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Once again we meet as we leave one week and face another; we come here because we identify with one another, and our meaning of the world within us is projected into the world without. The recreating starts here in this communal fellowship, for we are here.
Let us throw away the week»s skin of falseness and put on a new coat for the next; let us recreate a world of colour and fun, of pleasure and hope, and know that these are possible even when the rough times return and are with us. For it is upto us to be sincere, brave and resolute - if possible.
Not only we ourselves face life, but so do all others. Let us think now in silence of those we know - our colleagues, friends and family - and how we may be when we meet them again.
Some silence follows.
O God of our world and minds, O ways of the religious life, we do think about and pray for all people burdened by the problems of life: the lonely, the sad, the desperate, the little employed, the infirm. For many, the way is intolerable, they see little future; but for many of these, we know that they are subject to no more than the opinion of others, who act as an impersonal means of running down and making redundant. If living is mundane it is still sacred, and all living can be made sacred.
Where we are miserable it is not because we have little value in ourselves, but because we have only come to see little value in ourselves. Let us dismiss our value in terms of a market price or anotherƒs opinion, but rather find happiness in our many skills, in the pleasures we give to others, in the pleasures given by others to ourselves. Who we are is not to be defined by a system, by a process, by a restricting culture, by money; for in so far as these limit us, they are ours to change. For when people are to be raised, and raised to be new, and for the raising of people to new fulfilling life, we may do it and may say ¼thank you friend½, ¼thanks be to God½ that we can change.
Let us think of the religious traditions, some of God and some not. We consider the few original prophets, and the men and women of charismatic leadership who down the ages brought the faiths to many, not so that men and women could become bitter and opposed to others of different prophets, but so they could be supported and comforted and all come to value themselves in new and better understandings, and better their lives.
Let us also think of the modern decision makers and those with the means to act in this continuing cruel world. We are drenched through modern media of images of suffering and yet sit in helplessness as all these pictures, all the messages, come only to us one way through our televisions and radios and computers. We think of the United Nations, underbudgetted, taking on more and more difficult tasks as some communities, struggling for identities, find only hatred for those with other identities; we think of politicians inexpertly fumbling through for solutions to othersƒ intractable problems. Let us hope that ways of justice and peace can be found, in all the struggles of the world. If neighbour could love neighbour, if the parables of Jesus or the harmony of the Buddha might be used and found, then peace would come between communities and they would find harmony.
We think of all these things with a moment»s silence.
Let us now pray silently for those in responsible positions in society, for the Royal Family, for the wise counsel of Government, for those we meet, for those we know and love, for friends and for ourselves. Silence follows.
Let us pray for the people of this world, that the governments act with due sensitivity to the liberties and duties of humans so that they may may suffer less and enjoy more.
We pray that this happens.
Let us pray for the state of the whole ecology, that the earth may flourish for its own sake and not just ours.
We pray that this happens.
Let us pray for the religions of the world that they may be furthered in their work of advancing the worth of people and all life; that their Gods, founders and prophets give insight for all.
We pray that this happens.
Let us pray for our own Unitarian movement, that it may shed light and truth in freedom, reason and tolerance, and give benefit to all who hear it.
We pray that this happens.
And so we pray that all people, whatever their health and sickness, whether in life or passed from life, may be appreciated by others for what they were, are and do.
We pray that this happens.
Let us have a period of silence to consider ourselves and those we know
Intercession is ended by ringing the bell
I light a candle for those who are sick and need healing.
Light the candle
Now as we gaze steadily at this simple flame,
Seeing only its light,
All those about our circle
Shall concentrate on healing.
Think of those who are sick or need help,
Those you love and those you trust.
And picture clearly a life force that flows,
Of strength and power into the afflicted body,
To those we want to help,
Until healing happens.
(adapted from Slater, A Book of Pagan Rituals, 1978, p. 22)
Let us think in silence of those we know and trust, of those we love and have loved, those who are alive and those now a precious memory.
Let us pray in the spirit of the good religions and creative philosophies and for all people according to their needs. Say after each part that follows, "We pray for them."
We pray for the religions of the world, the International Association for Religious Freedom and Unitarian Churches. We hope they all practice as they preach, live together in love and glorify the world.
We pray for them.
We pray for those in authority in the world: and especially consider the European Community and the British government in the hope that they may find the ways of honour, justice and peace.
We pray for them.
We pray for our families, friends and neighbours, so that they may serve and love one another.
We pray for them.
Let us pray now for those who suffer in the hope that they may come through their difficult period and trusting in our love find peace.
We pray for them.
And we pray for those who died in faith, believing that their lives and their contributions will live on in the collective memories of all on earth to the benefit of all who seek the Kingdom.
We pray for them.
Our prayers are offered in faith towards the God we know in the spirit of humanity, and we now think on these things in silence (ended by ringing the bell). Amen.
Let us pray now for the people of the world, and say after each part, "This is our hope."
Let us think about the rights and responsibilities of citizeship and the high place that should go to human rights.
This is our hope.
Let us hope for harmony in the world: harmony between the different races and cultures, between the rich and poor, between the generations of young and old.
This is our hope.
We passionately hope for justice, and support the work of many that aims for equality of opportunity in all fields of life between all kinds of people, for the path of justice leads to the way of peace.
This is our hope.
Let us express within ourselves our caring attitude for the weak and disadvantaged, whether short or long lived. Our thoughts also go to those weak, sick and hungry. We think about the unprotected and for victims. There are the people in prison, the inmates - and not forgetting the staff - who should also be of concern to us. We wish all these people see something of the light of the fullness of life.
This is our hope.
And finally we pray for the giving of more love and respect in our families, between neighbours, amongst friends and coleagues and between us here in this church as within all religious bodies.
This is our hope.
Shortly we have a minute of silence in which to pray and think about those in authority and government in the hope they operate according to the ways of justice and of peace, let us think about the religions and our churches and that they serve all who need them, let us think about the people, colleagues, friends and family and ourselves that they and we enjoy good welfare, and that for all society there are the ways of hope for the future. (Silence follows)
I light a candle for those who are sick and need healing.
Now as we gaze steadily at this simple flame,
Seeing only its light,
All those about our circle
Shall concentrate on healing.
Think of those who are sick or need help,
Those you love and those you trust.
And picture clearly a life force that flows,
Of strength and power into the afflicted body,
To those we want to help,
Until healing happens.
(adapted from Slater, A Book of Pagan Rituals, 1978, p. 22)
Let us think in silence of those we know and trust, of those we love and have loved, those who are alive and those now a precious memory.