Thursday, January 20, 2011

Lord, it is night...


I received an email from a parishioner this morning, asking me about a prayer she knew she'd heard at St. Francis at some point or another. It's the kind of prayer that stays with you and I knew immediately what she was looking for. It's a really good prayer, one I use often...the kind of prayer that makes one glad to be part of a liturgical tradition, the kind of prayer that never seems to become rote, but borders on poetry.

Here it is, from A Prayerbook for New Zealand - part of the Anglican Communion, of which The Episcopal Church is a part.
Lord, it is night. The night is for 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 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.

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