Song of the ages

Psalm 148 and John 1 

This One commanded

This One created

This One now here with us 

We praise the Word

We praise You, Wisdom,

Jesus, we praise Your Holy being 

Sun and moon and shining stars

Heavens and waters and earth

praise You, present through all creation 

Promise and presence

Prophet and Messiah

Your song is sung through time 

a multitude of the heavenly host

Christmas Praise with Luke 2:8–20 

angels fill our sky with gold:

our eyes blink with wonder! 

angels fill the air with music:

our hearts sing a song long awaited! 

angels fill the sky with light:

our souls dance, amazed! 

angels fill the air with life:

our lungs expand and – sigh! 

Praise to You, our Holy One,

Source of Life and Love,

born again in the wondrous story,

born again in us tonight / today! 

Praise to our hope and help

Psalm 146 

We praise you Holy One! 

We sing our praise to you alone,

may the song endure,

your praises never end! 

You live, give life, 

you are always; 

Holy One, you endure,

your praises never end! 

You are our help,

you are our hope,

Creator of sea and land and sky, 

faithful through all of time. 

You are Justice,

you, Liberation,

you, help and hope

for the poor. 

Your way is release

for captives, sight

for the blind and home

for stranger, widow, orphan. 

You lift up,

you open gates,

you are Mercy

and Lovingkindness. 

We praise you Holy One;

we sing praise to you alone; 

may the song endure,

your praises never end! 

Magnificent

Psalm 93 

Holy One, she is Queen, 

majestic, magnificent,

she is resplendent authority. 

He established the world

and it shall not be undone. 

Your dominion is all;

You are timeless, eternal! 

Floods rise, Holy One,

floods rise, and raise their voice;

floods roar their awe of you! 

How the waters thunder: 

mighty, majestic, the waves, the sea – 

and you are more!

Holy One is so much more! 

We can trust your voice;

we affirm your unique holiness.

Forever, forever, Holy One,

our Divine Monarch Magnificent! 

Good Friday Prayers

John 18:1 – 19:42 

1. 'I am he' 

Praise/ Call to worship 

You are the one we look for

You are the one we seek

You are the one we follow

You, the one we try to defend

You are the one who corrects,

the one who shows the Way

You are the one who heals,

You, the one who always forgives

You are the one we look for

You are the one we seek

Amen 

2. 'The cock crowed' 

Confession 

You saw it

You said it

You knew 

You know our hope

You know our fear

You know our tendency to let fear win

We're sorry

We are so sorry

With Peter, we are dismayed 

3. 'Standing near the cross' 

Intercession 

we pray for the soldiers,

the ones following orders

they may prefer to ignore

we pray for the leaders

giving orders, making judgements,

not always able to be courageous 

we pray for parents and children,

for goodbyes, for new connections,

we pray for the ones we love 

we pray for ourselves

encountering this story again: 

confront us, disturb us, leave us not unchanged 

Breathe Again

Confession, Thanksgiving, and Praise 

after Psalm 51:1–17 

for Ash Wednesday 

I stop.

Drop to my knees. 

I can see,

I will look,

all the ways I have not

walked Your Way. 

By my shame

I am brought

to my knees; 

in my sorrow

I fold my head low,

for I know

You know

there is nothing left

but to confess. 

I confess. 

Hear me fairly, 

look through Your eyes

of lovingkindness

that see 

and then choose not

to see

so I may breathe 

again. 

I stop. 

Drop to my knees. 

I can hear,

I will listen, 

in the chamber of my 

secret heart – 

oh, meet me there,

Merciful One, 

and whisper joy,

promise grace

as you have of old,

and I will lift my eyes,

throw wide my arms

and let you in

where You – to my surprise

and my delight – have told me

You will dwell! 

I thank you: 

this freedom,

this life,

this begin anew. 

I thank you

as I breathe

again. 

I stop. 

Drop to my knees. 

I can speak,

I will sing,

Your story 

and your glory

shining, shimmering,

sparkling glass of bubbling gold 

that overflows! 

Come near,

people dear: 

come sing the Song of Life,

the Song of Joy! 

We praise You,

Source of Life;

we praise You,

Way of Life;

we praise You,

Breath of Life,

and we breathe

again. 

Ancient Song of Release

Isaiah 52:7–10 

When we tell the story 

of a child born to change the world,

we sing in heart and voice,

in body, soul, and mind; 

we sing with all creation 

as if at last released 

from all that held us captive – 

How beautiful are the feet!

Even the feet, so wonderful

in all the earth, the feet

of the messenger who brings

us this song of release to sing! 

How beautiful the hands

of these angels who open again

our tired eyes to see again 

that Holy One is here! 

How beautiful the song, even

on the voice of ruins, the stones

and rubble of our broken lives

sing too of liberation, sing

out with joy! What joy! 

Look, earth! Listen, stars! 

Shout, dance, all that lives – 

for the life restored by Holy One

is beautiful indeed! 

We tell the story and we sing

the ancient song of liberation, 

release from captivity,

release into life! 

Sing the song of joy, today, 

sing every day of joy,

fro life is born, Christ is born

again, Holy One's promises 

come true – rejoice! 

You are wondrous

Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23 

Praise Holy One! 

Give voice to your gratitude,

for the goodness of Holy One,

whose lovingkindness endures always! 

We haven't the words

to say it all – 

the wonder of Holy One,

the depth of our thanks! 

But we know joy, living 

out your justice, sharing 

the love we know in you. 

Remember me, we cry, 

remember, Holy One, 

your people – do not forget. 

We want to rejoice, 

to celebrate the fulfilment

of your Dream. 

We know we have wronged you,

us, our ancestors before us; 

we have participated in tyranny: 

forgive us

forgive us. 

We make idols, worship images,

success, wealth, status, ourselves,

when we are made to worship you: 

forgive us

forgive us. 

We forget you, Holy One,

who hears our cries, who rescues

promises, redeems our lives: 

forgive us

forgive us. 

You could choose to leave us, 

unfaithful, inconstant, as we are;

we plead with you again, again, 

forgive us

forgive us. 

Thank you for not turning from us,

we sigh with relief, for our lives.

You are wondrous, awesome, faithful: 

help us remember

help us remember. 

Amen. 

Sing with your all

Psalm 149 

Praise Holy One! 

Sing a new song,

proclaim Divine wonder

among the people. 

Be glad in your Maker,

rejoice in your Liberator;

dance your praise, play

tambourine, piano, trumpet! 

Holy One delights

in their people,

showers blessings 

on the humble. 

Sing from where you are,

home, work, streets, fields;

sing with your being, 

with your love, your peace, your kindness! 

Praise Holy One!

Sing a new song,

proclaim Divine wonder,

dance, play, love! 

Breathe

Exodus 3:1–15 

In your presence

Psalm 124 

A prayer of thanks 

We give thanks for your Presence, Holy One:

when trouble threatens to swallow us whole,

in angry fires, on raging seas,

in wild storms, on rising floodwaters,

you do not desert us, we are not alone. 

Like prey released, or birds

set free from cage and snare

to fly again – this joy is ours

when we are in your Presence, Holy One: 

thank you, our help, our joy, our freedom! 

Song of our hearts

Psalm 105:1–5 

We thank you, Breath of Life; 

we call on your Holy Name

and sing of all you are. 

Our voices rise in song,

our hearts sing praise, sing

thanks, sing wonder for you. 

Your Holy Name gives us joy,

we seek you, you find us,

our hearts sing gladly! 

We seek you, we draw

our strength from you,

from being in your Presence. 

Remember, we remember,

your works, your wonders,

your wisdom: we remember! 

We thank you, Breath of Life,

guide to generations past,

hope for our future. 

We thank you, Breath of Life: 

your works, your wonders,

your Presence – praise your Holy Name! 

The Dream

Genesis 28:10–22 

To sleep – perchance to dream

of angels and stair ways,

wondrous things of heaven

come to touch the earth

and mortals dwelling here ... 

To sleep – perchance to dream

sweet Holy whispers nothing

could prepare your heart

to hear, such promises, such 

stuff to make our dreams ... 

To sleep – perchance to dream

such hope to carry into waking,

making fools of us, staking 

claims on us to fly

into such newness of life! 

To dream, and wake from sleep,

perchance to see, at last,

the presence of the Holy, here, 

on earth amidst these fools,

the madness – here – in peace ... 

To dream, to wake to live

the Dream of Holy One

that calls us from our slumber, 

to wonder at the gateway,

things of heaven and of earth! 

More like my teacher

Matthew 10:24–39 

Jesus, bid me lose my life
so I may find more life with you.

Jesus, bid me stand my ground,
so I stand for peace with you.

Jesus, bid me claim your Way,
so I may enter your kin-dom now.

Jesus bid me risk my life,
so I may gain a life worth living.

Jesus, whisper life to me,
that I may shout it with my being.

Jesus, meet me in the dark,
and in the light I'll speak with freedom.

Jesus, make me more like you:
whisper, linger, bid me come to life!

Sing praises with a Psalm

Acts 1:1–11 and Psalm 47 

Is this the time our nation

will rise again? Is this 

the time we have our own

king again? 

People, clap your hands, 

shout joy, sing loud,

to Holy One Most High,

awesome, king of all the earth! 

Is this the time to sing 

again, to shout our God 

is king of all the earth? 

Sing of God who sets 

our seat beyond the rest; 

sing of God, gone up with shouts

and trumpet sounds, sing praise,

sing praise, sing praises with a psalm! 

Why gaze into the clouds, dear

folk, when he is gone? 

Why watch the sky when he

has given you the earth to walk in peace? 

The princes gather? 

Our God is king – with shields

and throne and – ? 

Walk the earth in peace,

your God will come among you

as before and always, not as

the kings of earth. 

A Holy 'king', a Holy realm,

princes will be like all

the people of Holy One, 

exalting Holy One alone,

who are our shield, our song. 

This is the time, so sing

your joy aloud, so open

to the realm of God that comes

upon the earth: sing 

praises with a psalm!

To the God we do not know

Acts 17:23 

God, we do not know
how you made the earth,
sun, stars, planets, galaxies;
whales, rhinos, ants, butterflies;
us – by speaking love –
yet we trust that you did,
and we are grateful.

God, we do not know
how you maintain patience,
good will, grace, and humour
with our wandering away,
our efforts to replace you –
yet we trust that you do,
and we are grateful.

God, we do not know
how you are with us,
human, Divine, Spirit, flesh;
how we are the body
together that Jesus once was –
yet we trust that you are, we are,
and we are grateful.

God, our God, we do not know
you, but we know ourselves
known by you, and being known,
loved, and being loved, alive!
To our unknown God who
lets us know you enough:
we are grateful for your trust.
Amen.

 

Psalm 95

We come to worship you, our God,
we bring our songs of joy and praise.

Thank you, Faithful Friend and Guide,
thank you, Creator of all that is.

In your hand you hold the earth,
from its deepest core to its highest peak;

you made the oceans, the lakes and rivers,
the forests and plains, deserts and fields.

We come to worship you, our God,
kneeling, standing, singing – together.

Thank you for being our God, our Maker,
and that we are your people, beloved and home.

Listen, people, to the voice of God!
Keep your hearts warm and open to love.

Our ancestors tested God, broke the promise,
to be God's people with honour, in faith:

God will turn, must turn away,
when the people break the covenant again.

We come to worship you, our God,
help us remember to stay, and how.

Christmas Psalms

1. All sing to our God 
a psalm of praise (after Psalm 96)

Sing, sing a new song to our God!
Sing, sing a new song, all the earth! 

Sing with praise, with thanks for this hope;
proclaim the grace of God, day after day,

declare it far and wide, the shining Divine glory,
sing with all peoples what the Holy is and had done!

Sing, sing a new song to our God!
Sing, sing a new song, all the earth! 

Holy One is marvellous, wondrous, worthy of praise;
above all, most worthy of our love and honour, Holy One.

Creator – Wisdom – Spirit breathed life into being:
sing with all that lives the shining splendour of our God!

Sing, sing a new song to our God!
Sing, sing a new song, all the earth! 

Families and nations, sing your loyalty to Holy One,
worship with your all, the source of life and love.

Holy One will look on all with equal love,
Holy One offers welcome: let us sing, let us sing!

Sing, sing a new song to our God!
Sing, sing a new song, all the earth! 

The heavens resound with joy, the earth with gladness;
the seas sing fathoms deep, the earth reaches high;

mountains, forests, birds fly high;
dolphins, starfish, coral dance below.

Sing, sing a new song to our God!
Sing, sing a new song, all the earth! 


2. Hope will overcome 
an affirmation / response to the story (after Psalm 97) 

Hope reigns, hope will overcome.
From furthest shore to tallest mountain,
in villages and cities, on farms and dusty tracks.

Hope reigns, hope will overcome.

Clouds assemble, thunder forebodes,

justice rises from rubble, a sure, resilient throne. 

Hope reigns, hope will overcome. 

Those who would oppress, who bow

before idols of power and wealth: beware! 

Hope reigns, hope will overcome. 

Earth remembers its Creator,

the people join the restoration. 

Hope reigns, hope will overcome. 

Light is born in the timeless story,

love is born in hearts that listen. 

Hope reigns, hope will overcome. 

Love, be thankful, look up:

hope reigns, hope will overcome. 

 3. Go out rejoicing 
A sending out (after Psalm 98) 

Marvel, wonder, rejoice!
Holy One plays us a new song.
Holy Presence revealed again,
in ever new melodies, so sing:

Marvel, wonder, rejoice!
Holy One remembers love,
Holy Presence revealed again,
for all, for all: so love!

Marvel, wonder, rejoice,
Holy One restores hope and justice.
Holy Presence revealed again
in you, your hope, your justice.

As you go to sing the song,
to love and hope and do justice,
know that Holy One is with you,
always again, revealed in the light.
Amen.

The Christ. We praise.

Colossians 1:15–20 

in you we see the unseeable,

know the unknowable,

image, incarnation, of the Divine. 

through you creation was made,

with you heaven and earth

and all came into being: 

you began, you were the beginning. 

in you dwells Holy One,

through you we are restored to Holy One,

reconciling, peacemaking,

image, incarnation of the Divine. 

Inspiring Love

a reimagining of Charles Wesley's hymn 

[tune: ‘Love divine, all loves excelling’ - HYFRYDOL, could also sing to Blaenwern] 

Love divine, all love inspiring,
joy of heav’n on earth is known;
you, the heart of all that’s living,
you, the breath, the mind, the soul.
All creation sings your praises,
plains and mountains, sea and sky;
we will join the sacred chorus,
we will sing your love through time.

Jesus come to dwell among us,
Holy love personified.
Wisdom of the broad wide cosmos,
timeless star dust in your eyes.
With your touch you healed and welcomed,
with your words you showed us your way;
now we follow your path of justice,
spread your peace more day by day.

Breath of Life, breathe ever hopeful,
liberate from tyranny.
Blow, wind, blow, and carry onward
humans into unity.
Help us weave our threads together,
vibrant, strong, community;
we are one, one body in Spirit;
found in wonder, love, are we.


Sarah Agnew
(in loving memory of my Dad)