Liturgy for Valentine’s Day
ST VALENTINE’S DAY
The Church’s commemoration of Valentine has nothing to do with lovers! It originated with two
separate people, both called Valentine. Valentine of Terni was a 3rd century bishop who was martyred at
Rome in 273. Valentine of Rome was a priest who was also martyred for his faith in the mid 3rd century.
It is likely that these two stories became confused over time, with the two martyrdoms becoming in
effect one commemoration.
The present-day custom of sending cards and flowers declaring love may owe its existence to John
Donne who wrote a marriage song for Princess Elizabeth’s marriage to Frederick V, Elector Palatine on
St Valentine’s Day in 1632. Donne’s marriage song merged the religious commemoration of Valentine
with fertility symbolism.
Adapted from John Darch and Stuart Burns Saints on Earth (Church House Publishing, 2004)
In 2010, Valentine’s Day (14 February) falls on a Sunday (the Sunday next before Lent.). This presents an
opportunity for churches to offer themed worship and foster connections made with those who have
been married in church.
A SPECIAL SERVICE OF CELEBRATION
Some churches might choose to offer a special Service of Celebration outside the regular pattern of
Sunday worship. For this, the structure of A Service of the Word would provide a helpful framework:
¶
Gathering
¶
The Word of God
¶
Prayer / Symbolic Action
• This might involve
o the giving / receiving of gifts (e.g. flowers or cards)
o the re-affirmation of marriage vows
¶
Sending
Within this structure, use may be made of the liturgical resources (below).
A sample service of this type for Valentine’s Day is given in New Patterns for Worship, and may be
downloaded at
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship/texts/newpatterns/services/npw13.html
The order of Thanksgiving for Marriage also contains useful material, and may downloaded at
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship/texts/marriage/thanksgiving.html#order
THEMED REGULAR SUNDAY WORSHIP
Another option would be to adopt a marriage / love theme for the regular worship on Sunday 14
February 2010. Although many churches will wish to use the Lectionary readings for their main services
on this day, the Sunday Next before Lent falls outside the period when readings from an authorized
lectionary must be used. There is therefore scope to use themed readings on 14 February 2010.
LITURGICAL RESOURCES
These resources are designed for use with either Holy Communion Order One or A Service of the Word.
GREETINGS, CALLS TO WORSHIP and INTRODUCTIONS
1
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you
and also with you.
2
God is love, and those who live in love live in God
and God lives in them.
1 John 4.16
3
Praise God! For the Lord our God the almighty reigns!
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory.
Happy are those who have been invited
to the wedding-feast of the Lamb.
Amen. Praise the Lord!
cf Revelation 19.6,9
INTRODUCTION TO CONFESSION
We come to God as one from whom no secrets are hidden,
to ask for his forgiveness and peace.
KYRIE CONFESSION
Lord, in our weakness you are our strength.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, when we stumble, you raise us up.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, when we fail, you give us new life.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Common Worship: Pastoral Services
ABSOLUTION
May the God of love
bring us back to himself,
forgive us our sins,
and assure us of his eternal love
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
COLLECTS
1
God our Father,
from the beginning,
you have blessed creation with abundant life.
Pour out your blessings upon all who are married,
that they may continue in mutual love and companionship,
in holiness and commitment to each other.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Common Worship (adapted)
2
God of wonder and of joy:
grace comes from you,
and you alone are the source of life and love.
Without you, we cannot please you;
without your love, our deeds are worth nothing.
Send your Holy Spirit,
and pour into our hearts
that most excellent gift of love,
that we may worship you now
with thankful hearts
and serve you always with willing minds;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Common Worship
3
God of love,
passionate and strong,
tender and careful:
watch over us and hold us
all the days of our life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Common Worship: Additional Collects
SCRIPTURE READINGS
At a service of Holy Communion, a Gospel reading must be included
OLD TESTAMENT
Genesis 29.15-28
Song of Solomon 2.10-13; 8.6,7
Jacob falls in love with Rachel
Many waters cannot quench love
PSALMS
Psalm 145.1-8
Psalm 145.9-14
NEW TESTAMENT
1 Corinthians 13
Ephesians 3.14-end
Colossians 3.12-17
1 John 4.7-12
The greatest of these is love
Rooted and grounded in love
Clothe yourselves with love
Let us love one another
GOSPEL
John 2.1-11
John 15.9-17
The wedding at Cana
Greater love has no one than this
GOSPEL ACCLAMATIONS
1
Alleluia, alleluia.
God is love;
let us love one another
as God has loved us.
Alleluia.
cf 1 John 4.8-11
2
Alleluia, alleluia.
God is love;
and those who live in love live in God
and God lives in them.
Alleluia.
cf 1 John 4.16
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us declare our faith in God.
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
cf Ephesians 3
INTERCESSIONS
1
[We pray for the family of the Church,
for loving relationships,
and for the life of families around us.
Jesus, Lord of love,
in your mercy, hear us.]
Jesus, born in poverty and soon a refugee,
be with families today who are poor
and live in hunger and want …
Jesus, Lord of love,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, as you grew in wisdom and in favour with
God and the people
in the family of Joseph the carpenter,
bring wisdom and the presence of God
into the work and growth of families today …
Jesus, Lord of love,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, as you blessed marriage in the wedding at Cana,
be with those preparing for marriage
and with those who come to the end of
their resources …
Jesus, Lord of love,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, as you healed Peter's mother-in-law,
bring healing to those in our families who are ill today …
Jesus, Lord of love,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, when you were dying you called Mary and John to
care for one another.
Provide today for those who lose their families:
the bereaved and childless, orphans and widows …
Jesus, Lord of love,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, as you ate breakfast on the beach with
your disciples
after you were raised from the dead,
bring the whole Church on earth and in heaven
into your risen presence to eat at the eternal banquet.
Jesus, Lord of love,
in your mercy, hear us,
accept our prayers and be with us always. Amen.
2
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we lift up our hearts to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him you have made a covenant of grace with your people
by the outpouring of your Holy Spirit.
We praise you for the gift of marriage
in which the love of husband and wife is brought together
and reflects your plan of love for the world.
We thank you today for N and N [or all who have been married in this place],
and for leading them to each other
in friendship and love, commitment and trust,
and for bringing them here for the blessing of their marriage.
Living God,
by the presence of your Holy Spirit,
may they know the risen Christ to be with them now,
as they celebrate this covenant together.
May their lives be a witness to your saving love
in this troubled world.
As you pour out your love,
may they grow together in your sight,
and each be to the other
a companion in joy, a comfort in sorrow and a strength in need.
As you blessed the earthly home at Nazareth
with the presence of your Son,
may their home be a place of security and peace.
And bring us all at the last
to that great marriage banquet of your Son
in our home in heaven,
where, with all your saints and angels,
in the glory of your presence,
we will for ever praise you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Adapted from Common Worship: Pastoral Services
OTHER PRAYERS
A prayer for couples
Heavenly Father,
we offer you our souls and bodies,
our thoughts and words and deeds,
our love for one another.
Unite our wills in your will,
that we may grow together
in love and peace
all the days of our life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Common Worship: Pastoral Services
A prayer of thanksgiving for love
Lord God, we thank you that through our earthly lives
you speak of your eternal life.
We rejoice in the wonder of creation,
the gift of life, the joy of love,
and the many blessings that our relationships bring.
Renew in us the fruits of your Holy Spirit;
that we may know your love, joy and peace,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Adapted from New Patterns for Worship
INTRODUCTION TO THE PEACE
To crown all things there must be love,
to bind all together and complete the whole.
Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.
cf Colossians 3.14
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER and PREFACES
An authorized Eucharistic Prayer is used.
One of the following short prefaces may be used with Eucharistic Prayers A, B, C or E:
1
And now we give you thanks
because you are the source of light and life;
you made us in your image
and called us to new life in him.
2
And now we give you thanks
because [a man leaves his father and mother
and is joined to his wife:
you make them one flesh;
and because] you put us together in families,
to grasp your love and forgiveness,
reflected in those around us,
and as we grow,
you prepare to bring us into the glorious freedom
of your children,
as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
Genesis 2.24; Romans 8.17,22
3
And now we give you thanks
because in the covenant of marriage
you show us your divine love,
a mirror of your will for all creation
made new and united to you for ever.
4
And now we give you thanks
because you have made the union between Christ and his Church
a pattern for the marriage between husband and wife.
Therefore with angels . . .
The following extended preface may be used with Eucharistic Prayers A, B, or E:
All glory, honour, thanks and praise
be given to you, creator of heaven and earth.
When you made us in your image,
creating us male and female,
you gave us the gift of marriage.
When sin marred that image
you healed our brokenness,
giving your Son to die for us.
Therefore we raise our voices,
with all who have served you in every age,
to proclaim the glory of your name:
Common Worship: Pastoral Services
BLESSING
God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love,
defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.