Greenbelt 2012: Liturgy for Beer & Benediction
This liturgy is published in my first book, Creative Ideas for Alternative Sacramental Worship
Beer & Benediction at Greenbelt 2012, 2pm in the Upper Room, Jesus Arms
Cel: God is here. Make yourselves at home.
1: Come and stay awhile, take a moment from your busy, hectic, facebook-filled, twitter-clogged lives and pause.
2: Wait for a moment and take the chance to sense he in whose presence we find ourselves.
Cel: Life is a like a journey, a long and sometimes lonely journey. This journey takes us from our comfortable and sometimes drab lives and into unfamiliar territory. It might be challenging, it might be hard. For any journey, we must be fed, prepared, sorted.
In the name of the +Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
1: Our preparation for this journey means sorting out our kit, getting it in order, and getting on the right track. There are many paths, and many of those paths might look attractive or easy, but they are not necessarily the right path.
2: There are many paths with twists and turns, ups and downs, dead ends and frustrations, but only one true way.
1: O Lord, for the many times that we have sought to take the easy path… Lord have mercy. Lord have Mercy
Cel: O Lord, for the distractions that have drawn us away from you, Christ have mercy Christ have mercy
2: O Lord, for our lack of faith in you, and the direction you draw us to, Lord have Mercy, Lord have mercy
Cel: Almighty God, who loves you, walks with you, guides you and supports you through all the ups and downs of your life, and has given authority to his Church to absolve sins, free you from your burdens and + reconcile you to his heart. In the name of the man who was sent to save us. Amen
Be fed, just as his first followers were fed in preparation for the journey ahead of them, a journey which would take a whole lifetime…
1: St Paul said:
Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Mass and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Man himself and passed them on to you. On the night of his betrayal, he took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,
This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me.
After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:
This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me.
What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you re-enact in your words and actions the death of the Man. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until he returns.
(1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
2: St John remembered:
The Man said: “I am the bread of life; The living bread that comes down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”
(John 6:48-56)
Cel: When his disciples, gathered in an upper room to eat a simple meal heard this, they had no idea what he meant: bread and wine become body and blood? How outrageous! It sounded a little like cannibalism – the Man who had guided them through so much, taught them so much, given them a glimpse of heaven on earth in wondrous signs and marvelous healings, was inviting them to eat of him.
And two thousand years later, he still sits amongst us, and invites us to his table. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been, or what you’ve done, or how badly you think you have been in the past: The Man reaches out and offers you a place at this table, this place of encounter, this point of transformation.
The Lord be with you
And also with you
1: For he is with us, now. Supporting, guiding, counseling and comforting. Stirring up the complacent and crying out for justice, transforming lives and making whole.
Cel: Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord
2: The best way, the only way we can respond is in worship and in this sacred space drawing closer to God to the point where we can touch him, taste him and feel the difference.
Cel: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give thanks and praise
In ways in which we do not understand, or could ever hope to understand, Christ is present in our midst. The many thousands, millions of words of theologians, the prayers of saints, the witness of the apostles: none of them have ever got their heads around what happens here.
1: We can’t see the wind, but we know what happens to the trees.
2: Look not for the wind, but for the effect of the wind.
1: We can’t see any outward change in bread and wine, but we know that something is different
2: Look not for God hiding under an ordinary piece of bread, as St Francis once said, but look for the effect on those who share in the Body and Blood of Christ.
Cel: Bread: Simple. Wholesome. Good. The staple of life and proof in our hands of God’s bountiful goodness to us all.
Wine: Source of joy and gladness, an example of God’s love in a glistening drop of rich, dark sweetness.
Our prayers echo the song of the angels, saints, prophets and patriarchs and whole company of heaven as they say:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your Glory, Hosanna in the highest.
Blesséd is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness.
Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy,
so that they may become for us
the +body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ
Before he was given up to death, a death he freely accepted,
he took bread and gave you thanks.
He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body which will be given up for you.
When supper was ended, he took the cup.
Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it:
this is the cup of my blood,
the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.
It will be shed for you and for all
so that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in memory of me.
Together, Let us remind ourselves of the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
It’s good.
It’s changed.
And through it we are changed.
You won’t find the Man
Wedged between the crumbs,
But he is there,
He gives himself to us
In this way, so we can get our heads around the enormous idea of God stepping down into our world.
He gives himself to us, so that we may become a part of him.
You eat food. It becomes a part of you.
You eat of this, and you become a part of him. A Holy Communion, at one with God.
The only thing we can do is respond in love and joy, awe and wonder.
May all of us who taste this foretaste of heaven be brought together as your Church on this earth, empowered with the power of God.
May we remember all those not with us, and bring us all into your heavenly presence, through the powerful and mighty, saving work of our Saviour
Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
Amen
1: He taught us to pray, so looking forward to when we can share this party again, let us pray:
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.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Come. Share. Eat at God’s Table.
1: No one is turned away.
2: No one is unworthy.
Cel: All are welcome.
1: Take, Break, Share, and Pass on.
2: Be thankful. Be changed. Be aware that God is in our midst.
distribution of communion, usually passing it from one to another
1: By this meal, we have been changed. By bread and wine transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, you have been healed, restored, reinvigorated and renewed.
2: You have been fed for a life’s journey with something more than a snack. You have been fed with the stuff of life.
Cel: The food of this earth just makes you hungry again. The food of this meal will last for ever. This bread and this wine is for all time.
May your days be filled with laughter, joy and friendship
May your journey of life be guided by the Man
May your lives be transformed by this salvation story
Let us now come before him in worship and praise, so that this holy meal might be a lens through which we may see the glory of Christ before us.
And may the Blessing of God Almighty, +Father, Son and Holy Spirit be upon you, and remain with you, this long night and always.
Amen
The mass has ended. Go in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
O Salutaris
O saving victim! opening wide
The gate of heaven to man below,
Our foes press hard on every side-
Thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.
All praise and thanks to thee ascend
For evermore, blest One in Three;
O grant us life that shall not end
In our true native land with thee. Amen
ADORATION
SPR Blessed, Praised, Hallowed and Adored,
Be Our Lord Jesus Christ on his throne of Glory
Choir: And in the most holy sacrament of the altar
O most sacred redeemer,
Give us wisdom to recognise you,
Intelligence to understand you,
Diligence to seek you,
Patience to wait for you,
Eyes to see you,
Hearts to meditate on you
And lives to proclaim you,
Through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Benedict of Nursia 6th C
Lord Jesus Christ, present before us in the most holy sacrament of the altar
you are the sun that always rises but never sets.
You are the source of all life,
creating and sustaining every living thing.
You are the source of all food, material and spiritual,
nourishing us in both body and soul.
You are the light which dispels the clouds of error and doubt
and goes before me every hour of the day,
guiding my thoughts and my actions.
May I walk in your light,
Be nourished by your food,
be sustained by your mercy,
and be warmed by your love.
Erasmus, 16th Century
God is the light
of the heavens and the earth.
The smile of God’s light
is like a niche in which is a lamp,
the lamp in a globe of glass,
the globe of glass as if it were a shining star,
lit from a blessed olive tree
neither of the East nor of the West,
its light nearly luminous
even if fire did not touch it.
Light upon light!
God guides to this light
whomever God will:
and God gives people examples;
and God knows all things.
Qu’ran 24:35
ANIMA CHRISTI
Soul of Christ, sanctify me,
Body of Christ, save me,
Blood of Christ, inebriate me,
Water from the side of Christ, wash me,
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesu, hear me,
Within thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from thee.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come to thee
That with thy saints I may praise thee
for all eternity. Amen
Traditional
Let everyone be struck with fear,
The whole world tremble,
And the heavens exult
When Christ, the Son of the living God,
Is present on the altar [in the hands of a Priest!]
O wonderful loftiness
And stupendous dignity!
O sublime humility!
O humble sublimity!
The Lord of the universe,
God and the Son of God,
So humbles Himself
That he hides Himself
For our salvation
Under an ordinary piece of bread!
See the humility of God, brothers and sisters
And pour out your hearts before Him
Humble yourselves
That you may be exalted by Him!
Hold back nothing of yourelves for yourselves,
That he who gives himself totally to you
May receive you totally!
Francis of Assisi, 13th C
My Lord, and my God
John 20:28
Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.
Tantum Ergo
Therefore we, before him bending,
This great Sacrament revere:
Types and shadows have their ending,
For the newer rite is here;
Faith, our outward sense befriending,
Makes the inward vision clear.
Glory let us give, and blessing
To the Father and the Son.
Honour, might, and praise addressing,
While eternal ages run;
Ever to his love confessing,
Who, from both, with both is one. Amen
SPR: Thou gavest them bread from heaven.
Choir: Containing in itself all sweetness.
SPR Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the Eucharist
as the memorial of your suffering and death.
May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood
help us to experience the salvation you won for us
and the peace of the kingdom,
where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Benediction is given
Let us now go forth to proclaim Christ as we process around this site, and gather with Christians to worship him as one body
Procession
We move in procession around the site to join at the Jerusalem venue by 3.30pm
Songs for Procession
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle; of the mighty conflict sing;
Tell the triumph of the victim, to his cross thy tribute bring.
Jesus Christ, the world’s redeemer from that cross now reigns as king.
Thirty years among us dwelling, his appointed time fulfilled,
Born for this, he meets his passion, this the Saviour freely willed:
On the cross the Lamb is lifted, where his precious blood is spilled.
He endures the nails, the spitting, vinegar, and spear, and reed;
From that holy body broken, blood and water forth proceed:
Earth, and stars, and sky, and ocean, by that flood from stain are freed.
Faithful cross, above all other, one and only noble tree.
None in foliage, none in blossom, none in fruit thy peer may be:
Sweetest wood and sweetest iron, sweetest weight is hung on thee.
Lovesong
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am fun again
However far away I will always love you
However long I stay I will always love you
Whatever words I say I will always love you
I will always love you
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am free again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am clean again
However far away I will always love you
However long I stay I will always love you
Whatever words I say I will always love you
I will always love you
Happy Day
The greatest day in history, Death is beaten
You have rescued me
Sing it out Jesus is alive
The empty cross, The empty grave
Life eternal You have won the day
Shout it out Jesus is alive
He’s alive
Chorus
Oh happy day, happy day
You washed my sin away
Oh happy day, happy day
I’ll never be the same
Forever I am changed
When I stand, in that place
Free at last, meeting face to face
I am Yours Jesus You are mine
Endless joy, perfect peace
Earthly pain finally will cease
Celebrate Jesus is alive
He’s alive
Bridge:
Oh what a glorious day
What a glorious way
That You have saved me
Oh what a glorious day
What a glorious name
This Day
Chorus
This day was made by the Lord! We rejoice
This day was made by the Lord!
We rejoice! We rejoice!
We rejoice and are glad!
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good
His love has no end.
Let the children of Israel say
“His love has no end.”
Alleluia!
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed
His right hand raised me up
I shall not die, I shall live
And recount his deeds.
Alleluia!
The stone which the builders rejected
Becomes the cornerstone
This is the work of the Lord;
A Marvel in our eyes.
Alleluia!
We found love in a hopeless place
Yellow diamonds in the light
And we’re standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine
What it takes to come alive
It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny
But I’ve gotta let it go
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
Shine a light through an open door
Love and life I will divide
Turn away cause I need you more
Feel the heartbeat in my mind
It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny
But I’ve gotta let it go
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
Yellow diamonds in the light
And we’re standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine…
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You
We turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You
We long for You
When we see You
We find strength to face the day
In Your presence all our fears
Are washed away, washed away
Hosanna, Hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
Hear the sound of hearts returning to You
We turn to You
In Your kingdom broken lives are made new
You make all things new
When we see You
We find strength to face the day
In Your presence all our fears
Are washed away, washed away
Hosanna, Hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
Our God
Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You
CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
BRIDGE
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Alleluia! sing to Jesus, His the sceptre, his the throne
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood
Jesus out of every nation hath redeemed us by his blood.
Alleluia! not as orphans are we left in sorrow now
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes nor questions how
Though the cloud from sight received him when the forty days were o’er
Shall our hearts forget his promise, I am with you evermore?
Alleluia! bread of heaven, here on earth our food and stay
Alleluia! here the sinful flee to thee from day to day
Intercessor, Friend of sinners, earth’s Redeemer, plead for me
Where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.
Alleluia! King eternal, thee the Lord of Lords we own
Alleluia! born of Mary, earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne
Thou within the veil hast entered, robed in flesh, our great High Priest
Thou on earth both Priest and Victim in the Eucharistic Feast…
How Great is Our God
The splendour of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is the victory, Thou o’er death hast won;
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave clothes where Thy body lay.
Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
Let the church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
For her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.
Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is the victory, Thou o’er death hast won;
No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life;
Life is naught without Thee; aid us in our strife;
Make us more than conqu’rors, through Thy deathless love:
Bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above.
Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is the victory, Thou o’er death hast won;
