A Celtic Mass for Peace - The Presbyterian Church in Morristown

Celebration of Worship
February 19, 2012 Transfiguration of the Lord 9:15 and 11:00 a.m.
* If you are able, please stand. + + + Arriving worshipers may be seated.
PRELUDE Amazing Grace Drew Patten, bagpipes
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Please sign and pass the friendship pad, found in the pew, to the person next to you.)
*CALL TO WORSHIP (Luke 1: 78-79)
By the tender mercy of our God,
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The dawn from on high will break upon us,
To give light to those who sit in darkness
And in the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.
The Reverend Cynthia Alloway
*HYMN Come and Fill Our Hearts with Your Peace Taize
(Choir will sing once, then the congregation is asked to join and sing through twice)
OPENING PRAYER
We stumble on the journey, O God,
We lose heart along the way.
We forget your promises and blame one another.
Refresh us with the springs of your spirit in our souls
and open our sense to your guiding presence
that we may be part of the world’s healing this day,
that we may be part of the world’s healing.
The Reverend Dr. David J. Smazik

O God of new beginnings,
Who brings light out of night’s darkness
And fresh green out of the hard winter earth,
There is barren land between us as people and as nations this day,
There are empty stretches of soul within us
Give us eyes to see new dawnings of promise.
Give us ears to hear fresh sounds of birth.
Grant us strength to love you wholly, with heart, soul, and mind.
Empower us to love one another, the earth and all creatures. Amen
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE TO FORGIVENESS (Hymn 280, Amazing Grace, verses 1 & 3)
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.
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Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 11: 6 - 9 (Old Testament, page 602)
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS TO GOD
(Pew envelopes, prayer request cards and visitor cards are located in the
pew pockets for your convenience.)
OFFERTORY
Improvisation on Be Thou My Vision
(9:15 and 11:00) Charity Wicks, piano
*RESPONSE (from Hymn 542, Tallis’ Canon)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
PRAYER FOR DEDICATION
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 9: 2-9 (New Testament, page 41)
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MEDITATION: “Transfiguring the Earth” Rev. Alloway
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A Celtic Mass for Peace: Songs for the Earth
John Philip Newell, lyricist; Sam Guarnaccia, composer
OVERTURE
INVOCATION (responsively)
Come, come, O Christ, and stand in our midst
as you did stand in the midst of your disciples,
and speak to us words of peace.
Peace to each woman, peace to each man.
Peace to each family, peace to each child.
Peace to the creatures, peace to the nations.
Peace in our hearts, peace in our world.
Come, come, O Christ, and stand in our midst
as you did stand in the midst of your disciples,
and speak to us words of peace.
Come to us from the heart of God.
Come to us from the garden of our beginnings.
Come to us from the center of this moment.
Come to us from the true depths of our soul.
Come, come, O Christ, and stand in our midst
as you did stand in the midst of your disciples and speak to us words of peace.
SONG OF THE UNIVERSE (choir)
O God of the elements, O God of the mysteries, O God of the sun and the moon;
Your joy our joy, your pain our pain, your peace our peace. Son of Mary of the birth,
Son of Mary of the death, Son of Mary of the graces; Grant us your peace.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING (responsively)
Great Creator Spirit
from whom all life comes forth
here we gather again with bread and with wine
seeking your presence, longing once more to be nourished
hungering for wholeness in our lives
for unity on earth and for peace among the nations.
Here we gather with bread and with wine
but with more than bread and wine.
Here we gather with creation’s elements all around us,
with earth, air, fire and water still expanding through the universe,
with the glory of the sun
the whiteness of the moon
the glittering of heaven’s lights off flowing waters.
Here we gather with bread and with wine
but with more than bread and wine.
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Here we gather with the firm fecundity of the earth
the growing and greening of trees
creatures of the day and night
birds of the air
all full of your glory
all bearers of your presence
all part of the great harmony
that we long to touch and taste and become one with again.
Here we gather with bread and with wine
but with more than bread and wine.
So with everything that we see and sense around us
with visible and invisible energies that pulse with life
we join our souls in the song that vibrates throughout the whole
of creation, Holy, holy, holy God, your presence fills all things.
SANCTUS (choir)
Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might; Heaven and earth are full of your glory,
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER FOR THE EARTH (responsively)
Heaven and earth are full of your glory, O God.
Your presence fills all things.
Yet what have we done?
Creation marred by neglect and abuse
life-forms torn forever out of the fabric of the universe
nature ravaged
wealth wasted
earth’s community divided
nations at war
communities fractured
families broken
the human soul sick and far from home.
Great Creator Spirit, hear our plea for mercy
hear our prayers for the earth.
CHRISTE (choir)
Christ, Christ have mercy. Earth, Earth have mercy. Christ, Christ have mercy.
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THE PRAYER OF JESUS (choir)
Ground of all being, Mother of life, Father of the universe, your name is sacred beyond speaking.
May we know your presence, may your longings be our longings in heart and in action. Today may
there be food for the human family and for the whole earth community. Forgive us the falseness of
what we have done, as we forgive those who are untrue to us. Do not forsake us in our time of
conflict, but lead us into new beginnings. For the light of life, the vitality of life, and the glory of life
are yours now and forever. Amen.
THE MEMORY OF JESUS (responsively)
Into our brokenness came the memory of wholeness
into our fear came the messenger of love
Christ born among us
one with us
child of heaven
son of womankind
bearer of forgiveness
healer of our nature
teacher of wisdom
prophet of peace
rejected by the religious
crucified by the state
companion of our soul
lover of the earth.
AGNUS DEI (choir)
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. Grant us peace.
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD (responsively)
With his disciples at table on the night of his arrest
Jesus blessed the bread and said,
‘This is my body, broken for you.’
With his disciples at table on the night of his arrest
Jesus blessed the wine and said,
‘This is my lifeblood, poured out for you.’
Come upon us with your Spirit, O God,
and upon this bread of the earth.
May it feed our longings for peace.
Come upon us with your Spirit, O God,
and upon this cup of unity.
May it set us free to love.
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BENEDICTUS (choir)
Blessed is the One, O blessed is the One, who comes in the name of God.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER FOR UNITY (responsively)
Broken bread, poured out wine, signs of Christ’s self-giving.
Broken bread, poured out wine, food for the journey into wholeness.
In this bread we choose to be fed by you, O Christ.
In this wine we choose the way of peace.
Blessed is the One who comes to strengthen us.
Blessed is the One who comes to unite us.
Blessed is the One who leads us into the Heart of God.
Blessed, blessed, blessed.
DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION:
(To signify our oneness in Christ, worshipers are asked to hold the bread until
everyone has been served. The cup may be drunk as soon as it is received,
indicating our individual relationships with Christ.)
[When passing the Bread, say to each other: “The bread of life.”]
[When passing the Cup, say to each other: “The cup of joy.”]
COMMUNION SONG (choir)
Christ stands before you and peace is in his mind.
Christ stands before you and love is in his eyes.
Christ stands before you and strength is in his hands.
PRAYER TO THE SPIRIT (responsively)
Great Creating Spirit,
who swept over the depths of the unknown
to give birth to creation in all its splendour.
Great Creating Spirit,
who conceived new life in the womb of Mary
to give birth to the Child of Peace.
Great Creating Spirit,
who hovers over the waters of the human soul today
to give birth to healings and visions that have never been before.
Come to us as an earth community.
Come to us as nations of the world.
Grant us wholeness.
Continued…
Grant us healing.
Grant us together a new language that we may be one.
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SONG OF PEACE (choir)
Peace between nations, peace between neighbors, peace between lovers in love of the God of life. Bless, O
Christ, our hearts, bless, O Christ, our minds, bless, O Christ, our eyes, Let our eyes bless all they see.
Grant us your peace.
THE BLESSING OF PEACE (responsively) (John 14: 27)
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts e troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you. Go in peace.
AMEN (choir)
*HYMN 450 O Day of Peace Jerusalem
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Highland Cathedral Drew Patten, bagpipes
The congregation is requested to remain seated during the concluding anthem.
If you must leave, please do so respectfully.
(This prayer is adapted from John Philip Newell's Celtic Treasure, Daily Scriptures and Prayer, Eerdmans
2005. A number of the prayers in this service are based on ancient Celtic prayers.)
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WORSHIP NOTES
A Celtic Mass for Peace: Songs for the Earth was written by Church of Scotland pastor,
theologian and poet, Rev. John Philip Newell, in collaboration with the American composer,
Sam Guarnaccia. After spending two years asking people from around the world, “What is it for
which you most yearn?” Newell was convinced that there was a deep yearning among the
world’s peoples for peace. The Celtic Mass expresses this yearning and is offered as a prayer for
peace in all its dimensions.
Sam Guarnaccia, composer, is a Vermont native, studied classical guitar in
Spain and has performed throughout Europe and North America. He has taught and instituted
programs at the University of Denver, Middlebury College, and the University of Vermont, as
Spanish scholar, player/performer, and composer with deep ties to the history, struggle,
traditions, art and spirituality of ancient and contemporary Indigenous peoples. Today we hear
his most recent work, A Celtic Mass for Peace: Songs for the Earth, has been performed all over
the United States, Iona and Edinburgh, Scotland, and was featured in a major Peace celebration
on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on September 11, 2011, in New York, and in Vermont. Working
with his wife, Paula, his new project, Inscendent Universe Oratorio, is an hour and half long
choral and chamber orchestra composition presented with dynamic visual art conceived in
response to the current scientific cosmology as presented in the 2011 documentary Journey of the
Universe
(www.journeyoftheuniverse.org). At its root, it is a call to inspire humanity to participate in
Earth’s transition from a genetically determined to a culturally determined story, reversing our
present perilous course to embrace an enhanced Earth-human relationship.
A Celtic Mass for Peace is available on CD at cdbaby.com.
Following are the instrumentalists who joined members of Cantate Omnes and the Chancel Choir
for A Celtic Mass for Peace:
Guitar – Carlos Cuestas
Recorder – Drew Patten
Flute – Melissa Baker
Flute – Jenny Cline
Organ - Carol Johnson
Violin – Shannon Merlino
Cello – Amy Butler
Cello – Marnie Kaller
Percussion – Steve Hess
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