Litanies & Prayers

Peace, like a river. Praise, like a songbird. Joy, like a fountain.

All these things, and more, in my soul.

I’ve got tears, like raindrops. Heartaches, by the handful. And protest—Lordy me, have I got protests.

In the company of these witnesses, round this table of remembrance of baptismal vows,  within hearing of the One who delights in our company and in whose Promise we trust, let us make our professions.

What do we believe?

That we shall see the goodness of God in the land of the living.

Oh Wondrous One, Who rides the skies and consorts with the earth— haunting the heavens, hounding mere mortals with the expectation of ecstasy—come and rouse hungry hearts with the aroma of your Presence.

Let the song of angels sound again, announcing glory to God and peace for the earth.

Give your people wombs of welcome to the news of reversal: the annulment of enmity and the Advent of promise.

Let the room be filled with laud and laughter, oh people of Mercy. Fill the air with music and merriment, with the sound of delight annulling the wail of indigence.

Praise your Maker, you wind and wave. Sun and moon and Bethlehem’s star, shout in exultation!

Let all that swim in the sea give thanks; all that walk on the land, rejoice; all that traverse the open sky, extol.

Attend to my cry, O Lord; hide me in the
shadow of your wings.

Beloved One, my mouth praises you with
joyful lips; and in the shadow of your wings
my voice resounds.

“I will protect those who know my name,”
says the Strength of Day and the Guardian of Night.
“When they call me, then shall I answer.”

Of God’s Unity, God says in the Holy Qur’an:
​      Say: He is God, the One! God, the Self-Sufficient
           Besought of all! So invoke the Name of thy Lord
           and devote thyself to Him with a complete devotion.

Of the necessity of love for the neighbor, the Prophet
Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—said:
     “None of you has faith until you love for your
     neighbor what you love for yourself.”

Jesus said:
     “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One;
     you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
     and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and
     with all your strength.”

In the beginning, all formless and void, the Breath of Heaven hovered deep within darkness. And the Word appeared, a Word beyond speech, tender, full of grace, issuing light and life from the Womb of God to water and stone and all creaturely flesh.

Oh, Breath of Heaven, Word of the Beloved, Song of Creation and Presence of Peace, grant grace upon grace to all creaturely flesh.

 Oh, Weaver of Days and Rest-giving Nights, your Word-shaped world has grown deaf to your voice and blind to your light. Against every dark threat shine again the Sun of your righteous radiance. Let the chorus of angels sound again your melody of pardon.