L=Leader, A=Assembly, R=Reader, C=Choir or Cantor

Procession of Ecumenical Leaders/Opening Hymn

Introduction/Welcome
L: Peace be with you.
A: And also with you.
L: Christ is among us.
A: He is and he will be.

L: We are gathered in God’s name to pray for the unity of all Christians. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity this year is guided by the words of Jesus, “Do not be afraid, little flock,” from a passage in Luke’s Gospel. This year’s ecumenical service has been prepared by Christians from different churches across the island of Ireland. With them, we give thanks that, following many years of estrangement, in our time they have come to know that the Christian heritage first brought to their land by Saint Patrick and other early saints is a treasure they hold in common.

Opening Prayer
R: Blessed are you Lord God of all creation.
Blessed are you Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Blessed are you Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life.
Blessed are you, O Holy Trinity.
Blessed are you in your saints.
Blessed be this gathering as we come together in your
Divine Presence to celebrate in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
A: Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Lament
R: We give thanks that we are called to be one flock, (brief pause) but we lament that we often betray our unity.
A: Christ our Shepherd, unite us as one flock.
R: We give thanks that we have one shepherd, (brief pause) but we lament that we often fail to recognize others as his own.
A: Christ our Shepherd, unite us as one flock.
R: We give thanks that we have been baptized into one fold, (brief pause) but we lament that we often act otherwise.
A: Christ our Shepherd, unite us as one flock.
R: We give thanks that we have one hope, (brief pause) but we lament that we often make it hard for all to share in it.
A: Christ our Shepherd, unite us as one flock.
R: We give thanks for the love that unites us in mutual care, (brief pause) but we lament that we often care primarily for ourselves.
A: Christ our Shepherd, unite us as one flock.

Acclamation (sung three times)
C/A:    As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia!

The Word of God
First Reading – Ezekiel 34:15-22

Psalm 23 (The psalm is prayed aloud by all.)
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake
Even though I walk through the darkest valley
I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Amen.

Gospel Reading – Luke 12:22-34
R: The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke.
A: Glory to you, Lord our God.

Sermon / Homily 

Silence or an instrumental interlude.

Symbolic Action and Profession of Faith
L: Drawn to Christ and his Cross, in prayer for the unity of Christians, let us remember that as his little flock, we need not be afraid. Drawing on the image of the rising sun, Irish Celtic Crosses have a circle at their center, representing the Risen Christ, the light of the world.

(Instrumental music is played, while the shape of a Celtic Cross is recreated by children and young people at the front of the worship space.)

R: Patrick, Ireland’s principal patron saint, lived in the fifth century. As a youth, he was taken into slavery in Ireland and put to work tending a flock of sheep. Later, as an adult, he received the call to be a missionary, and soon he was evangelizing and shepherding God’s flock in the land where he had once been enslaved.

R: “When I had arrived in Ireland and was looking after the flocks the whole time, I prayed frequently each day. And more and more, the love of God and the fear of him grew in me, and my faith was increased and my spirit enlivened. So much so that I prayed up to a hundred times in the day, and almost as often at night. I even remained in the wood and on the mountain to pray. And – come hail, rain or snow – I was up before dawn to pray, and I sensed no evil nor spiritual laziness within. I now understand this: at that time ‘the Spirit was fervent’ in me.” (From the Confessio of Saint Patrick).

L: With our spirits enlivened by the love of God, let us love one another, so that with oneness of mind we may confess our common faith.

The sign of peace is exchanged, after which the Apostles’ Creed is recited.

A: I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

Intercessions
R: Good Shepherd, we pray for the unity of Christians and peace in the world. Guide us out of our divisions to reconciliation, that we may bear witness convincingly.
A: Lord, save your flock.

R: Good Shepherd, we pray for your flock throughout the world, especially those experiencing various forms of persecution. Strengthen and protect them; may they bear witness courageously.
A: Lord, save your flock.

R: Good Shepherd, we pray for those who are victims of systematic persecution of ethnic, racial and religious identity. Unite our churches in opposing hatred and prejudice; may we bear witness to the dignity of our common humanity.
A: Lord, save your flock.

R: Good Shepherd, we pray for those who endure the worry of economic uncertainty and food insecurity. Embolden our churches to challenge oppressive structures; may our witness be compassionate.
A: Lord, save your flock.

R: Good Shepherd, we pray for all created life, threatened by climate change and ecological injustice. Make us wise and gentle stewards of creation; may our witness be effective in addressing the global urgency of care for the earth.
A: Lord, save your flock.

R: Good Shepherd, we pray for those in positions of leadership in our churches. Be their pattern as they exercise the responsibilities entrusted to them. May their care for your flock be a wise, discerning and courageous witness to the unity of the Church.
A: Lord, save your flock.

The Lord’s Prayer
L: We pray together, in our many languages, as Jesus taught us:
A: Our Father…

Hymn

Concluding Prayer
L: Kindle our lamps, Savior most dear to us, that we may always shine in your presence and always receive light from you, the Light Perpetual, so that our own personal darkness may be overcome, and the world’s darkness driven from us.
A: Amen.
(Inspired by a sermon of Saint Columbanus)

Blessing
L: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
A: Amen.

Closing Hymn