How wonderful, how marvellous are your works
Lord God
In the beginning, you spoke light into being
from the start, your light was in and through all creation
in stars and galaxies
in daffodils and pines
in robins and whales
from the dawn of time, the entire cosmos has been illuminated by your glory
a glory which is too hard to grasp
too large to comprehend
but a glory we long to worship
so we come, gathered from different places
with different expectations, carrying joys and sorrows
here, together, joined with one purpose
to glorify your Holy Name forever and ever
to adore the one who formed us by his hands
to hear again the wondrous works of the Son
to feel moving around and within us the marvellous empowering of the Spirit
May all our praise and pray, all our thoughts and words
waft to the highest heaven
as beautiful incense
to blend with the angels and archangels
the saints and sinners gathered there
in a never ending hymn of praise
to the one who anoints as his chosen people
and blesses us to be his light in the world
Illuminated Lord
We are aware, though, we are not fully people of the light
there are parts of ourselves we wish to hide from others
things which we are ashamed that we have said, thought or done
things which we are ashamed that we haven’t said or done
times when we have been blinded by our own prejudices
and so have condemned and judged
[pause]
We are truly sorry, Lord God, for these and the many other ways we have sinned against you and others
Remind us we are forgiven of all our sins
that the slate truly is clean and we are set free to be the people who see the world as yours
who see your light shining in the darkest of places
the light of Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen