Taize Chant
&
New Zealand Night Prayer
Soak up the Taize chant (links in red) in silence or join in singing the refrains printed in italic blue.
Opening Sentence
Restore us again, O God: show us the light of your face and we shall be saved. Psalm 80:3
Taizé Community Choir
Refrain:
Within our darkest night, you kindle the fire that never dies away.
Approach
The angels of God guard us through the night,
and quieten the powers of darkness.
The Spirit of God be our guide,
to lead us to peace and to glory.
It is but lost labor that we haste to rise up early,
and so late take rest, and eat the bread of anxiety.
For those beloved of God are given gifts even while they sleep.
Silence
Dear God,
thank you for all that is good,
for your creation and our humanity,
for the stewardship, you have given us of this planet earth,
for the gifts of life and one another,
for your love which is unbounded and eternal.
O thou, most holy and beloved,
my Companion, my Guide on the way,
we repent the wrongs we have done:
Silence
We have wounded your love.
O God, heal us.
We stumble in the darkness.
Light of the world transfigure us.
We forget that we are your home.
Spirit of God, dwell in us.
Eternal Spirit, living God,
in whom we live and move and have our being,
all that we are, have been, and shall be is known to you,
to the very secret of our hearts
and all that rises to trouble us.
Living flame burn unto us,
Fountain of water, well up within us. Amen.
Taizé Session Singers
Refrain:
O Lord hear my prayer. O Lord hear my prayer. When I call, answer me. O Lord hear my prayer. O Lord hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.
Invocation
Eternal Spirit,
flow through our being and open our lips,
that our mouths shall proclaim your praise.
Let us worship the God of love.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Psalm 126
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
then were we, like those who dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are glad indeed.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses of the Negev.
Those who sowed with tears
will reap with songs of joy,
Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed,
will come again with joy shouldering the sheaves.
Taizé Community Choir
Refrain:
Wait for the Lord whose day is near. Wait for the Lord. Be strong, take heart.
The Readings
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim, the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance to our God; to comfort all who mourn in Zion – to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantel of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations of many generations. For I the Lord love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
John 1:6-8, 19-23
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the Light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the testimony given by John when the authorities sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?’ He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said.
Taizé
Refrain:
Benedictus qui venit, benedictus qui venit, in nomine, in nomine, in nomine Domini.
Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. The Virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. And now your relative Elizabeth, in her old age, has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Lord, let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Taizé
Refrain:
Christe lux mundi, qui sequitur te habebit lumen vitae, lumen vitae.
The Prayers
Into your hands, O God, I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me, O God of truth and love.
Keep me, O God, as the apple of your eye;
hide me under the shadow of your wings.
Song of Simeon
Praise be to God, I have lived to see this day.
God’s promise is fulfilled, and my duty done.
At last you have given me peace,
for I have seen with mine own eyes
the salvations you have prepared for all nations
a light to the world in its darkness,
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory be to God, sustaining, redeeming, sanctifying,
as in the beginning, so now, and forever.
Amen.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Lord’s Prayer (Alternate)
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and all that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of this world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need today, feed us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and forever. Amen
Cathedral Choir of Notre Dame
Refrain:
Laudate omnes gentes, luadate Dominum.
Lord,
It is night.
The night is for the stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us, and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys, new possibilities.
In your name, we pray. Amen.
Palma Cela Presbyterian Church
Refrain:
My peace I leave you. My peace I give you. Trouble not your hearts. My peace I leave you. My peace I give you. Be not afraid.
Blessing
Christ the sun of righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path and the blessing of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Giver of life, be with you always. Amen.
Dismissal
Go in peace.
Amen. We go in the name of Christ.
Our worship is ended; our service continues in the world.
Wishing you and yours a very blessed and peaceful Christmas.
