Month: December 2021

3 prayers for the New Year


ending well …  (Artwork: Irene Bom)
 

Because prayer matters, from one year to the next …

 

#1

O Christ,
tirelessly you seek out those who are looking for you
and who think that you are far away;
teach us, at every moment,
to place our spirits in your hands.
While we are still looking for you,
already you have found us.
However poor our prayer,
you hear us far more than we can imagine or believe.

Brother Roger of Taizé
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #13
 

#2

God, bless our year
giving us
time for the task
peace for the pathway
wisdom for the work
friends for the fireside
love to the last.

The Mother’s Union Anthology of Public Prayers
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #752
 

#3

O Lord, as the years change, may we find rest in your eternal changelessness. Help us to meet this new year bravely, in the faith that, while life changes all around us, you are always the same, guiding us with your wisdom and protecting us with your love; through our Saviour Jesus Christ.

William Temple (1881-1944)
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #749
 

Credits

“If you want to start well, it is deeply connected to ending well.”
from Creative Pep Talk podcast (episode #345), hosted by Andy J. Miller (alias Andy J. Pizza).
 

Fulfil / Fill my longing


Three’s company  (Photo: Irene Bom)

 
As a songwriter, it’s such a privilege to write songs inspired by our shared faith in Jesus. And it’s such a joy to share my songs in my local church and beyond, also on this platform.

For a few seasons now I have taken part in the 12-song challenge organised by resoundworship.org. It has kept me writing songs on a regular basis, even when I barely had the time or energy.

This month’s challenge was to write a Taizé type song. My song is based on two lines from the Call to Worship from our Advent service on “Longing”. Here is a recording I made yesterday, with some harmonies and counter melodies to give it something extra. Enjoy.

 
My soul thirsts
by Irene Bom


My soul thirsts for the Living God
Come, Lord, fill my longing
Living God, come fill my soul.
 

Call to worship

inspired by Psalm 42

As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Come to us, Lord, and fill our longing.

from re:worship  (adapted)
 

From the blog
When hot and bothered
3 Prayers for wayfarers
Theme: Sharing in Jesus’ ministry [prayer sheet]
 

All my longings


 

All my longings lie open before you, Lord:
      my sighing is not hidden from you.

 

A prayer

My God,
I pray that I may so know you and love you
that I may rejoice in you.
And if I may not do so fully in this life,
let me go steadily on
to the day when I come to fullness of life.
Meanwhile let my mind meditate on your eternal goodness,
let my tongue speak of it,
let my heart live it,
let my soul hunger for it,
and my whole being desire it,
until I enter into your joy.
 
by St Anselm (1033-1109)
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #85
 

From the blog
United by love
Not deserted
Holy moment beneath the stars
 

Longing for his appearing

 

This past Sunday I got to preach on the topic of “Longing” as part of our Advent series, Waiting, longing, hoping and praying for the Day of the Lord.

May God increase your longing for Jesus’ return as we move through Advent and on to another Covid-coloured Christmas. According to Paul, there is a crown of righteousness awaiting “all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

 

Prayer

In the promise which is everywhere about us
Hold us, God

In the longing for a new world and new living
Cradle us, God

In the need to see advent’s revelation in our world
Direct us, God

In the silence of memories that haunt us
Comfort us, God

In the hunger for justice that aches in us
Feed us, God

In the yearning for love in each of our days
Reassure us, God

In the setting out of truth in our political world
Aid us, God

In the call for peace in our crazy world
Hear us, God

In the search for healing in our broken world
Find us, God

In the gathering round the table
Gather with us, God

In the breaking of bread and spilling of wine
Share with us, God

In the community of faith
Reveal yourself, God

 
— from the archives of the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website, posted on re:worship.
 

 
Resound Worship Podcast: One of my songs got mentioned

For a sample and review of the theme song I wrote for our Advent series, Waiting, longing, hoping and praying for the Day of the Lord, check out the Resound Worship Podcast, episode 91 (from 40:35 to 45:30).