“The people of God have filled their prayer language not only with theological riches across the ages, but also with the riches of their own perspectives, personalities, times and places.

We have the same potential to write meaningful prayers today – prayers that could last far beyond our lifetimes in our usefulness for worship.”

Picture: Lisa Kerr Words: Dan Wilt

“The rule of prayer determines the rule of belief.

In other words,

how and what we pray or sing will tend to shape what we

believe,as well as working the other

way around.”

Be still…listen…can you hear it?

What is the shape andthe language of your prayer

expression as it rises today?

Words by Dan Wilt

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton

I rise todaywith the power of God to pilot me,

God’s strength to sustain me,God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look ahead for me,God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to speak for me,God’s hand to protect me,

God’s way before me,God’s shield to defend me,

God’s host to deliver me, from snares of devils, from evil temptations, from nature’s failing, from all who wish to harm me, far or

near, alone and in a crowd.

Excerpt from St Patrick’s Breastplate

O Lord, who has mercy upon all, take away from me my sins,and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit.Take away from me the heart of stone,and give me a heart of flesh,a heart to love and adore thee,a heart to delight in thee,to follow and to enjoy thee,for Christ's sake.

Ambrose of Milan, c 339-97

Christ as a light, illumine and guide me

Christ as a shield, overshadow meChrist under me, Christ over me

Christ beside me, on my left and my right

This day be within and without meLowly and meek, yet all powerfulBe in the heart of each to whom I

speakIn the mouth of each who speaks unto

meThis day be within and without meLowly and meek, yet all powerful

Christ as a light, Christ as a shieldChrist beside me, on my left and my

right

St Patrick

May the Strength of God guide us.May the Power of God preserve us.May the Wisdom of God instruct us.May the Hand of God protect us.May the Way of God direct us.May the Shield of God defend us.May the Angels of God guard us.- Against the snares of the evil one.

May Christ be with us!May Christ be before us!May Christ be in us,Christ be over all!

May Thy Grace, Lord,Always be ours,This day, O Lord, and forevermore. Amen

Prayer for the Faithful, St Patrick

Lord, may I never take the gift of freedom for granted.

You gave me the great blessing of freedom of spirit. Fill my spirit with Your peace and Your joy.It is so easy to get caught up with the trappings of wealth in this life.Grant, O Lord, that I may be free from greed and selfishness.Remind me that the best things in life are free. Love, laughter, caring and sharing. Help me Lord, to know how you are speaking to me today.Teach me to recognise Your hand at work in my daily living.

http://sacredspace.ie/livingspace/

Most powerful Holy Spirit, Come down upon us and subdue us. From heaven, Where the ordinary

Is made glorious,And glory seems but ordinary,

Bathe us With the brilliance

Of Your LightLike dew

Circle me, Lord,Keep light near;And darkness afar.Circle me, LordKeep peace within;Keep evil out.May God shield me;May God fill me;May God keep me;May God watch me; May God bring me this dayInto the wonder of His love.For whoever believes In the power Of the blood of Jesus, Nothing is impossible! Amen.

Celtic Daily Prayer

 LORD, I have heard of your fame;       I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.        Renew them in our day,        in our time make them known;        in wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk 3:2

Open our eyes Lord,Bring us into a renewed awareness of Your glorious presence, of Your mystery unfolding through the ages.Make visible what can’t be seen with ordinary eyes.

As we are touched by Your magnificence, May our simple hearts respond.As we are inspired by Your beauty,May our down-to-earth hands re-create.All towards the deep honour and bright gloryOf the image of the Invisible God.

Di Hocking

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

“Pray continually.”1 Thess. 5:17

Credits and Sources:Slide 1 Picture: Local artist, Lisa Kerr http://1.bp.blogspot.com/ Words: Dan Wilt: ESSENTIALS IN WORSHIP HISTORY: The Language Of Prayer

www.danwilt.comSlide 2 Words: Dan Wilt: ESSENTIALS IN WORSHIP HISTORY: The Language Of Prayer

www.danwilt.comSlide 3 Picture: www.wallpaper.craiggyartist.com/ Slide 4 Words: Thomas Merton www.mertoninstitute.org/merton_prayer.phpSlide 5 Picture: www.prayerwindows.com/week2/wk2_03_lg.htmlSlide 6 Words: www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1998/issue60/60h032.html excerpt onlySlide 7 Words: Ambrose of Milan www.faithandworship.com/early_Christian_prayers.htm.Slide 8 Picture: www.prayerwindows.com/week1/wk1_01_lg.htmlSlide 9 www.northumbriacommunity.org/PraytheOffice/morningprayer.htmlSlide 10 Picture: www.wallpaper.craiggyartist.com/

Words: www.joyfulheart.com/stpatrick/prayer_faithful.htmSlide 11 Words: http://sacredspace.ie/livingspace/Slide 12 Words: www.theologicalhorizons.org/blog/2006/06/most-powerful-holy-spirit-come-down.htmlSlide 13 Picture: www.wallpaper.craiggyartist.com/ Slide 14 Words: Di Hocking http://diavca.wordpress.com/