III

Isaiah 9. 2–7
Isaiah 62. 6–12
Isaiah 52. 7–10
Ps. 96
Ps. 97
Ps. 98
Titus 2. 11–14
Titus 3. 4–7
Hebrews 1. 1–4 [5–12]
Luke 2. 1–14 [15–20] Luke 2. [1–7] 8–20 John 1. 1–14

Lord Jesus Christ,
may we come to worship you with the shepherds,
proclaim you with the angels,
seek you with the wise men,
offer ourselves to you with Joseph and Mary,
and rejoice in your love, Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with the Father and the Spirit now and for ever. Amen.

Jesus, Son of Mary,
you have come among us, to be one of us.
We welcome you into our homes,
we welcome you into our hearts,
we welcome you into our lives.
Let all who come to your church, worship with the shepherds
and adore you with the wise men.
We pray for the time when the world may know your love and saving power.
Empower your church to show forth your glory.
Prince of peace,
reveal to us your glory.

The peace of your presence be upon your troubled world,
the power of your presence protect us from evil,
The light of your presence scatter the darkness from before us.
Give peace on earth, peace among the nations and peace in each land.
Prince of peace,
reveal to us your glory.

Fill us with wonder and awe,
fill us with joy and thanksgiving,
that our lives may proclaim your grace and your glory.
Be known in our homes,
in our lives and in all our dealings.
Prince of peace,
reveal to us your glory.

You could find no room at the inn.
We remember before you all who are homeless and can find no place of rest.
We pray for street children and children in care,
for all who are lonely and feel neglected this Christmas,
for those who will spend Christmas in hospital,
for all who are ill, especially ..............
Prince of peace,
reveal to us your glory.

We rejoice that you became human that we might share in the Divine;
you came down to lift us into your kingdom.
We pray for all our loved ones departed and that we may share with them in a
vision of your glory.
Prince of peace,
reveal to us your glory.


THE PEACE

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to people of goodwill.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.


THE BLESSING

The wisdom of the Wonderful Counsellor guide you, the strength of the Mighty God protect you, the love of the Everlasting Father enfold you, the peace of the Prince of peace be within you; and the blessing ...


The First Sunday of Christmas


* * *

Isaiah 63. 7–9: Ps. 148. [1–6] 7–14: Hebrews 2. 10–18: Matthew 2. 13–23

Lord Jesus, born in a stable, sought by Herod, taken as a refugee to Egypt, hear the cry of all who are refugees and homeless. Fill us with love and care for them, and may we show that love in serving those in need. It is in serving them that we serve you, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Father, we remember before you all who are persecuted for their faith,
those imprisoned for their beliefs,
all who are forced out of their home and country for speaking out against evil and corruption.
We remember especially ..............
Christ, be our Saviour.
By your presence save us.

We pray in sorrow for all innocent victims of tyranny and violence.
We pray for those who have suffered through ethnic cleansing or genocide.
We remember the people of ..............
We pray for the refugees and displaced peoples.
We pray especially for ..............
Christ, be our Saviour.
By your presence save us.

We give thanks to you for our homes.
We give thanks for our loved ones and our security.
We remember children in homes of abuse, children taken into care.
We pray for people evicted from their land or their homes,
for all who live in shanty towns or slum dwellings.
Christ, be our Saviour.
By your presence save us.

Lord, we remember all who have to leave home because of illness.
We pray for the handicapped,
for all who cannot cope on their own.
We remember all whose powers of mobility or agility are failing.
We pray for friends and loved ones in sickness, especially ..............
Christ, be our Saviour.

By your presence save us.
Lord, we put our trust in you,
we believe that in you justice and love triumph.
We pray for all who are now departed from us, that they may rejoice in life eternal,
and that we may share with them in your everlasting kingdom.
Christ, be our Saviour.
By your presence save us.


THE PEACE

The peace of the Prince of peace fill your hearts and your minds;
and the peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.


THE BLESSING

Christ, the Son of God, born of Mary, fill you with his grace, grant you a glimpse of his glory; and the blessing ...


The Second Sunday of Christmas


* * *

Jeremiah 31. 7–14: Ps. 147. 12–20: Or: Ecclus. 24. 1–12: Canticle: Wisdom of Solomon 10. 15–21: Ephesians 1. 3–14: John 1. [1–9] 10–18

Almighty God, who through the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ has caused a great light to shine in the darkness of our world; grant that we may walk by that light, be known as children of the light, and bring your light to the world; through him who is the true light that lightens all, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Holy Father, we pray that the church may proclaim your light
in dark times,
that we may come to your light and recognize your light.
May we reach out to all who are in darkness.
May the church show forth the good news of the gospel.
We pray for all preachers of the word and ministers of sacraments,
for all who study the Scriptures.
We pray especially for ..............
Christ, Light of the world,
scatter the darkness from before us.

We remember areas of the world where darkness seems to triumph,
places of exploitation and cheap labour,
places where the land is raped and forests are destroyed,
places where the water is polluted and the air is foul,
places where the sea is over-fished and the land is becoming desert.
We pray for ecologists and all who seek to care for our world.
We pray especially for ..............
Christ, Light of the world,
scatter the darkness from before us.

We remember in sorrow broken relationships,
divisions in our community,
acts of selfishness and greed.
We pray for generosity of spirit,
for our homes and our loved ones.
Christ, Light of the world,
scatter the darkness from before us.

We pray for all who are in doubt and despair,
for all who have lost confidence in themselves or in others.
We pray for the depressed and all who walk in darkness.
We remember before you friends and loved ones in sickness.
We pray especially for ..............
Christ, Light of the world,
scatter the darkness from before us.

We remember all who have passed through the darkness of death, and are alive with you in glory. We give thanks for the saints and all who have shone out as lights in our world.
We pray for friends and loved ones who have enriched our lives and are now departed from us.
Christ, Light of the world,
scatter the darkness from before us.

(Continues...)


Excerpted from CLOUDS AND GLORY by DAVID ADAM. Copyright © 2001 David Adam. Excerpted by permission of Church Publishing Incorporated.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction          

ADVENT          

CHRISTMAS          

EPIPHANY          

ORDINARY TIME          

LENT          

EASTER          

ORDINARY TIME          

SUNDAYS BEFORE ADVENT          

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