Music meditation

Night Prayer

From A New Zealand Prayer Book

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.

Eternal Spirit, flow through our being and open our lips, that our mouths may proclaim your praise.

All: Dear God, thank you for all that is good, for our creation and for our humanity,

for the stewardship you have given us of this planet earth, for the gifts of life and of one another, for your love which is unbounded and eternal. O thou, most holy and beloved, my Companion, my Guide upon the way, my bright evening star. We repent the wrongs we have done:

Silence is kept

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 into us, cleansing wind, blow through us, fountain of water, well up within us, that we may love and praise in deed and in truth.

Psalm 147

1. Hallelujah!

How good it is to sing praises to our God! * how pleasant it is to honor God with praise!

• The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; * he gathers the exiles of Israel.
• God heals the brokenhearted * and binds up their wounds.
• God counts the number of the stars * and calls them all by their names.
• Great is our LORD and mighty in power;

*there is no limit to his wisdom.

• The LORD lifts up the lowly, *

but casts the wicked to the ground.

• Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; * make music to our God upon the harp.

• He covers the heavens with clouds * and prepares rain for the earth;
• He makes grass to grow upon the mountains * and green plants to serve mankind.
• He provides food for flocks and herds

*and for the young ravens when they cry.

1. He is not impressed by the might of a horse; * he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
2. But the LORD has pleasure in those who fear him, *in those who await his gracious favor.

21 Hallelujah!

Silence is kept. Music meditation

Mark 1:29-39

After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Contemplative conversation on the Scriptures Music meditation

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 an eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings.

Preserve us, O God, while waking, and guard us while sleeping,

that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep may rest in your peace.

Prayers and intercessions The 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 my own eyes

the salvation 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 for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Final Prayer, Blessing, and Dismissal