Opening Prayer
Reader 1:
Good morning. We gather today to remember the life and legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi.
We begin our prayer with the words of Saint Francis. In the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Be praised, my Lord, though all your creatures, Especially through my lord Brother Sun,
Who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all
his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Reader 2:
Praise be You, my Lord, though Sister Moon And the stars, in heaven you formed them
Clear and precious and beautiful. Praised by You, my Lord, though Brother Wind,
And through the air, cloudy and serene, And every kind of weather though which You give
sustenance to Your creatures.
Reader 3:
Praised be You, my Lord, though Sister Water, Which is very useful and humble and
precious and chaste. Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, Through whom you
light the night and he is beautiful
And playful and robust and strong.
Reader 4:
Praised be You, my Lord, though sister Mother Earth, Who sustains us and governs us and
who produces Varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs…”
We thank you God for all your creation. Help us to preserve and protect it always! We ask
this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Now, Please join me in singing our opening song.
Opening Song: Canticle of the Sun.
Cross Enters
Reader 5:
In our gospel reading today, we hear Jesus talk about giving to the poor – words that Saint
Francis certainly took to heart.
A reading from the gospel according to Matthew:
35 For
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you
clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then
the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or
thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you
in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to
visit you?’
40 “The
King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
The Gospel of the Lord… Praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ.
Now, please be seated as we reflect upon the life of Saint Francis.
Skit
-
Wolf of Gubio
Prayers of the Faithful
Reader 6:
Saint Francis went to God for all his needs, relying on God even when life was difficult. So
we, as Francis did, turn to God for our wants and needs:
For the world’s governments, especially leaders in the US, that they may be constantly
sowing the seeds of peace and love wherever there is hatred. We pray to the Lord… Lord
hear our prayer.
We pray that God will embolden the People of God to provide aid and support for all those
countries effected by the Ebola virus, and the medical professionals who are aiding its
containment. We pray to the Lord… Lord hear our prayer.
We pray that our communities might always celebrate diversity and different cultures,
understanding that we are all a Children of God. We pray to the Lord… Lord hear our
prayer.
We pray for our school, and all of us, that we might make choices that imitate Saint Francis’
love and connection to nature, realizing that all creation has been created Good by God. We
pray to the Lord… Lord hear our prayer.
That the legacy of Saint Francis live on in our hearts and actions, that we might always give
of ourselves to those in need. We pray to the Lord… Lord hear our prayer.
Reader 7:
Please Stand
Now, Trusting in the Lord’s faithfulness, we have the courage to pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Father….
Closing prayer
Reader 8:
As we end our service, we remember the Prayer of Saint Francis, and remember the the
Franciscan way of life calls us all to a life of self-giving, peace, and love.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Our service is ended. So, please join me in singing our closing song.
Closing Song –