| Passing on the Light | Jubilee! | Music Ideas |

• Passing on the Light: Litany of Waiting
  • This Liturgy has been used as a school carol service with a cast and congregation of thousands (OK - hundreds!) - and as an Evening Prayer with 5 people gathered. It is very adaptable!
    
  • The Liturgy is centred around a list of names (about 80!)- stretching back into the mists of time to the beginning when God said, "Let there be light!"
    
  • You may wish to add names - to include the patron saint of your church or group, for example.
  • You may also wish to reduce the number of names - especially if this is to be used by a small group! Resist the temptation to prune too heavily - remember this is an exercise in waiting - and showing how generation upon generation upon generation have waited and watched as God's plan for the world unfolds...
  • It is especially effective if you have people holding unlit tapers or candles - and then, as the names are listed, the light is passed on from one to another - until, eventually, a line of lights is created - representing the passing of the light from one generation to the next until our own day...
  • Alternatively, in smaller groups, use candles or tee-lights with the names alongside - lighting each in turn. They can form a circle around the main candle - ar a line from it. Adapt according to the space you have available.
  • The "Scripture Reading" is set within the listing - and is an adaptation of the Prologue to St John's Gospel. If you prefer, you could have the Gospel read at this point instead.
  • Music in the Liturgy - see ideas below
    • A Gathering Song helps to start such a liturgy.
    • You may like to intersperse the Litany with chants which speak of the kindling of light
    • A Closing Song should be celebratory - the Light has passed to us!
      It could sing of commitment - and confidence - and joy...
      
  • The number of Readers can be adapted to suit your circumstances - but bear in mind that such a long list could get very tedious with only one voice reading it!
    
  • The Liturgy can readily be adapted for use with children (we know because Catherine has done it! See above)

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• Jubilee Liturgy: Standing on the Edge
  • This Liturgy has been used in church halls - and in Winchester and Portsmouth Anglican cathedrals! As with "Passing on the Light", it can be adapted to your own circumstances
    
  • It is probably more suited to liturgies for adults and young people than for schools.
    
  • The Liturgy works well as a mini-pilgrimage around the building.
    • Select a picture taken from a  newspaper or periodical to reflect each of the different "Edges" - hunger/ debt/ homelessness/ ecological damage, etc.
    • Mount the pictures on card and stick them up in various places in the church/ hall/ room/ outside.
    • As the prayer progresses, those gathered walk to stand before each image - and reflect on it and the words they are hearing and saying.
    • You may want to light - and leave - a candle in front of the picture.
      
  • The format is designed to encourage participation - share the readings out between members of the group.
  • A song or simple chant or refrain could accompany the movement from one picture to the next.
  • You should include intercessions. We have left this to you - as they should reflect the "Edges" where you are - the Night Shelter - the Drug rehab. unit - the parish project to help the hungry of the world   - the local hospital - and so on...edge - but not alone for God is with us and goes with us into the world - into the new millennium...

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• Music in your Liturgy

  Here are some songs that we have used successfully in parish and other Liturgies.
  The list is not exclusive - but designed to start the search - as you find these, so you may find other treasures!
  Click on the initials to see where to go for more details.

  • Chants/ refrains (e.g. for processions)
    
    • Kindle a flame (WG)
    • Litany of the Word (Bernadette Farrell DM)
    • Pour out, I will pour out My Spirit (WG)
    • The Kingdom of God is justice and peace (Taizé DM)
      
  • Songs of "longing"
    
    • There is a longing in our hearts (Anne Quigley DM)
    • We want to see your face (Paul Inwood MM, DM)
    • World Peace Prayer (Marty Haugen DM)
    • Before the World began (I am for you) (John Bell WG,)
    • Jesus, Lamb of God (from Paul Inwood's Millennium Mass MM, DM)
    • He became poor that we might be rich (John Bell WG,DM)
      
  • Songs of Promise and Going Forth
    
    • In the day of the Lord (M.D. Ridge DM)
    • Come into our lives (Paul Inwood MM DM)
    • Christ be our Light (Bernadette Farrell DM)
    • Take the Word of God with you (Christopher Walker DM)
    • Blessed are they who are poor in spirit (Jean Anthoy Greif DM)
    • Lord, You give the great commission (Laudate Hymnbook DM)
    • Jubilee (John Bell WG)
    • Jubilee Song (Bernadette Farrell DM, McCrimmons)
    • No one will ever be the same (WG)
    • Millennium Prayer (Paul Inwood MM DM)
    • Millennium Song (Paul Inwood MM DM)

      © 1999 Wellspring

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| Taizé Community |
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