Category: alt.worship
Bubbles at the Elevation (from the Walsingham Taster)
The Diocese of Exeter held a “taster” for the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage, which included a Mass celebrated by Bishop John Ford of Plymouth. Having used bubbles earlier to consider their beauty, uniqueness and specialness – just like us – filled with breath which ultimately goes right back to God, we were encouraged to blow bubbles as the holy elements are raised, and fill the sacred space with light, airy prayer-filled bubbles…
Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage Taster – Photos
Walsingham Taster Gathering in Exeter: Youth Liturgy
Gathering
Video: God is here
Song: Here in this time (CJM)
Here in this time, here in this place,
here we are standing face to face.
Here in our hearts, here in our lives,
our God is here.
Here for the broken, here for the strong,
here in this temple we belong.
Here in our hearts, here in our lives,
our God is here.
And we cry:
“Holy! Holy! Holy are you!”
We cry: “Holy! Holy! Holy and true!”
Amen, we do believe our God is here.
Our God is here.
Here in the Word, God is revealed,
here where the wounded can be healed.
Here in our hearts, here in our lives,
our God is here.
Here we become what we receive,
here in this Eucharistic feast.
We are his body, living as one;
our God is here.
And we cry:
“Holy! Holy! Holy are you!”
We cry: “Holy! Holy! Holy and true!”
Amen, we do believe our God is here.
Our God is here.
In the name of the +Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Words of introduction from the celebrant
Penitential Rite
Video:
Equipment: Flash Paper, Felt Pens
Text:
There are many things which we feel are not worthy of us
And need to be put aside
Write down something you want deeply to throw away
A behaviour
An action
A word said in haste
A relationship gone bad
A deed undone
An obligation unfulfilled
And give it over to God.
You can pour out your heart to God on the mountaintop
You can painfully trace each step in the darkness of the confessional
You can say the words we know so well without thinking
But have you written him a love letter?
Have you given what you want to throw away to God
Let God deal with your deepest fears and shame.
Write down something you want deeply to throw away
A behaviour
An action
A word said in haste
A relationship gone bad
A deed undone
An obligation unfulfilled
And give it over to God.
There are many things that we would like to discard
To throw away and have nothing more to do with
There are many things which we feel are not worthy of us
And need to be put aside
Put them aside, and give them to God.
For God will transform,
and the shameful past becomes the bright future
Screen: You are forgiven
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive you all your offences; and by his
authority committed to me, I absolve you from all your sins: +In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.
The Lord has put away all your sins, and of your charity, pray for me, a sinner also
Amen
Collect
Audio: Spooky Mysterious
Let us pray…
Lord God, in the mystery of the Incarnation
Mary conceived your Son in her heart before she conceived Him in her womb.
As we, your pilgrim people, rejoice in her patronage,
grant that we also may welcome Him into our hearts,
and so, like her, be made a holy house fit for His eternal dwelling.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Scripture
Video: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Gospel: Luke 14:15-24
Talk about Walsingham
Videos of past events: 2011 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-zSrNcG6wA
Being eaten by a crocodile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPRKPKeWjJc
Everything: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecYO7alTEik
Chat with those who have been before
Response
Video:
Blow these bubbles…
Watch them form…
See the way the light shines on them: reveals the rainbow within.
Each of them shares the same shape,
but each one is different, unique special
Just like you…
The bubbles remind us of God, infinite in variety, beautiful in shape, perfect in form.
God the Father, created of the bubbles and the universe and each and every one of us
Do you believe this? Yes!
God the Son, Saviour of us all, who breathed the same air as us on this earth, the same air with which you fill these bubbles lives today in our hearts.
Do you believe this? Yes!
God the Spirit, who powers these bubbles, and which fills this space with power from on high plays with us and strengthens us
Do you believe this? Yes!
Intercessions
Video:
You got the Love
Led/Read by Young People
Peace
Christ is our peace,
he has reconciled us to God in one body by the cross.
We meet in his name and we share his peace.
The peace of the Lord be always be with you
And also with you
Let us offer one another the sign of peace
Offertory
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s ‘all as it should be’
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Pray, my brothers and sisters, that this our sacrifice may be acceptable to God the almighty Father.
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his Church.
Prayer over the gifts
Lord,
make us worthy to bring you these gifts.
May this sacrifice
help to change our lives.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you
and also with you
Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give thanks and praise
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give You thanks,
and to praise You for Your gifts as we contemplate Your saints in glory.
In celebrating the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
it is our special joy to echo her song of thanksgiving.
What wonders You have worked throughout the world!
All generations have shared the greatness of Your love.
When You looked on Mary Your lowly servant,
You raised her to be the mother of Jesus Christ,
Your Son, our Lord, the Saviour of humanity.
Through Him the angels of heaven offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in Your presence for ever.
May our voices be one with their triumphant hymn of praise:
Sanctus: Soli Mass
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna in the highest.
Holy is the Lord, God Almighty
Heav’n and earth are full of his glory
Holy is the Lord!
Holy is the Lord!
Holy is the name of the Lord!
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna in the highest.
Blest is he who comes in the Lord’s name
Heav’n and earth are full of his glory
Blessed is the Lord! Blessed is the Lord!
Blessed is the name of the Lord!
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna, Hosanna!
Hosanna in the highest.
Father, on the night before he died,
Jesus shared a meal with his friends.
He took the bread, and thanked you.
He broke it, and gave it to them, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this to remember me.
After the meal, Jesus took the cup of wine.
He thanked you, and gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
the new promise of God’s unfailing love.
Do this to remember me.
Christ is the bread of life:
When we eat this bread and drink this cup
we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
until you come in glory
Father, as we offer this bread and wine,
and remember his death and resurrection,
send your +Holy Spirit,
that we who share these gifts
may be fed by Christ’s body and his blood.
Pour your Spirit on us
that we may love one another,
work for the healing of the earth,
and share the good news of Jesus,
as we wait for his coming in glory.
For honour and praise belong to you, Father,
with Jesus your Son, and the Holy Spirit:
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Video:
Audio: Rimsky-Korsakoff Our Father from Mirfield.
The celebrant interrupts the praying of the prayer with these challenges….
Our Father in heaven.
Don’t say ‘Father’ if you do not behave like a son or daughter.
Don’t say ‘Our’ if you only think of your self.
Hallowed by your name
Don’t say ‘Hallowed’ if you do not honour that name.
Your Kingdom come
Don’t say ‘Your Kingdom come’ if you are weighed down with material goods
Your will be done On earth as in heaven
Don’t say ‘Thy will be done’ if you do not accept the hard bits
Don’t say ‘as it is in heaven’ if you only think about earthly matters
Give us this day our daily bread
Don’t say ’Our daily bread’ if you have no concern for the hungry or the homeless
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who against us
Don’t say ‘Forgive us our sins’ if you remain angry with someone
Lead us not into temptation
Don’t say ‘Lead us not into temptation’ if you intend to continue sinning
But deliver us from evil
Don’t say ‘Deliver us from evil if you are not willing to make a stand against injustice
For the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen
Don’t say ‘AMEN’ without considering the words of your prayer!
Fraction
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ
Though we are many, we are one body
Because we all share in the one bread
Agnus Dei
Invitation
Come not because you are strong,
but because you are weak.
Come not because any goodness of your own
but because you need mercy and help.
Come because you love the Lord a little
and would like to love him more.
Come because he loves you
and gave his life for you.
This is the lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
Blesséd are those who are called to his supper
Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
Communion
Post Communion Prayer
Audio: Spooky Mysterious
Lord,
we give thanks for these holy mysteries
which bring to us here on earth
a share in the life to come,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing…
God, who from the death of sin
raised you to new life in Christ,
keep you from falling and set you in the presence of his glory;
and the blessing of God Almighty
+Father, Son and Holy Spirit be upon you
And remain with you, this day and always
Amen
Dismissal
The mass is ended,
go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Your mercy taught us how to dance
To celebrate with all we have
And we’ll dance to thank You for mercy
Your glory taught us how to shout
To lift Your name in all the earth
And we’ll shout to the praise of Your glory
It’s the overflow
Of a forgiven soul
And now we’ve seen You, God
Our hearts cannot stay silent
And we’ll be a dancing generation
Dancing because of Your great mercy, Lord
Your great mercy, Lord
And we’ll be a shouting generation
Shouting because of Your great glory, Lord
Your great glory, Lord
END
Blessing for Easter Online Worship
Kinetic Typography by Fr. S
Music: Rapture by iiO; Valtare by Sigur Ros
Created using Adobe AfterEffects CS4 and Sony Vegas 12.
Text:
The Lord be with you
and also with you
Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing.
May almighty God bless you on this solemn feast of Easter,
and may he protect you against all sin.
Amen.
Through the resurrection of his Son, God has granted us healing.
May he fulfill his promises, and bless you with eternal life.
Amen.
You have mourned for Christ’s sufferings;
now you celebrate the joy of his resurrection.
May you come with joy to the feast which lasts for ever.
Amen.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Go in the light & peace of Christ
Thanks be to God
Regina cæli, lætare, alleluia:
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia,
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
Translated:
Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven. Alleluia!
He whom Thou wast meet to bear. Alleluia!
As He promised hath arisen. Alleluia!
Pour for us to God thy prayer. Alleluia!
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord is risen indeed, alleluia.
Let us pray:
O God, who through the resurrection of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ
didst vouchsafe to give joy to the world:
grant, we beseech thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessed Holy Week
A Multimedia Eucharist for Holy Week 2013
Theme: Lent and Holy Week
As people come into the sacred space, acting as a sort of gatekeeper, the celebrant is on the floor in the centre with a bowl and towels. Feet are washed as people enter as a rite of preparation and they are given a paper cross with “You are now prepared” printed on it.
Video: Call to Worship
Relax your body…
Open your mind…
Engage your spirit…
This is the house of God
Prepare to worship.
Life is an indescribable gift
Our worship is a celebration of that gift
(And of the giver)
In our worship we have rediscovered
God’s marvellous affirmation of life.
Tonight we invite you to bring all that you are
Into worship:
Your struggles and failures,
Your joys and fears,
Your faith and your doubts.
Your culture,
Your sensuality,
Your whole self.
Bring your self and be at home now
God is here
And all are welcome
Jonny Baker
Liturgical Greeting
Video: liturgical greeting
In the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
Grace, Mercy and Peace from God, our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit be with you all
And also with you
Words of introduction from the celebrant to begin the journey
Penitential Rite
Video: Why does my heart feel so sad?
Ritual: write in felt pens on the crosses and bring them forward to be shredded
At the end: “You are forgiven” is shown on screen as the priest pronounces the absolution over the crosses
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, in his great mercy forgive you your offences: and by his authority given to me, I absolve you from all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord has put away your sins, and pray for me, a sinner also
Amen
Word: Collect
Audio: Spooky Mysterious
God our Father,
help us to hear your Son.
Enlighten us with your word,
that we may find the way to your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Word
Video: Isaiah 53
The Lord has laid the iniquity of us all upon him.
GOD so loved the world that he GAVE his only son so that all who believe in him may have ETERNAL LIFE
Ritual
Video: Cup of Suffering
On the altar is a chalice with red wine vinegar in it. No mention is made of this. The people come forward to taste of “the cup of suffering”
Intercession
Video: You got the love intercessions
Peace
In the dark catacombs, sheltering from persecution and the sword, the faithful met to bring Christ into their midst. They greeted their brothers and sisters in baptism with a kiss of peace, a further communion, a closer unity as community, and they share something special, unique and holy.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you
Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.
The peace is shared. Video: Airport Peace
Offertory
Pray my dear friends that this our sacrifice will be acceptable to almighty God, our heavenly Father
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for our good and the good of all his church
Preface & Eucharistic Prayer
Source Text: John 17
Video:
Ritual: we gather in a large circle close to the altar and lolling around
Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give thanks and praise
This is the real and eternal life:
That all may know you,
the one and only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
He glorified you on earth
by completing down to the last detail
what you assigned him to do.
And now, Father, glorify us with your very own splendour,
the very splendour Christ had in your presence
before there was a world.
Christ spelled out your character in detail
to the men and women you call in faith.
They took it, and were convinced
that Christ came from God,
believed that you sent him,
and Christ’s life is on display in them.
Your word is a consecrating truth:
in the same way that Christ was given a mission in the world,
so we are given a mission in the world.
our goal to become one heart and mind,
just as you, Father, are in Christ and Christ in the Father
so that the world might believe that the heavenly Father,
in fact, sent his only Son.
So joining with all the company of heaven: the angel and saints, prophets, patriarchs and Our Blesséd Lady, we join in the prayers of heaven
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the Highest
Blesséd is he, Blesséd is he, who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the Highest!
Blessed are you,
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Father of all mercy and God of all consolation.
Send now the Comforter and Helper into our midst, your Holy Spirit,
to fill these gifts of bread and wine with your life,
so that they may be for us
the +body and blood of your beloved Son.
We can no longer forget
how he became one with us in suffering and death,
he who was totally one with you,
as he came to fulfil your will.
So, on the night he was handed over,
he took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.
As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we taste and proclaim the mystery of faith:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Make us one as you are one.
Until your Son comes again,
we do as he commanded us
by celebrating the memorial
of the passion, resurrection and ascension of your Christ.
He always lives before you as our high priest,
interceding for us
and bringing his only and perfect sacrifice
before you on our behalf.
Send the Spirit on your Church,
and guide it into all truth,
so that with Our Blesséd Lady Mary, the mother of our Lord, all your saints,
and all people on earth
whom you have entrusted to your Son,
we may inherit the Kingdom and share in the glory
of Jesus Christ our Saviour;
by X whom, and with X whom, and in X whom,
in the unity of the Holy X Spirit,
all honour and glory be yours, X almighty Father,
forever and ever. Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Video: Lord’s Prayer Challenge
Audio: Rimsky-Korsakoff Our Father from Mirfield.
Our Father in heaven.
Don’t say ‘Father’ if you do not behave like a son or daughter. Don’t say ‘Our’ if you only think of your self.
Hallowed by your name
Don’t say ‘Hallowed’ if you do not honour that name.
Your Kingdom come
Don’t say ‘Your Kingdom come’ if you are weighed down with material goods
Your will be done On earth as in heaven
Don’t say ‘Thy will be done’ if you do not accept the hard bits
Don’t say ‘as it is in heaven’ if you only think about earthly matters
Give us this day our daily bread
Don’t say ’Our daily bread’ if you have no concern for the hungry or the homeless
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who against us
Don’t say ‘Forgive us our sins’ if you remain angry with someone
Lead us not into temptation
Don’t say ‘Lead us not into temptation’ if you intend to continue sinning
But deliver us from evil
Don’t say ‘Deliver us from evil if you are not willing to make a stand against injustice
For the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen
Don’t say ‘AMEN’ without considering the words of your prayer!
Fraction
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ
Though we are many, we are one body
Because we all share in the one bread
Agnus Dei
Video: Behold the Lamb – CJM
Communion
Prayer of the Heart Video during the distribution of communion.
Post Communion Prayer
Audio: Spooky Mysterious
Lord,
we give thanks for these holy mysteries
which bring to us here on earth
a share in the life to come,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing and Dismissal
Video: A Glimmer of Hope
…and the blessing of God Almighty,
+Father, Son & Holy Spirit be upon you
and remain with you always
Amen
Recessional
Video: Endmusic Polyphonic
END
Social Media Worship: thoughts on an experiment for Greenbelt
I could keep all this stuff close to my chest until we actually do this, or I could post this paper and invite a dialogue in the best traditions of the Internet. This is my current thinking about a Social Media experiment for Greenbelt 2013. The worship has not yet been commissioned for GB13 and is only therefore a proposal.
Introduction
This paper outlines a technical and theological approach to using social media to engage a diverse community of users to engage in an online worship event during the Greenbelt Festival
The impact of social media on the world and on communities have been significant. However, business and churches especially have been slow to properly understand the significance of social media and use it in effective ways to extend their reach into the lives of individuals. Hitherto, business organisations and churches have been broadcasters of information: using print, TV, radio and even SMS as methods of sending a one-way message to consumers which is entirely made up of the marketing-sanitised message which they desire to broadcast.
This is in direct contrast with the true purpose of social media which is to engage in a dialog with individuals also using the service. Whilst there is an element of broadcasting, it is moderated by responses and engagement. The most important part of the social media engagement is the stream: the composite flow of information which is significant both an individual elements but also as a gestalt: a complete whole.
Worship, once considered, is not simply a broadcast event. It does have some elements of that, as a message is delivered from a person (pastor, priest, or preacher) but response is also elicited. What Churches have been poor in achieving is in permitting, in encouraging a diversity of responses which might challenge a single accepted viewpoint. It would not be considered acceptable, for example, to stand up and engage in debate during the delivery of a homily, for example.
However, there are many emergent groups which do value diversity and the contribution of the ecclesia to the narrative of the community, and it is with these values that this proposal for social media worship is couched. Any community which lacks the confidence to engage with its users cannot authentically use social media in its true sense. If there is only one perspective which can be tolerated, and only one channel of communication, then the possibilities of social media as a process of theologia have not yet been fully realised. Such a community might use social media as a medium for broadcast, but it will only be in a limited way[1]. Any community which is more interested in the process of engagement, in responding in pastoral and theological terms to its user base, can find that social media in its true form is a useful tool for this.
The mechanism of social media worship
There are some limitations to the form and variety of worship that can be achieved entirely via social media. In 2010, I documented in my book Creative Ideas for Alternative Sacramental Worship a Twucharist liturgy. This was not so much a socially mediated worship as an experiment in communication as it supported a live face-to-face act of worship using a liturgy written in 140-character bursts. The liturgy and the responses were both tweeted and displayed on a screen.
I still do not consider that it is possible to hold an authentic Eucharist without face-to-face engagement with the sacred elements.
For this reason, the worship proposed is non-eucharistic, but which confirms to a traditional shape, reinterpreted in the light of the new media, and the new channels of communication which social media affords us.
Other experiments have used social media as an adjunct to face-to-face worship: eliciting feedback in the midst of live worship, but this is only possible when there is a locus of physical sacred space. How might this look when placed entirely in the ether?
When broken down and analysed, the shape of this worship could look like this:
- Gathering
- Welcome & Engagement
- Penitential Rite
- Absolution
- Word
- Response
- Meditation
- Intercession
- Blessing & Dismissal
Within each of these elements there is an element of broadcast and an opportunity for response, which is linked to a response to that response. As suggested earlier, it is that element which transcends traditional church models and moves the worship into the truly socially-mediated world.
In practical terms, the social media worship therefore needs to be delivered by a team whose collective purpose is to both broadcast and respond. This requires a reasonable level of access to the Internet to achieve this. For this experiment, I propose that a team of three or four (depending on expected scale) are connected to the Cheltenham Racecourse internet (by WiFi or hardwire, whichever is more convenient) via laptop.
One of these machines can be set up to send out the key broadcast elements of the act of worship. We will call this the Worship Leader. They can be scheduled (using an application such as Tweetdeck) so as to provide a structure for the act of worship. The other users are poised to monitor and respond to the responses and the dialogue which the Worship Leader generates. I will refer to these as the Deacons.
Although the key medium of communication will be Twitter (largely because of the number of users able to access it), this can be mirrored onto a Facebook page/group to involve those not using Twitter. It can also incorporate links to other social media platforms such as Instagram and Flikr to elicit other (non-textual) responses. Other links to video and audio can be embedded into the stream and can enrich the multimedia experience of the worship. The vast majority of users will be able to engage in worship via smartphones using WiFi or mobile internet, but a proportion will also access it via SMS which is still a valid and widely used Twitter platform. The growth in bandwidth for the mobile internet has been phenomenal in the past 12 months and market penetration of smartphones will mean that those who are interested in such an engagement will be able to access it. Although the act of worship is intended for those primarily at the Greenbelt location, it is in no way limited to them as it will be available worldwide.
The worship will be accessed by following a dedicated Twitter Account: @GB40SocialMedia and during the act of worship all interaction will be tagged with the suggested hashtag #GB40SMW
It is a given disadvantage that one has to sacrifice characters for clarity in names and tags. This reduces the amount of available characters for interaction but as short mnemonics can be difficult to identify and are often used by others resulting in “crosstalk”. A good example of this was in 2012 when a far-right US rally led by Glen Beck was tagged with #gb12 over the same weekend as the Greenbelt festival also using the #gb12 hashtag. The confusion between social-conservatism and social justice was both amusing and potentially destabilising.
Example
This is entirely conjectural and does not represent any part of the Social Media worship as yet unplanned.
|
Worship Leader |
Typical Responses |
Deacons |
| #GB40SMW The Lord be with you | ||
| @gb40socialmedia and also with you #gb40smw | ||
| @gb40socialmedia ok | ||
| @gb40socialmedia what? | ||
| @GB40SMW We call to mind our sin. | ||
| @GB40SMW Consider where you have let God down | ||
| @GB40SMW when you have brought them to mind respond with Amen | ||
| @gbsocialmedia amen | ||
| @gbsocialmedia AMEN | ||
| @gbsocialmedia I need to confess | @user You can DM confidentially | |
| D gbsocialmedia I confess <redacted> | D user God hears you. You are forgiven | |
| #GB40SMW God hears all of you. You are forgiven | @gbsocialmedia amen | |
| #GB40SMW where do you find yourself? post a pic of your location | ||
| @gbsocialmedia bit.ly/MADEUPURL | ||
| @gbsocialmedia inst.gm/MADEUPURL | ||
| #GB40SMW Psalm 150: Video link: you.tb/URLHERE | ||
| @gbsocialmedia I love that vid. Where is it shot? | ||
| #GB40SMW Psalm 150: text bit.ly/LINKHERE | @user Dartmoor. goog.le/MAPREF | |
| #GB40SMW What do you need to ask of God in prayer? | ||
| @gbsocialmedia my dad is very ill | @user your prayer is heard | |
| RT @user @gbsocialmedia my dad is very ill | ||
| @gbsocialmedia I need help | @user would you like to talk confidentially?<dm conversation ensues> | |
| @gbsocialmedia why does God allow my Dad to suffer? | @user <response and conversation direct or broadcast depending on confidentiality issues> | |
| #GB40SMW Our worship is concluded. Go in peace. | ||
| @gbsocialmedia Amen! Thank you! #gb40smw |
What do we envisage people to be doing in Social Media Worship?
A mixture of direct questions and open invitations can gather responses from those participating in worship. In common with most social media engagement, we do not see it as an exclusive activity. A very few will be connected to a laptop somewhere; others will access it on a tablet or a smartphone in the middle of another activity: eating lunch, attending another talk. Is this multitasking a dilution of worship? Alternatively, even when engaged in worship are there not plenty of distractions already in play which makes the intrusion of worship into everyday life just a mirror of the notion that everyday life intrudes into worship?
As this is an experiment into an unfamiliar territory, it might be worthwhile seeking some feedback from those who participated through a simple user survey (surveymonkey) or direct responses. This could determine reactions to the concept as well as trying to understand the context in which participants engaged (if at all).
If it is determined that this form of social media worship is unsuccessful, then at least we can cross off this particular model as an unsuitable one for worship.
Let’s experiment!
[1] Nicky Gumbel, the Vicar of Holy Trinity, Brompton and all things Alpha has tens of thousands of followers (https://twitter.com/nickygumbel) but only sends out messages (good though they are) and only follows around 200 people. This is not dialogue so much as broadcast
Howto: Send Daily Text Reflections
For the past few years I have been sending out a Lenten Journey reflection. In fact, this usually continues long after Lent, but this year it fell away slightly due to technical issues and the pressures of parishLife, but things are sorted out on that front now, and we are back up to speed for Lent 2013.
If you want to subscribe, go to http://www.blessed.org.uk/daily-texts/ to see how to do it.
I have had a few requests to explain how to do this, and at the risk of flooding the world with prayers and reflections (what a shame!) here is how I do it. There are plenty of other processes out there, but this works well for me. Note that this explanation uses Android, other solutions are available (indeed I used to have an iPhone many moons ago, and I found a solution then, so follow the process for your other-fruit-based products, which is the most important thing.)
1. Text Bundles
In the past I have had generous donations from the people who receive these texts. They are free to receive, but if anyone is willing to donate to support this work, then a fiver to my PayPal account: fr.simon@rundell.org.uk would be most helpful.
If, as the sender, you have unlimited texts, then this would be the best solution, but although my Three tariff has a lot of texts, it gets used up when you send 150 a day out and I am forced to purchase an add-on. Note that even though I am sending each text individually, some carriers regard this as spamming. I was kicked off GiffGaff for this, despite my protestations that sending prayers out was not selling anything, they still canned me. Boo!
2. Collating the Distribution List
Google is my backend for almost everything. When people let me know they have subscribed, I add them to my Google contacts and add them to a specific group. In my case, I put them in a group marked “Texts”. To do this: enter their details, at the top there is a button which looks like a group of people, it provides a list of the groups you have created. Add them to that.
This is why the subscription process is manual: I have control over it, and if anyone wishes to unsubscribe, then I can simply delete the entry in the contact list or remove them from the “Texts” group and it is instantly updated on my phone.
3. Planning
I don’t just make this stuff up on the fly. In fact, I have a document containing the whole of Lent in a table. (note: now on Office365 legally, are you impressed?) which contains Scriptures, Rituals, Reflections and Links for each day (and on some days more than one). I usually put the links through the bit.ly URL shortner which saves space.
I save this document in my Dropbox so that I have access to it on my phone.
2. Dropbox on a smartphone
You can access your dropbox on your smartphone, only downloading the files you want to access (so it doesn’t clog up your phone memory!). Many smartphones comes with an app already installed to read Word documents, and some are certainly better than others. For this purpose you need an app which allows you to copy and paste from the document you are viewing. I find that the free OliveOffice does this job very effectively.
Of course, you could cut out this part of the process and just type the text in the SMS app below, but as my texts often include shortcoded links, I want to get these right.
3. Sending Group Texts
From my chosen document reader, I selected the appropriate day, and selected “Share” (third button from left) and selected to share that text with my text app Pansi SMS.
Pansi is an excellent SMS program, and the best feature is that you can send not only to individuals, but to a Google group. Select the “people” icon at the right of the “To” and select the “Group list”
Now you can see why I collated the names in my Google address book and gave them a specific group, in this case called “Texts”. I select that group…
and select “Send”.
The whole send process takes about 10 to 15 minutes to send 150 messages. You can also schedule the sending, so (for example) on Good Friday, I schedule them to coincide with the three hour-long meditations on the Cross, when I am particularly busy. I suppose one could schedule the whole of Lent, but I suspect it would clog up the memory of my phone.
One of the addresses I text to is my Twitter account so that people who don’t have a UK mobile can also get them. Texts to non-UK mobiles cost a fortune and you don’t want to go there…
Of course, you don’t have to use this technique for just Lent reflections, there is no limit, but this process can enable us to use SMS creatively.
I hope this helps you.
“In the Storm” by Mary Oliver – a Kinetic Typography video
In the Storm
Some black ducks
were shrugged up
on the shore.
It was snowing
hard, from the east,
and the sea
was in disorder.
Then some sanderlings,
five inches long
with beaks like wire,
flew in,
snowflakes on their backs,
and settled
in a row
behind the ducks –
whose backs were also
covered with snow –
so close
they were all but touching,
they were all but under
the roof of the duck’s tails,
so the wind, pretty much,
blew over them.
They stayed that way, motionless,
for maybe an hour,
then the sanderlings,
each a handful of feathers,
shifted, and were blown away
out over the water
which was still raging.
But, somehow,
they came back
and again the ducks,
like a feathered hedge,
let them
crouch there, and live.
If someone you didn’t know
told you this,
as I am telling you this,
would you believe it?
Belief isn’t always easy.
But this much I have learned –
if not enough else –
to live with my eyes open.
I know what everyone wants
is a miracle.
This wasn’t a miracle.
Unless, of course, kindness –
as now and again
some rare person has suggested –
is a miracle.
As surely it is.
Mary Oliver
I was asked to do this video for Mthr Anna and the wonderful Holy Ground at Exeter Cathedral. I put loads of work into it, and then went away for the weekend thinking I had another week to get it ready. I was wrong. It was due yesterday, and so I let them down. I am truly sorry. However: here it is.
Blessed Initiation: Mass with Baptism and Confirmation at S. Cecilia’s Woolwell, Candlemas 2013
Gathering : Our God is here (CJM)
Here in this time, here in this place
Here we are standing face to face
Here in our hearts, here in our lives
Our God is here
Here for the broken, here for the strong
Here in this temple we belong
Here in our hearts, here in our lives
Our God is here
And we cry Holy, Holy, Holy are you
(we cry) Holy, Holy, Holy and true
Amen! We do believe our God is here
Our God is here
Here in the Word, God is revealed
Here where the wounded can be healed
Here in our hearts, here in our lives
Our God is here
Here we become, what we receive
Here in this Eucharistic feast
We are His body, living as one
Our God is here.
And we cry Holy, Holy, Holy are you
(we cry) Holy, Holy, Holy and true
Amen! We do believe our God is here
Our God is here
Here in this time, here in this place
Here we are standing face to face
Here in our hearts, here in our lives
Our God is here
Here for the broken, here for the strong
Here in this temple we belong
Here in our hearts, here in our lives
Our God is here
And we cry Holy, Holy, Holy are you
(we cry) Holy, Holy, Holy and true
Amen! We do believe our God is here
Our God is here
And we cry Holy, Holy, Holy are you
(we cry) Holy, Holy, Holy and true
Amen! We do believe our God is here
Our God is here
The Greeting
In the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
There is one body and one spirit.
There is one hope to which we were called;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all.
Peace be with you
and also with you.
The bishop greets the people and introduces the worship, leading to an act of reconciliation
Act of Penitence
Absolution Song
Come, O come, come to the river
flowing from the body of Christ.
We’ll go down, deep in the water,
but in the Lord we shall arise.
1. Washed in the waters of rebirth,
we have put on Christ Jesus.
2. Priestly people are we,
sealed and sent by the Spirit.
3. Blest are those who thirst
for the reign of God’s justice.
Come, O come, come to the river
flowing from the body of Christ.
We’ll go down, deep in the water,
but in the Lord we shall arise.
but in the Lord we shall arise.
We are sprinkled with Holy Water from a large sprig of Rosemary to symbolise our forgiveness. Followed by word of absolution
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive you all your offences; and by his authority committed to me, I absolve you from all your sins: +In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And of your charity, pray for me, a sinner also.
Book of Common Prayer, Visitation of the Sick p317
Gloria (t Cwm Rhonda)
Glory be to God in heaven,
songs of joy and peace we bring,
thankful hearts and voices raising,
to creation’s Lord we sing.
Lord, we thank you,
Lord, we bless you,
glory be to God our King,
glory be to God our King
Lamb of God, who on your shoulders
bore the load of this world’s sin,
only Son of God the Father,
you have brought us peace within.
Lord, have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
now your glorious reign begin,
now your glorious reign begin.
The Collect
(not shown on screen – Video for Candlemas Prayer plays behind)
Let us pray
Lord Jesus Christ,
light of the nations and glory of Israel;
make your home among us,
and present us pure and holy
to your heavenly Father,
your God and our God.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
At the back of this reading, Bowie’s “Weeping Wall” plays
The Reading is from the prophet Malachi
God says
The Messenger will come
The one you look for will appear in his temple
The Messenger will come
He will bring good news to delight in
The Messenger will come
But who can endure the day of his coming,
The Messenger will come
and who can stand when he appears?
The Messenger will come
For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;
The Messenger will come
he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,
The Messenger will come
and he will purify the descendants of Levi,
The Messenger will come
until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.
The Messenger will come
then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD
The Messenger will come
God will do this.
Gradual: You love is Amazing
Your love is amazing
Steady and unchanging
Your love is a mountain
Firm beneath my feet
Your love is a mystery
How You gently lift me
When I am surrounded
Your love carries me
Your love is surprising
I can feel it rising
All the joy that’s growing
Deep inside of me
And every time I see You
All Your goodness shines through
And I can feel this God song
Rising up in me
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love makes me sing
Gospel: Presentation in the Temple Luke 2:22-32
As the meditation is played, the altar is circled and censed. At the end, the priest faces the congregation and repeats the Nunc Dimmitis:
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever, world without end. Amen
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ
Sermon: Bishop John Ford of Plymouth
Liturgy of Initiation: Presentation of the Candidates
The bishop asks those who are candidates for baptism
Do you wish to be baptized?
I do.
The bishop asks the candidates for confirmation who have been baptized
Have you been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?
I have.
The bishop asks all the candidates
Are you ready with your own mouth and from your own heart to affirm your faith in Jesus Christ?
I am.
The bishop addresses the whole congregation
Faith is the gift of God to his people.
In baptism the Lord is adding to our number those whom he is calling.
People of God, will you welcome these candidates and uphold them in their life in Christ?
With the help of God, we will.
The Decision
The bishop addresses all the candidates
In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.
Therefore I ask:
Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?
I reject them.
Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
I renounce them.
Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
I repent of them.
Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
I turn to Christ.
Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
I submit to Christ.
Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
I come to Christ.
Signing with the Cross
Fr Simon (or the bishop) speaks of the symbol of the Oil of Baptism. The bishop makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of each candidate for baptism, saying
Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of his cross.
When all the candidates for baptism have been signed, the bishop says to them
Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.
Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ
against sin, the world and the devil,
and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life.
The bishop says
May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness,
restore in you the image of his glory,
and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ.
Amen.
Prayer over the Water
The bishop stands before the water of baptism and says
Praise God who made heaven and earth,
who keeps his promise for ever.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise
We thank you, almighty God, for the gift of water
to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life.
Heavenly Father, +sanctify this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit, all who are baptised in it may they be cleansed from sin and born again.
Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith
and continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be all honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen
Profession of Faith
Let us profess our faith…
God waits for us,
not like a lion ready to pounce if we let our guard down
and not like an interfering mother-in-law
but like an old friend who’s seen it all before and likes us anyway
and with whom we can spend time without having to pretend or explain.
We believe in God. Three in One. Father. Son. Spirit.
Paradox. Mystery. Elemental.
We believe in a God of Justice. Compassion. Mercy. Hope. And first, a God of Love.
Love personified. Incarnated.
We believe in God, the Mother of Creation. God, the Father of Humanity.
God, the lover of us all.
We believe we are called to activity out of passivity and apathy
By the Son of God through his actions, calling down through history,
Bourne on the wings of the Spirit.
We believe we are called to community with each other
Through Christ the thread
Weaving us all together.
We believe that God
Has no favourites
Pulls no punches
Leaves no stone unturned.
We believe that life is hard
We believe that life is beautiful
And so
We believe
Does God.
Baptism
The bishop may address each candidate for baptism by name, saying
N, is this your faith?
This is my faith.
God knew you before you were formed in the womb. God knows every hair on your head. God called you into being and he now calls you into faith. Your baptism is a sign of that calling.
The bishop pours water on them, saying
N, I baptize you
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Robing in White
Fr Simon (or the bishop) explains the white robe. The baptismal candiates are wrapped in a white cloth
You have been clothed with Christ.
As many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church,
pour upon you the riches of his grace,
that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people
you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit,
and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.
Amen.
The candidates for confirmation who have previously been baptized may come forward to the font and the bishop sprinkles them. He then says
Almighty God,
we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith
with all who have been baptized into your name.
Keep us faithful to our baptism,
and so make us ready for that day
when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Confirmation
The bishop stands before those who are to be confirmed, and says
Our help is in the name of the Lord
who has made heaven and earth.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and for ever. Amen.
The bishop extends his hands towards those to be confirmed and says
Almighty and ever-living God,
you have given these your servants new birth
in baptism by water and the Spirit,
and have forgiven them all their sins.
Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them:
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding;
the Spirit of counsel and inward strength;
the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness;
and let their delight be in the fear of the Lord.
Amen.
God knew you before you were formed in the womb. God knows every hair on your head. God called you into being and he now calls you into faith. Your Confirmation is a sign of that calling.
Fr Simon (or the bishop) speaks of the symbol of the Oil of Chrism and laying on of hands. The bishop addresses each candidate by name
N, God has called you by name and made you his own.
He then lays his hand on the head of each, saying
Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit.
Amen.
at the end
Defend, O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace,
that they may continue yours for ever,
and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more
until they come to your everlasting kingdom. Amen.
Commission
All those who are baptized are called to worship and serve God.
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
With the help of God, we will.
Will you persevere in resisting evil,
and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
With the help of God, we will.
Will you proclaim by word and example
the good news of God in Christ?
With the help of God, we will.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all people,
loving your neighbour as yourself?
With the help of God, we will.
Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society,
by prayer for the world and its leaders,
by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?
With the help of God, we will.
May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith,
that you may be rooted and grounded in love
and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
Amen.
The Welcome and Peace
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism:
by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body.
We welcome you in the fellowship of faith;
we are children of the same heavenly Father; we welcome you.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts
to which you are called as members of one body.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Offertory: Blessed be your name
Verse 1
Blessed be Your name,
In the land that is plentiful,
Where your streams of abundance flow,
Blessed be Your name,
Blessed be Your name,
When I’m found in the desert place,
Though I walk through the wilderness,
Blessed be Your name.
Bridge
Every blessing You pour out,
I’ll turn back to praise,
When the darkness closes in,
Lord still I’ll say:
Chorus
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your name,
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your glorious name,
Verse 2
Blessed be Your name,
When the sun’s shining down on me,
When the world’s ‘all as it should be’,
Blessed be Your name,
Blessed be Your name,
On the road marked with suffering,
Though there’s pain in the offering,
Blessed be Your name.
Bridge
Every blessing You pour out,
I’ll turn back to praise,
When the darkness closes in,
Lord still I’ll say:
Chorus
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your name,
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your glorious name,
Ending
You give and take away,
You give and take away,
My heart will choose to say,
Lord blessed be your name.
Chorus
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your name,
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your glorious name,
The Eucharistic Prayer
numbers on screen refer to paragraphs below
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
1 Father we begin buried, hemmed in, subjucated and hidden. Our faith covered by our sin, hidden by our insecurity.
2 Yet you have revealed your love for us, uncovering yourself through
the enfleshment of your Son and continue to work through the power of your holy spirit.
3 Reveal yourself to us in bread and wine,
Make us complete by the obedience of your Son to death,
even death on a cross
4 Take us and fashion us
Form us in love into the likeness of Christ through the gifts
of Baptism and Confirmation
and enable us to be freed to see that likeness in others.
5 So we enter into the mysteries of heaven echoing the song of the
angels, saints, prophets and patriarchs…
Sanctus
We are joined by angels,
Our purpose the same:
To worship the one and only God,
A little piece of heaven in this place
And we cry together: Holy, holy
For there is no other like You, Lord.
We declare together: You are awesome,
You are to be feared, honoured and revered,
For You are the Lord.
We are joined by angels,
With one voice we sing,
As we lift our hands to honour You,
In worship, the angels extend their wings.
And we cry together: Holy, holy
For there is no other like You, Lord.
We declare together: You are awesome,
You are to be feared, honoured and revered,
For You are the Lord.
The music continues softly as the Bishop continues with the prayer
6 Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness;
7 grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit,
and according to your holy will,
these gifts of bread and wine
may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;
8 who, in the same night that he was betrayed,
took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
9 In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
10 Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.
<no memorial acclamation>
11 And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross,
his perfect sacrifice made once
for the sins of the whole world;
rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension,
and looking for his coming in glory,
we celebrate this memorial of our redemption.
12 As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,
we bring before you this bread and this cup
and we thank you for counting us worthy
to stand in your presence and serve you.
13 Send the Holy Spirit on your people
and gather into one in your kingdom
all who share this one bread and one cup,
so that we, in the company of Our Blessed Lady,
St Anne, St Cecilia, St. Edward all the saints,
may praise and glorify you for ever,
through Jesus Christ our Lord;
14 by whom, and with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever.
And we cry together: Holy, holy
For there is no other like You, Lord.
We declare together: You are awesome,
You are to be feared, honoured and revered,
For You are the Lord.
Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven.
Don’t say ‘Father’ if you do not behave like a son or daughter. Don’t say ‘Our’ if you only think of your self.
Hallowed by your name
Don’t say ‘Hallowed’ if you do not honour that name.
Your Kingdom come
Don’t say ‘Your Kingdom come’ if you are weighed down with material goods
Your will be done On earth as in heaven
Don’t say ‘Thy will be done’ if you do not accept the hard bits
Don’t say ‘as it is in heaven’ if you only think about earthly matters
Give us this day our daily bread
Don’t say ’Our daily bread’ if you have no concern for the hungry or the homeless
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who against us
Don’t say ‘Forgive us our sins’ if you remain angry with someone
Lead us not into temptation
Don’t say ‘Lead us not into temptation’ if you intend to continue sinning
But deliver us from evil
Don’t say ‘Deliver us from evil if you are not willing to make a stand against injustice
For the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen
Don’t say ‘AMEN’ without considering the words of your prayer!
We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share the one bread
Agnus Dei
Come not because you are strong,
but because you are weak.
Come not because any goodness of your own
but because you need mercy and help.
Come because you love the Lord a little
and would like to love him more.
Come because he loves you
and gave his life for you.
This is the lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
Blesséd are those who are called to his supper
Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
Communion is distributed
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray…
Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna,
who lived to welcome the Messiah:
may we, who have received these gifts beyond words,
prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes to bring us to eternal life;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Blessing
The God of all grace,
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus,
establish, strengthen and settle you in the faith;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the +Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Giving of a Lighted Candle
The candidate’s candles are lit from the Paschal Candle, the congregation’s votive candles are lit from the candidates and everyone gets to take a candle home with them.
The congregation candles have a sticker on them which says:
“One faith, One Lord, One Baptism” (Ephesians 4:5) Spread the light. Blesséd Initiations www.blessed.org.uk
Fr Simon (or the bishop) speaks of the symbol of the Candle.
God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has given us a place with the saints in light. You have received the light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of your life.
Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.
The Dismissal
The Mass is ended. Go in the light and peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
The bishop may lead the newly baptized and confirmed through the church to the back.
Recessional either: Let everything that has breath
Chorus
Let everything that,
Everything that,
Everything that has breath
Praise the Lord.
Verse 1
Praise You in the morning,
Praise You in the evening,
Praise You when I’m young
And when I’m old.
Praise You when I’m laughing,
Praise You when I’m grieving,
Praise You every
season of the soul.
Bridge
If we could see
how much You’re worth,
Your power, Your might,
Your endless love,
Then surely we
would never cease to praise :
Chorus
Let everything that,
Everything that,
Everything that has breath
Praise the Lord
Verse 2
Praise You in the heavens,
Joining with the angels,
Praising You forever
and a day.
Praise You on the earth now,
Joining with creation,
Calling all the nations
to Your praise.
Bridge
If they could see
how much You’re worth,
Your power, Your might,
Your endless love,
Then surely they would
never cease to praise:
Chorus
Let everything that,
Everything that,
Everything that has breath
Praise the Lord
Chorus 2
I will worship I will worship
I will worship You in everything.
Or Window in the Skies (U2)
Verse
The shackles are undone, the bullets quit the gun
The heat that’s in the sun will keep us when there’s none
The rule has been disproved, the stone it has been moved
The grave is now a groove, all debts are removed
Chorus
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
What it’s done to me?
Verse
Love makes strange enemies, makes love where love may please
The soul and its striptease, hate brought to its knees
The sky over our head, we can reach it from our bed
You let me in your heart and out of my head, head
Chorus
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
What it’s done to me?
Bridge
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Please don’t ever let me out of you
I’ve got no shame, oh no, oh no
Chorus
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
Oh can’t you see?
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
What it’s doing to me?
I know I hurt you and I made you cry
Did everything but murder you and I
But love left a window in the skies
And to love I rhapsodize
To every broken heart
For every heart that cries
Love left a window in the skies
And to love I rhapsodize
Oh can’t you see?
END
Liturgy on an Android Tablet Device: a users guide
Although I have a reputation as an early adopter, and a willingness to use any technology to support the liturgy and witness of the Church, I have been careful in my use of electronics as a paper substitute for the priest. I have over time preached from a Kindle device and nowadays almost exclusively say my Daily Office from a Smartphone (extremely useful for Home Communions!) but this season, I exclusively celebrated the liturgy using my Android Tablet. Here is how it all fits together…
Daily Office: Universalis Email
The excellent Universalis website (http://www.universalis.com/) provides web, desktop and email versions of the Readings for Mass and the Texts of the Divine Office each day. You can have this for free, but for a small subscription, you can get the whole package sent as one convenient email. No more losing ribbons, no more forgetting that obscure Saints day or getting the antiphon wrong because you have forgotten what day of the week it is. Perfect for prayer on the move, you can have the text whereever you have your smartphone. This is what I use for Home Communions now, and it is very convenient.
Kindle (for the benefit for those still using one)
I don’t use my Kindle as much as I used to, which is an indicator of how fast the technology has moved on. Two years ago, I took my Kindle to the Holy Land and thanks to its Whispernet, used it to email home, update FB and Twitter all for free – no expensive data charges!
The brilliant Fr Edward Green worked out the ideal word document for displaying a homily on a Kindle. Here it is: kindleblank
If you were to save that docx document as a dotx template and put it in your Microsoft Word Teemplates folder, then you can have a new template which you can then email to your Kindle and preach from it. Create your texts in Microsoft Word as if it were paper, but using this special size and there you are!
Android Tablet
This is the where I am at the moment. The power and flexibility of a tablet is amazing: they have come on so far recently. My tablet is the Google Nexus 7: a powerful 7 inch tablet. I highly recommend this one to you all, and at under £200 it is a real bargain. I prefer the 7 inch size because it will fit in my cassock or my hoodie pocket.
I create all my liturgy as I have always done, on a PC on Microsoft Word (service sheets and posters tend to be done in Microsoft Publisher, but for my use at the altar, it remains in Word).
I save all of my key documents in the cloud using Dropbox . This is a free service and if you sign up for you free 2Gb of storage using this link, I get a little bit of extra space for a referral (please!). The advantage of saving documents in the cloud is that they are available across all your devices (in my case, a couple of laptops, my tablet and a smartphone). Update the document and the update is automatically replicated across all your devices very quickly. I also use this to share key documents securely between the staff team: you can create folders which named accounts have access to and so rotas, liturgy and other such essential admin can be properly shared: no more “oh, I didn’t get that version” because as a document is edited, all versions are updated. This is therefore a seemless way to transfer documents to your device.
I have Dropbox installed on my tablet, so can easily access ALL my Word documents (and Excel Spreadsheets etc) as and when I need them. Anywhere.
I simply select the document I want, and Android asks me with what I wish to view the document in. There are lots of apps on the Market, and some of them may be bundled with your tablet. However, I have found that the best reader is not necessarily the best editor. I have used my tablet to write quite a lot (on the train usually) and to blog and for that OfficeSuite Pro is by far the best, but an app designed to write has the annoying habit of going into edit mode if you accidentally touch the screen. For writing and editing documents, I wholeheartedly recommend it. See here (currently only £6.20). As you will realise, if you edit a file from Dropbox on your Tablet, it becomes available everywhere – perfect!
However to view the document, ie to just read from it, I recommend the wholly free version of OfficeSuite: the OfficeSuite Viewer (download here)
This also will view PDF files for you so is even more useful. There is no problem having both on your system, because it will ask you how you want to use it. I always select “Just Once” so I can choose whether I am viewing or editing a document.
Once you have the document open in the Office Viewer, you can look at it two ways: as it looks on the page or as a web page. At the top, select the Menu (three dots to the right of Word Count) and select View
The Page View is exactly as the Word Document is. If you pinch-zoom the document to make it more readable, it will not wrap around. This keeps the format.
The Web View is even more useful for this purpose, because it fills the whole screen and wraps according to the size. I can therefore pinch-zoom the page to a convenient size for reading (and to fit a decent amount on screen so I am not scrolling in the middle of the Eucharistic Prayer) and it wraps!
The Reader will cope with a lot of Word formatting, including TextBoxes, which can be quite useful. In my wedding liturgy, the bride and groom’s response “I WILL” is in big letters in a box upside down. This means that I just have to tilt the tablet towards the couple to prompt them for their response.
With Marriage, Baptism and Funerals, I create a bespoke document with all the names and prompts in place of N and M so avoiding little bits of paper getting in the way – so elegant.
If you don’t have an MC, then you can hold your tablet yourself, place it on a legillium or on the altar. Missal Stands are perfect for a Tablet, but I have also used a cushion on the altar (as some Churches do) and have also simply put the Tablet on the altar by the Corporal. At Midnight Mass the MC held my Tablet for me whilst I proclaimed the Gospel. I must admit, I was a little worried I might clonk the tablet with the thurible, but it was fine (and I am so skilled with the thurible anyway!) We both reflected afterwards how the signing and kissing of the Gospel was affected by a touch-sensitive device, but it was fine.
My Tablet has a Wake-Sleep Cover, which turns the screen off when you close it. This does mean you have to hold it carefully but practice sorts this out. I don’t set a password so if my device does accidentally sleep, then it wakes instantly into action. I did try it without a cover, and it was okay, but I was a little anxious about dropping it (and dropping it into the font).
In summary, I can’t see me ever going back. You don’t need a torch during the Easter Vigil or Nine Lessons and Carols because it is backlit. It wastes no paper, it can be totally personalised to the service and changes can be incorporated really quickly.
I have been working from this template (with appropriate seasonal variations) for most Sundays, cutting and pasting in the collects, introductions etc Download: Sunday Mass Template for Tablet
A**le Tablets
I have always said that Blesséd was the last truly radical and subversive alt.worship group simply because we use PCs instead of Macs. I am not (as you will tell if you read this blog or follow my tweets at @frsimon) an Apple Fanboy, although I have had an iPhone (ugh!) and a Mac Mini and a Macbook, so I know how beautiful and utterly useless they are: noddy machines with expensive pricetags. If you can afford one of these things, then quite a lot of this is directly transferrable. You can still use Dropbox, (or indeed any cloud software – there is Google Drive and Microsoft Skydrive and I am sure Apple has an equivalent). I am also sure that the iPad will have a viewer that will expertly read a Word or Pages document. Take these principles and apply them as appropriate for your system.
I’m delighted with how my setup works, and I hope it works for you.
