Category parish

to the Eucharistic Prayer, from the 1975 Roman Missal.

Advent 1

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When he humbled himself to come among us as a man,
he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago
and opened for us the way to salvation.

Now we watch for the day,
hoping that the salvation promised us
will be ours when Christ our Lord will come again in his glory.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Advent 2

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

His future coming was proclaimed by all the prophets.
The virgin mother bore him in her womb with love beyond all telling.

John the Baptist was his herald
and made him known when at last he came.
In his love Christ has filled us with joy
as we prepare to celebrate his birth,
so that when he comes he may find us watching in prayer,
our hearts filled with wonder and praise.
And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Christmas I

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the wonder of the incarnation
your eternal Word has brought to the eyes of faith
a new and radiant vision of your glory.

In him we see our God made visible
and so are caught up in love of the God we cannot see.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Christmas 2

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere
to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Today you fill our hearts with joy
as we recognize in Christ the revelation of your love.

No eye can see his glory as our God,
yet now he is seen as one like us.

Christ is your Son before all ages, yet now he is born in time.

He has come to lift up all things to himself,
to restore unity to creation,
and to lead mankind from exile into your heavenly kingdom.

With all the angels of heaven
we sing our joyful hymn of praise

Baptism of the Lord

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You celebrated your new gift of baptism
by signs and wonders at the Jordan.

Your voice was heard from heaven to awaken faith
in the presence among us of the Word made man.

Your Spirit was seen as a dove, revealing Jesus as your servant,
and anointing him with joy as the Christ,
sent to bring to the poor the good news of salvation.

In our unending joy we echo on earth
the song of the angels in heaven as they praise your glory for ever:

Lent 1

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Each year you give us this joyful season
when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery
with mind and heart renewed.

You give us a spirit of loving reverence for you, our Father,
and of willing service to our neighbour.

As we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ,
you bring the image of your Son to perfection within us.

Now, with angels and archangels,
and the whole company of heaven,
we sing the unending hymn of your praise:

Lent 2

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

This great season of grace is your gift
to your family to renew us in spirit.
You give us strength to purify our hearts,
to control our desires,
and so to serve you in freedom.

You teach us how to live in this passing world
with our heart set on the world that will never end.

Now, with all the saints and angels, we praise you for ever:

Lent 3

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.
You ask us to express our thanks by self-denial.
We are to master our sinfulness and conquer our pride.
We are to show to those in need your goodness to ourselves.
Now, with all the saints and angels, we praise you for ever:

Lent 4

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

Through our observance of Lent
you correct our faults and raise our minds to you,
you help us grow in holiness,
and offer us the reward of everlasting life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him the angels and all the choirs of heaven
worship in awe before your presence.
May our voices be one with theirs
as they sing with joy the hymn of your glory:

First Sunday in Lent

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
His fast of forty days
makes this a holy season of self-denial.

By rejecting the devil’s temptations he has taught us
to rid ourselves of the hidden corruption of evil,
and so to share his paschal meal in purity of heart,
until we come to its fulfilment in the promised land of heaven.

Now we join the angels and the saints
as they sing their unending hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Second Sunday in Lent

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
On your holy mountain he revealed himself in glory in the presence of his disciples.

He had already prepared them for his approaching death.
He wanted to teach them through the Law and the Prophets
that the promised Christ had first to suffer
and so come to the glory of his resurrection.

In our unending joy we echo on earth
the song of the angels in heaven
as they praise your glory for ever:

Third Sunday in Lent

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When he asked the woman of Samaria for water to drink,
Christ had already prepared for her the gift of faith.

In his thirst to receive her faith
he awakened in her heart the fire of your love.

With thankful praise,
in company with the angels,
we glorify the wonders of your power:

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

He came among us as a man,
to lead mankind from darkness into the light of faith.

Through Adam’s fall we were born as slaves of sin,
but now through baptism in Christ
we are reborn as your adopted children.

Earth unites with heaven to sing the new song of creation,
as we adore and praise you for ever:

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As a man like us, Jesus wept for Lazarus his friend.
As the eternal God, he raised Lazarus from the dead.

In his love for us all,
Christ gives us the sacraments to lift us up to everlasting life.

Through him the angels of heaven offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in your presence for ever.
May our voices be one with theirs
in their triumphant hymn of praise:

Preface of the Passion of the Lord I

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

The suffering and death of your Son
brought life to the whole world,
moving our hearts to praise your glory.

The power of the cross reveals your judgment
on this world and the kingship of Christ crucified.

We praise you, Lord,
with all the angels and saints in their song of joy:

Preface of the Passion of the Lord II

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The days of his life-giving death and glorious resurrection are approaching.
This is the hour when he triumphed over Satan’s pride,
the time when we celebrate the great event of our redemption.
Through Christ the angels of heaven offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in your presence for ever.

May our voices be one with theirs
in their triumphant hymn of praise:

Preface of Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday)

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere
to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Though he was sinless, he suffered willingly for sinners.
Though innocent, he accepted death to save the guilty.
By his dying he has destroyed our sins.
By his rising he has raised us up to holiness of life.

We praise you, Lord, with all the angels in their song of joy:

Preface of Priesthood (Chrism Mass)

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

By your Holy Spirit you anointed your only Son
High Priest of the new and eternal covenant.
With wisdom and love you have planned
that this one priesthood should continue in the Church.

Christ gives the dignity of a royal priesthood
to the people he has made his own.
From these, with a brother’s love,
he chooses men to share his sacred ministry by the laying on of hands.

He appoints them to renew in his name
the sacrifice of our redemption
as they set before your family his paschal meal.

He calls them to lead your holy people in love,
nourish them by your word,
and strengthen them through the sacraments.

Father, they are to give their lives in your service
and for the salvation of your people
as they strive to grow in the likeness of Christ
and honour you by their courageous witness of faith and love.

We praise you, Lord,
with all the angels and saints in their song of joy:

Preface of Easter I

It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We praise you with greater joy than ever
on this Easter night [day],
when Christ became our paschal sacrifice.

He is the true Lamb who took away the sins of the world.
By dying he destroyed our death; by rising he restored our life.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Easter II

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We praise you with greater joy than ever in this Easter season,
when Christ became our paschal sacrifice.

He has made us children of the light,
rising to new and everlasting life.
He has opened the gates of heaven
to receive his faithful people.

His death is our ransom from death;
his resurrection is our rising to life.

The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world,
while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory:

Preface of Easter III

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We praise you with greater joy than ever in this Easter season,
when Christ became our paschal sacrifice.

He is still our priest,
our advocate who always pleads our cause.
Christ is the victim who dies no more,
the Lamb, once slain, who lives for ever.

The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world,
while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory:

Preface of Easter IV

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We praise you with greater joy than ever in this Easter season,
when Christ became our paschal sacrifice.

In him a new age has dawned, the long reign of sin is ended,
a broken world has been renewed,
and man is once again made whole.

The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world,
while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory:

Preface of Easter V

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We praise you with greater joy than ever in this Easter season,
when Christ became our paschal sacrifice.

As he offered his body on the cross,
his perfect sacrifice fulfilled all others.

As he gave himself into your hands for our salvation,
he showed himself to be the priest, the altar, and the lamb of sacrifice.

The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world,
while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory:

Preface of the Ascension I

It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

[Today] the Lord Jesus, the King of glory,
the conqueror of sin and death,
ascended to heaven while the angels sang his praises.

Christ, the mediator between God and man,
judge of the world and Lord of all,
has passed beyond our sight,
not to abandon us but to be our hope.

Christ is the beginning, the head of the Church;
where he has gone, we hope to follow.

The joy of the resurrection and ascension renews the whole world,
while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory:

Preface of the Ascension II

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In his risen body he plainly showed himself to his disciples
and was taken up to heaven in their sight
to claim for us a share in his divine life.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Pentecost

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

Today you sent the Holy Spirit on those
marked out to be your children by sharing the life of your only Son,
and so you brought the paschal mystery to its completion.

Today we celebrate the great beginning of your Church
when the Holy Spirit made known to all peoples the one true God,
and created from the many languages of man one voice to profess one faith.

The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world,
while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory:

Preface of Sundays in Ordinary Time I

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through his cross and resurrection he freed us from sin and death
and called us to the glory that has made us a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart.

Everywhere we proclaim your mighty works
for you have called us out of darkness into your own wonderful light.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Sundays in Ordinary Time II

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Out of love for sinful man,
he humbled himself to be born of the Virgin.

By suffering on the cross he freed us from unending death,
and by rising from the dead he gave us eternal life.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Sundays in Ordinary Time III

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

We see your infinite power in your loving plan of salvation.
You came to our rescue by your power as God,
but you wanted us to be saved by one like us.

Man refused your friendship,
but man himself was to restore it through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him the angels of heaven offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in your presence for ever.

May our voices be one with theirs in their triumphant hymn of praise:

Preface of Sundays in Ordinary Time IV

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

By his birth we are reborn.
In his suffering we are freed from sin.
By his rising from the dead we rise to everlasting life.
In his return to you in glory we enter into your heavenly kingdom.

And so, we join the angels and the saints
as they sing their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Sundays in Ordinary Time V

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

All things are of your making,
all times and seasons obey your laws,
but you chose to create man in your own image,
setting him over the whole world in all its wonder.

You made man the steward of creation,
to praise you day by day for the marvels of your wisdom and power,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We praise you, Lord, with all the angels in their song of joy:

Preface of Sundays in Ordinary Time VI

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

In you we live and move and have our being.
Each day you show us a Father’s love; your Holy Spirit,
dwelling within us, gives us on earth the hope of unending joy.

Your gift of the Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead,
is the foretaste and promise of the paschal feast of heaven.

With thankful praise,
in company with the angels,
we glorify the wonders of your power:

Preface of Sundays in Ordinary Time VII

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

So great was your love
that you gave us your Son as our Redeemer.
You sent him as one like ourselves, though free from sin,
that you might see and love in us what you see and love in Christ.

Your gifts of grace, lost by disobedience,
are now restored by the obedience of your Son.

We praise you, Lord, with all the angels and saints in their song of joy:

Preface of Sundays in Ordinary Time VIII

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

When your children sinned and wandered far from your friendship,
you reunited them with yourself through the blood of your Son
and the power of the Holy Spirit.

You gather them into your Church,
to be one as you, Father, are one with your Son and the Holy Spirit.

You call them to be your people, to praise your wisdom in all your works.
You make them the body of Christ and the dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit.

In our joy we sing to your glory with all the choirs of angels:

Preface of Weekdays I

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In him you have renewed all things
and you have given us all a share in his riches.

Though his nature was divine,
he stripped himself of glory
and by shedding his blood on the cross
he brought his peace to the world.

Therefore he was exalted above all creation
and became the source of eternal life to all who serve him.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Weekdays II

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

In love you created man, in justice you condemned him,
but in mercy you redeemed him, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him the angels and all the choirs of heaven
worship in awe before your presence.

May our voices be one with theirs as they sing with joy the hymn of your glory:

Preface of Weekdays III

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

Through your beloved Son you created our human family.
Through him you restored us to your likeness.

Therefore it is your right
to receive the obedience of all creation,
the praise of the Church on earth,
the thanksgiving of your saints in heaven.

We too rejoice with the angels
as we proclaim your glory for ever:

Preface of Weekdays IV

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You have no need of our praise,
yet our desire to thank you is itself your gift.

Our prayer of thanksgiving adds nothing to your greatness,
but makes us grow in your grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In our joy we sing to your glory with all the choirs of angels:

Preface of Weekdays V

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

With love we celebrate his death.
With living faith we proclaim his resurrection.
With unwavering hope we await his return in glory.

Now, with the saints and all the angels we praise you for ever:

Preface of Weekdays VI

Father, it is our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks
through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

He is the Word through whom you made the universe,
the Saviour you sent to redeem us.

By the power of the Holy Spirit
he took flesh and was bom of the Virgin Mary.

For our sake he opened his arms on the cross;
he put an end to death
and revealed the resurrection.

In this he fulfilled your will
and won for you a holy people.

And so, we join the angels and the saints
in proclaiming your glory:

Preface of the Holy Trinity

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

We joyfully proclaim our faith
in the mystery of your Godhead.

You have revealed your glory
as the glory also of your Son
and of the Holy Spirit:

Three Persons equal in majesty,
undivided in splendour,
yet one Lord, one God,
ever to be adored in your everlasting glory

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of the Annunciation

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

He came to save mankind by becoming a man himself.
The Virgin Mary, receiving the angel’s message in faith,
conceived by the power of the Spirit
and bore your Son in purest love.

In Christ, the eternal truth, your promise to Israel came true.
In Christ, the hope of all peoples,
man’s hope was realized beyond all expectation.

Through Christ the angels of heaven
offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in your presence for ever.
May our voices be one with theirs
in their triumphant hymn of praise:

Preface of the Sacred Heart

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lifted high on the cross,
Christ gave his life for us,
so much did he love us.

From his wounded side flowed blood and water,
the fountain of sacramental life in the Church.

To his open heart the Saviour invites all people,
to draw water in joy from the springs of salvation.

Now, with all the saints and angels, we praise you for ever

Preface of the Triumph of the Cross

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You decreed that man should be saved through the wood of the cross.

The tree of man’s defeat became his tree of victory;
where life was lost, there life has been restored through Christ our Lord.

Through him the choirs of angels
and all the powers of heaven praise and worship your glory.
May our voices blend with theirs as we join in their unending hymn:

Preface of the Holy Eucharist I

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

He is the true and eternal priest
who established this unending sacrifice.
He offered himself as a victim for our deliverance
and taught us to make this offering in his memory.

As we eat his body which he gave for us, we grow in strength.
As we drink his blood which he poured out for us, we are washed clean.

Now, with angels and archangels,
and the whole company of heaven,
we sing the unending hymn of your praise:

Preface of the Holy Eucharist II

It is right to give him thanks and praise.
father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

At the last supper, as he sat at table with his apostles, h
e offered himself to you as the spotless lamb,
the acceptable gift that gives you perfect praise.

Christ has given us this memorial of his passion
to bring us its saving power until the end of time.

In this great sacrament you feed your people
and strengthen them in holiness,
so that the family of mankind
may come to walk in the light of one faith,
in one communion of love.

We come then to this wonderful sacrament to be fed at your table
and grow into the likeness of the risen Christ.

Earth unites with heaven
to sing the new song of creation
as we adore and praise you for ever:

Preface of the Presentation of the Lord

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Today your Son,
who shares your eternal splendour, was presented in the temple,
and revealed by the Spirit as the glory of Israel and the light of all peoples.

Our hearts are joyful, for we have seen your salvation,
and now with the angels and saints we praise you for ever:

Preface of the Transfiguration

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

He revealed his glory to the disciples
to strengthen them for the scandal of the cross.

His glory shone from a body like our own,
to show that the Church, which is the body of Christ,
would one day share his glory.

In our unending joy we echo on earth
the song of the angels in heaven as they praise your glory for ever:

Preface of Christ the King

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You anointed Jesus Christ, your only Son, with the oil of gladness,
as the eternal priest and universal King.

As priest he offered his life
on the altar of the cross and redeemed the human race
by this one perfect sacrifice of peace.

As King he claims dominion over all creation,
that he may present to you, his almighty Father,
an eternal and universal kingdom: a kingdom of truth and life,
a kingdom of holiness and grace,
a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of the Dedication of a Church

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

We thank you now for this house of prayer
in which you bless your family as we come to you on pilgrimage.

Here you reveal your presence by sacramental signs,
and make us one with you through the unseen bond of grace.

Here you build your temple of living stones,
and bring the Church to its full stature as the body of Christ
throughout the world, to reach its perfection at last
in the heavenly city of Jerusalem, which is the vision of your peace.

In communion with all the angels and saints
we bless and praise your greatness in the temple of your glory:

Preface of the Dedication of the Church

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

Your house is a house of prayer,
and your presence makes it a place of blessing.

You give us grace upon grace
to build the temple of your Spirit,
creating its beauty from the holiness of our lives.

Your house of prayer
is also the promise of the Church in heaven.
Here your love is always at work,
preparing the Church on earth
for its heavenly glory
as the sinless bride of Christ,
the joyful mother of a great company of saints.

Now, with the saints and all the angels
we praise you for ever:

Preface of the Holy Spirit

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

He ascended above all the heavens,
and from his throne at your right hand poured into the hearts
of your adopted children the Holy Spirit of your promise.

With steadfast love we sing your unending praise;
we join with the hosts of heaven in their triumphant song:

Preface of the Holy Spirit II

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You give your gifts of grace
for every time and season
as you guide the Church
in the marvellous ways of your providence.

You give us your Holy Spirit to help us always by his power,
so that with loving trust we may turn to you in all our troubles,
and give you thanks in all our joys, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In our joy we sing to your glory with all the choirs of angels:

Preface of the Blessed Virgin Mary I

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks

[as we celebrate … of the Blessed Virgin Mary]

.

[as we honour the Blessed Virgin Mary]

.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit,
she became the virgin mother of your only Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is for ever the light of the world.

Through him the choirs of angels
and all the powers of heaven praise and worship your glory.

May our voices blend with theirs as we join in their unending hymn:

Preface of the Blessed Virgin Mary II

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere
to give you thanks,
and to praise you for your gifts as we contemplate
your saints in glory.

In celebrating the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
it is our special joy to echo her song of thanksgiving.

What wonders you have worked throughout the world!
All generations have shared the greatness of your love.
When you looked on Mary your lowly servant,
you raised her to be the mother of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
the Saviour of all mankind.

Through him the angels of heaven
offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in your presence for ever.

May our voices be one with theirs
in their triumphant hymn of praise:

Preface of the Immaculate Conception

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You allowed no stain of Adam’s sin to touch the Virgin Mary.
Full of grace, she was to be a worthy mother of your Son,
your sign of favour to the Church at its beginning,
and the promise of its perfection as the bride of Christ, radiant in beauty.

Purest of virgins, she was to bring forth your Son,
the innocent lamb who takes away our sins.
You chose her from all women
to be our advocate with you and our pattern of holiness.

In our joy we sing to your glory with all the choirs of angels:

Preface of the Assumption

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Today the virgin Mother of God was taken up into heaven
to be the beginning and the pattern of the Church in its perfection,
and a sign of hope and comfort for your people on their pilgrim way.

You would not allow decay to touch her body,
for she had given birth to your Son, the Lord of all life,
in the glory of the incarnation.

In our joy we sing to your glory with all the choirs of angels:

Preface of the Angels

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

In praising your faithful angels and archangels,
we also praise your glory,
for in honouring them, we honour you, their creator.

Their splendour shows us your greatness,
which surpasses in goodness the whole of creation.

Through Christ our Lord
the great army of angels rejoices in your glory.
In adoration and joy
we make their hymn of praise our own:

Preface of S. John the Baptist

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We praise your greatness
as we honour the prophet
who prepared the way before your Son.

You set John the Baptist apart from other men,
marking him out with special favour.

His birth brought great rejoicing:
even in the womb he leapt for joy,
so near was man’s salvation.

You chose John the Baptist from all the prophets
to show the world its Redeemer, the lamb of sacrifice.

He baptized Christ, the giver of baptism,
in waters made holy by the one who was baptized.
You found John worthy of a martyr’s death,
his last and greatest act of witness to your Son.

In our unending joy we echo on earth
the song of the angels in heaven as they praise your glory for ever:

Preface of S. Joseph, Husband of Mary

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
as we honour Saint Joseph.

He is that just man,
that wise and loyal servant,
whom you placed at the head of your family.

With a husband’s love he cherished Mary,
the virgin Mother of God.

With fatherly care he watched over Jesus Christ your Son,
conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Through Christ the choirs of angels
and all the powers of heaven praise and worship your glory.

May our voices blend with theirs as we join in their unending hymn:

Preface of Ss. Peter and Paul, Apostles

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You fill our hearts with joy as we honour your great apostles:
Peter, our leader in the faith, and Paul, its fearless preacher.
Peter raised up the Church from the faithful flock of Israel.
Paul brought your call to the nations, and became the teacher of the world.
Each in his chosen way gathered into unity the one family of Christ.
Both shared a martyr’s death and are praised throughout the world.

Now, with the apostles and all the angels and saints, we praise you for ever:

Preface of the Apostles I

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You are the eternal Shepherd
who never leaves his flock untended.

Through the apostles
you watch over us and protect us always.
You made them shepherds of the flock
to share in the work of your Son,
and from their place in heaven they guide us still.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of the Apostles II

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You founded your Church
on the apostles to stand firm for ever
as the sign on earth of your infinite holiness
and as the living gospel for all men to hear.

With steadfast love we sing your unending praise:
we join with the hosts of heaven in their triumphant song:

Preface of Martyrs

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

Your holy martyr N. followed the example of Christ,
and gave his [her] life for the glory of your name.

His [her] death reveals your power shining through our human weakness.
You choose the weak and make them strong in bearing witness to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In our unending joy we echo on earth
the song of the angels in heaven as they praise your glory for ever:

Preface of Pastors

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You give the Church this feast in honour of Saint N.;
you inspire us by his holy life, instruct us by his preaching,
and give us your protection in answer to his prayers.

We join the angels and the saints
as they sing their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Virgins and Religious

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

Today we honour your saints
who consecrated their lives to Christ
for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

What love you show us
as you recall mankind to its first innocence,
and invite us to taste on earth
the gifts of the world to come!

Now, with the saints and all the angels we praise you for ever:

Preface of Holy Men and Women I

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You are glorified in your saints,
for their glory is the crowning of your gifts.
In their lives on earth you give us an example.
In our communion with them you give us their friendship.
In their prayer for the Church you give us strength and protection.

This great company of witnesses spurs us on to victory,
to share their prize of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

With angels and archangels
and the whole company of saints
we sing our unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Holy Men and Women II

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You renew the Church in every age
by raising up men and women outstanding in holiness,
living witnesses of your unchanging love.

They inspire us by their heroic lives,
and help us by their constant prayers
to be the living sign of your saving power.

We praise you, Lord,
with all the angels and saints in their song of joy:

Preface of All Saints

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

Today we keep the festival of your holy city,
the heavenly Jerusalem, our mother.

Around your throne
the saints, our brothers and sisters,
sing your praise for ever.

Their glory fills us with joy,
and their communion with us in your Church
gives us inspiration and strength
as we hasten on our pilgrimage of faith,
eager to meet them.

With their great company and all the angels
we praise your glory
as we cry out with one voice:

Preface of Marriage I

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

By this sacrament your grace unites man and woman
in an unbreakable bond of love and peace.

You have designed the chaste love of husband and wife f
or the increase both of the human family and of your own family born in baptism.

You are the loving Father of the world of nature;
you are the loving Father of the new creation of grace.

In Christian marriage you bring together the two orders of creation:
nature’s gift of children enriches the world
and your grace enriches also your Church.

Through Christ the choirs of angels
and all the saints
praise and worship your glory.
May our voices blend with theirs as we join in their unending hymn:

Preface of Marriage II

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him you entered into a new covenant with your people.
You restored man to grace in the saving mystery of redemption.
You gave him a share in the divine life through his union with Christ.
You made him an heir of Christ’s eternal glory.
This outpouring of love in the new covenant of grace
is symbolized in the marriage covenant
that seals the love of husband and wife and reflects your divine plan of love.

And so, with the angels and all the saints in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Marriage III

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

You created man in love to share your divine life.
We see his high destiny in the love of husband and wife,
which bears the imprint of your own divine love.

Love is man’s origin, love is his constant calling,
love is his fulfilment in heaven.
The love of man and woman
is made holy in the sacrament of marriage,
and becomes the mirror of your everlasting love.

Through Christ the choirs of angels
and all the saints
praise and worship your glory.
May our voices blend with theirs
as we join in their unending hymn:

Preface of Religious Profession

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

He came, the son of a virgin mother,
named those blessed who were pure of heart,
and taught by his whole life the perfection of chastity.

He chose always to fulfil your holy will, and became obedient even to dying for us, offering himself to you as a perfect oblation.
He consecrated more closely to your service
those who leave all things for your sake,
and promised that they would find a heavenly treasure.

And so, we join the angels and the saints
as they sing their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Christian Unity

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through Christ you bring us to the knowledge of your truth,
that we may be united by one faith and one baptism to become his body.

Through Christ you have given the Holy Spirit to all peoples.
How wonderful are the works of the Spirit, revealed in so many gifts!

Yet how marvellous is the unity the Spirit creates from their diversity,
as he dwells in the hearts of your children,
filling the whole Church with his presence and guiding it with his wisdom!

In our joy we sing to your glory with all the choirs of angels:

Preface of Christian Death I

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In him, who rose from the dead, our hope of resurrection dawned. The sadness of death gives way to the bright promise of immortality.
Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended. When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death we gain an everlasting dwelling place in heaven.
And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Christian Death II

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

He chose to die
that he might free all men from dying.
He gave his life
that we might live to you alone for ever.

In our joy we sing to your glory with all the choirs of angels:

Preface of Christian Death III

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In him the world is saved, man is reborn,
and the dead rise again to life.
Through Christ the angels of heaven
offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in your presence for ever.

May our voices be one with theirs in their triumphant hymn of praise:

Preface of Christian Death IV

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

By your power you bring us to birth.
By your providence you rule our lives.
By your command you free us at last from sin
as we return to the dust from which we came.

Through the saving death of your Son
we rise at your word to the glory of the resurrection.

Now we join the angels and the saints
as they sing their unending hymn of praise:

Preface of Christian Death V

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Death is the just reward for our sins,
yet, when at last we die,
your loving kindness calls us back to life
in company with Christ,
whose victory is our redemption.

Our hearts are joyful, for we have seen your salvation,
and now with the angels and saints we praise you for ever:

@RevDaniel, like me, has misgivings about this new ‘Creation Season’ (I thought the whole of Ordinary Time was about creation, hence the green vestments). He draws in this wonderfully vivid quote to change the focus from the created to the creator…

Another colleague asked me why I’m not a fan of a liturgical “Season of Creation”. I think this quote from St. Augustine’s “Confessions” sums it up well:

“I asked the earth and it answered, “I am not He”; and all things that are in the earth made the same confession.

— RevDaniel (@RevDaniel) September 9, 2019

I asked the sea and the deeps and the creeping things, and they answered, “We are not your God; seek higher.” I asked the winds that blow, and the whole air with all that is in it answered, “Anaximenes was wrong; I am not God.”

— RevDaniel (@RevDaniel) September 9, 2019

I asked the heavens, the sun, the moon, the stars, and they answered, “Neither are we God whom you seek.” And I said to all the things that throng about the gateways of the senses: “Tell me of my God, since you are not He. Tell me something of Him.”

— RevDaniel (@RevDaniel) September 9, 2019

And they cried out in a great voice: “He made us.” My question was my gazing upon them, and their answer was their beauty.”

I think we should focus our worship on the Creator, not the creation, however thankful we are for its goodness and beauty.

— RevDaniel (@RevDaniel) September 9, 2019

St. Augustine’s “Confessions” sums it up well:

“I asked the earth and it answered, “I am not He”; and all things that are in the earth made the same confession. I asked the sea and the deeps and the creeping things, and they answered, “We are not your God; seek higher.” I asked the winds that blow, and the whole air with all that is in it answered, “Anaximenes was wrong; I am not God.” I asked the heavens, the sun, the moon, the stars, and they answered, “Neither are we God whom you seek.” And I said to all the things that throng about the gateways of the senses: “Tell me of my God, since you are not He. Tell me something of Him.” And they cried out in a great voice: “He made us.” My question was my gazing upon them, and their answer was their beauty.”

I think we should focus our worship on the Creator, not the creation, however thankful we are for its goodness and beauty.

My grateful thanks to @RevDaniel

Sometimes my CrashPlan running on Linux will stop unexpectedly and you don’t know about it until there hasn’t been a backup for three days. 🙁

Here is a simple script that will check if your specified service is running and will start it if it’s stopped.

You will have to replace “replace_me_with_a_valid_service” with the name of the service you want to check

#!/bin/bash
service=replace_me_with_a_valid_service

if (( $(ps -ef | grep -v grep | grep $service | wc -l) > 0 ))
then
echo "$service is running!!!"
else
/etc/init.d/$service start
fi

You can place it in crontab and have it executed automatically
eg. to check every minute, insert into cron

* * * * * /path/to/script

with grateful thanks to http://www.akamaras.com/linux/linux-script-to-check-if-a-service-is-running-and-start-it-if-its-stopped/

The reason I run a Linux box to backup CrashPlan is that if you mount all the network attached storage devices in Linux, crashplan can back them up, so everything on my network is backed up on a single account. Just mount them in the fstab and ask crashplan to backup the /mnt folder!

#Shares from Samba/Cifs/Windows Shares
//192.168.0.120/Public/T  /mnt/T cifs guest,uid=1000,iocharset=utf8 0 0
//192.168.0.112/www      /mnt/Z cifs guest,uid=1000,iocharset=utf8 0 0

#Shares from NFS
192.168.0.148:/export/Music     /mnt/Music  nfs defaults    0   0
192.168.0.148:/export/Photos    /mnt/Photos nfs defaults    0   0
192.168.0.148:/export/Movies    /mnt/Movies nfs defaults    0   0
192.168.0.148:/export/Downloads /mnt/Software   nfs defaults    0   0

I must admit I don’t really understand the complexities of Regex, the text matching spells which manage to make sense whilst appearing like a line of gibberish. Thank heavens for sites like https://regex101.com/ which help idiots like me experiment until I can get what I need.

In this case, I have text strings which contain a bible reference and the reading all together, when I just want to extract the Bible Reference. The post at https://stackoverflow.com/questions/22254746/bible-verse-regex produced the spell I needed to create a Function in VBA for Microsoft Access to do what I needed.

First you need to enable the VBA Regex Reference, so at the top of the VBA Code Window in Access, select TOOLS/REFERENCES and then check Microsoft VBScript Regular Expressions 5.5 which will enable this function to be recognised.

This is the function:

Function regexReadings(sReading) As String
 ' need to enable Microsoft VBScipt Regular Expressions 5.5 in Tools/References
 ' Regex to extract Bible Verse https://stackoverflow.com/questions/22254746/bible-verse-regex
 ' (\d)\s([a-z]+)\s(\d+)(?::(\d+))?(\s-\s(\d+)(?:\s([a-z]+)\s*(\d+))?(?::(\d+))?)?

 Dim rExp As Object, rMatch As Object, r_item As Object, result As String
 Set rExp = CreateObject("vbscript.regexp")
 With rExp
     .Global = True
     .MultiLine = False
     .IgnoreCase = True
     .Pattern = "(\d)\s([a-z]+)\s(\d+)(?::(\d+))?(\s-\s(\d+)(?:\s([a-z]+)\s*(\d+))?(?::(\d+))?)?"
 End With
 Set rMatch = rExp.Execute(sReading)
 If rMatch.Count > 0 Then
     For Each r_item In rMatch
         result = result & r_item.Value & " "
     Next r_item
 End If
 regexReadings = result
 End Function

The key thing is the Regex spell:

(\d)\s([a-z]+)\s(\d+)(?::(\d+))?(\s-\s(\d+)(?:\s([a-z]+)\s*(\d+))?(?::(\d+))?)? 

I have only the vaguest understanding of how it works, but believe me, it does.

Therefore If I invoke

Debug.Print regexReadings("Luke 15:1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.")

It returns “Luke 15:1”

Use as you wish, credit to the author of the Regex Spell, Niet

You can never be too paranoid about backing up. Each night I run a simple batch script to transfer my key files onto an external drive, in addition to backing it up on a cloud sever (recommendation: CrashPlan for Small Business).

The batch script is this:

@ECHO OFF
 set dt=%DATE:~0,2%/%DATE:~3,2%/%DATE:~6,4%:%TIME:~0,2%.%TIME:~3,2%.%TIME:~6,2%
 set dt=%dt: =0%
 ECHO %dt%>>backuplog.txt
 robocopy <source> <destination> /R:0 /E /W:5 /FFT /TBD /COPY:DT /XO /XD $RECYCLE.BIN "#RECYCLE BIN" .dropbox.cache
echo backed up at %dt%

The first four/five lines append the date and time of the backup to a batchfile, so I know it has completed. The key line is this one:

 robocopy <source> <destination> /R:0 /E /W:5 /FFT /TBD /COPY:DT /XO /XD $RECYCLE.BIN "#RECYCLE BIN" .dropbox.cache 

Obviously, you change source and destination to your own setup. The last three words are files to exclude. As my backup includes my Dropbox folder, I don’t want to transfer the hidden cache files that Dropbox use, nor do I want to transfer the Windows Recycled files. Keep, discard or amend depending on your choice.

The rest of the robocopy spell only copies newer versions of the files already backed up, this way you aren’t transferring masses of data over your internal network each night.

I save this as a file called backup.bat in the User folder, ie C:\Users\<User>

I often make a shortcut and put this on the desktop so I can run the file at a whim, but you probably want to ruin it at the same time each night. As you often won’t be there, I want to introduce you to TASK SCHEDULER

How to create a basic task using Task Scheduler

To create a task using basic settings on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Task Scheduler, and click the top result to open the experience.
3. Right-click the “Task Scheduler Library” branch, and select the New Folder option.
4. Type a name for the folder. For example, MyTasks. (This step isn’t a requirement, but it’s a recommended step to keep your tasks separate from the system and apps tasks.)
5. Click the OK button.
6. Expand the “Task Scheduler Library” branch, and select the MyTasks folder.
7. Click the Action menu.
8. Select the Create Basic Task option.
9. In the “Name” field, type a short descriptive name for the task. For example, “Backup to Drive”.
10. (Optional) In the “Description” field, create a description for the task.
11. Click the Next button.
12. Select the Daily option. Task Scheduler allows you to select from a number of triggers, including on a specific date, during startup, or when you or a particular user signs in. Depending on your requirements, you’ll need to configure additional parameters. In this case, we’ll be selecting the option to run a task every evening
13. Click the Next button.
14. Using the “Start” settings, specify when the task should start running and the time (very important).
15. Use the “Daily” drop-down menu to the time that you want to run the task.
16. Click the Next button.
17. Select the Start a program option to launch an app, run a command, or execute a script file. You can select the Send an e-mail or Display a message option, but these are deprecated features, which means that they may or may not work because Microsoft is no longer maintaining them.
    • Send an e-mail: Triggers an email notification with a custom message on schedule, but it requires to specify an email server to work.
    • Display a message: Allows to display a text message on the screen on schedule.
18. In the “Program/script” field, specify the path for the application: In this case “C:\Users\User\backup.bat” Quick Tip: If you don’t know the path of the app, click the Browse button to find it.
19. (Optional) In the “Add arguments” field, you can specify arguments to run the task with special instructions, but in our case, you don’t need that.
20. (Optional) In the “Start in” field, specify the folder in which the program will start. (Usually, you can leave this setting empty.)
21. Click the Finish button.

Once you’ve completed the steps, the task will be saved, and it’ll run automatically on the schedule you specified.

Almost anyone could do the readings. Almost anyone could do them badly and/or carelessly. But, with a little effort, most people could do them well. A little thought and a little planning can make all the difference.

Morning Prayer is part of the Church’s daily cycle of prayer: an ongoing engagement with God’s Word in Scripture and Prayer, whereas the Mass is not just worship solely led by the Priest. It is comprised of two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Sacrament.

In a Mass, both are equally important, as we cannot feed properly from the Blessed Sacrament unless we have been first fed by God’s word. The word is God is also incomplete until we have partaken in God’s Holy Sacraments; so through reading in Church you are undertaking a vital role in the life and worship of this Church. If you haven’t worked at it, don’t expect, miraculously, to do it well. God provides miracles when a problem is beyond human solution. This is not one of those.

First Things First

Clearly, you can’t just roll up on Sunday morning, stride to the front and begin reading. So to prepare: You get out your Bible, turn up the first passage and begin reading. Wrong!

The first thing you should do is pray.

At this stage, pray that you will understand the passages. You cannot read anything well if you do not understand it Spadework When you have prayed, read the other passages, including the Gospel. The three year Common Worship Lectionary chooses readings that are thematically linked to the season and ensure that the Liturgy of the Word is based on a common theme.

An RCL lectionary can be obtained from any Christian bookshop, and the readings for each day can be downloaded from the internet into your Computer (see http://frsimon.uk/electric-ordo/) . The readings are distributed to you at least a few weeks in advance before the service.

Understanding how your reading fits into the whole will guide you as to how to play this reading. Dramatise No one expects an Oscar-winning performance from you, but the most thrilling and momentous passages will seem deadly dull if they are read in a flat monotone. Pray about this, too.

Look for any direct speech and work out how it might be said. Is it a question? a command? Should it be said in an angry tone? or a comforting one? Is there a point at which a slight pause would be appropriate, perhaps to let some great truth sink in? If there is no speech you can try to convey the general mood of the passage. Does it record a happy event? or a sad one? Read through again, putting in these effects in your head. Try any difficult words out loud, to make sure you can get your tongue round them. More on this later

Sunday Morning

By now the passages should seem like old friends. Read them through again, either at home or, having arrived at church sufficiently early, sitting quietly in a pew. (Of course, there is a greater danger that you will be interrupted, if you choose the latter.)

This reading should also be accompanied by prayer. Pray that you will recall all the mental notes you have made and give thanks that you don’t have to do any of this in your own strength. God will calm your nerves too. I once had a friend, a gifted speaker, who told me that she was always very nervous before she began. ‘If I stopped being nervous I should stop accepting invitations to speak,’ she said, ‘because then, I would know that I was doing it in my own strength and not depending on God.

Practicalities

Except for when you are actually reading, you should be as unobtrusive as possible. Sit at the end of a pew so that you don’t have to disturb other people, and in a place where you don’t have to walk across the front of the church to get out to the lectern. Unless you have been told otherwise, the readings will be from the Jerusalem Bible, and are printed on the weekly service sheet.

Anticipate. Don’t sit in your place until there is a long silence. By the time the priest has finished the Collect you should be standing at the lectern, ready to begin, and by the end of each reading, the next person should be ready to take over almost without a pause.

Being ready and in position will give you time for one last ‘arrow’ prayer for support. Don’t worry about the microphone. You don’t have to do anything to it. That is not your responsibility. If there is a problem, someone will step in to assist you or make adjustments with the controller or mixing desk.

All you need to do is speak clearly and loudly, as the microphone is there to support your voice, not replace it. You don’t need to lean towards the microphone or touch it. At the front of Church people will be listening primarily to you and not the speakers. You need to speak loudly enough to be clearly heard over half the Church.

This is It

The service sheet indicates how the reading should be introduced in italics at the top. It usually takes the form “A reading from the Book of X” or “A reading from the letter of Paul to Y”. You should not read out the reference which sounds disjointed: the reading is in front of everyone so there is no scrabbling for it in a pew bible.

There should be a slight pause before beginning the text.

Give expression to your reading and make use of full stops, commas and speech marks to make the reading varied and interesting. Although there is no place for silly voices in a Scriptural Reading, one should be able to differentiate in texture between the narrative of the text and the spoken word. Remember that sometimes a dramatic pause can make all the difference to a reading, particularly after a key phrase.

At the end of the reading, again make a slight pause and say, ‘This is the word of the Lord’. The congregation will respond, ‘Thanks be to God’.

Responsorial Psalms when read in the Mass should introduce the response: “The response to the Psalm is…” followed by a short pause and then repeat the response itself, where the congregation will join in with you. You need to boldly repeat the response during the Responsorial Psalm so that the congregation knows to follow with you. Sometimes they do not have the words in front of them so they are relying on you to lead them, and it might not sink in first time. Say the Psalm versicles in the same manner as a normal poetic reading, and repeat again boldly with the congregation the response to the Psalm.

If you are leading the Psalm in morning prayer, you announce the Psalm with either the traditional “The Psalm appointed for today: Psalm X” or more informally “Psalm X”. The separate sheet with the Psalm on it will be laid out for congregational reading. The Odd-numbered lines are your lines, the even-numbered lines are in bold and are for the congregation to respond.

You will note that there is a diamond or an asterisk half way through the line. You should pause at that point for a moment (perhaps a count of 2, or ‘Hail Mary’) before the rest of the line. Even if the congregation ploughs on with their responses, we must gradually and gently teach the congregation to say the Psalm slowly and reflectively together, listening to each other. You will be able to model that for the Congregation. If the congregation is slow or reluctant to say their lines, lead them in saying the even-numbered verses as well.

At the end of the Psalm for morning prayer we all say together the “Glory Be”. At the end of each reading or Psalm there should be a momentary pause if you are continuing. If someone else is taking over from you, step away as the congregation makes their last response enabling the next reader to pick up with only a momentary pause. There should be a distinct gap between readings but not a long embarrassed silence. When you are back in your place don’t forget to thank God for His help. Now you can relax and enjoy the rest of the service.

Those Awful Hebrew Names

Most people don’t have a problem with New Testament names. It’s the unusual ones in the Old Testament which are difficult. Here are one or two pointers which may help. Since the Hebrew alphabet is totally different from ours, the letters are already transliterated so that the consonants can be treated just like English. These are not exactly right, but near enough. The problem with the vowels (a,e,i,o,u.) is that, in English, we make one letter represent a number of different sounds. The letter ‘a’ for example, can be interpreted in eight different ways. This doesn’t happen in other languages. Few of them have so many vocals and, in any case, the use of accents, or diacritics makes the pronunciation clear. Hebrew has very few vowel sounds. As a rule of thumb, except for familiar anglicised names, if you always pronounce a as in ‘pat’, e as in ‘egg’, i as in ‘chick’, o as in ‘note’ u as in ‘rule’ you’ll be about right. Double a as in ‘Baal’ is said as a long ‘a’ sound – ‘Baaaaal’. If you encounter a word which leaves you totally stuck, check with one of the Clergy or Readers.

The most important advice with difficult names or words is to do something and to do it with confidence. Even if the word is wrong to the ears of Hebrew scholars, we won’t notice unless you draw attention to it. So, when confronted with a difficult word, say it how you have worked it out and don’t look back.

Never stop and apologise. God doesn’t mind and nor should we.

Summary

To help you remember all of this, here are five ‘P’s;

• Pray First and last
• Prepare Thoughtfully
• Practice Thoroughly
• Position In good time
• Pronounce Clearly

I hope you will enjoy reading the Holy Scriptures in Church. Your contribution is appreciated and valued.

The Archbishops have released a series of values intended to enable better, more Christian, Social Media interactions between people and groups. I think they should be congratulated for the initiative, and it certainly gives me, as an outspoken user of Social Media, some things to reflect on.

The danger could be that it robs the Church of its sometime Prophetic role. There are times when the leadership of our Churches, and local leaders need to speak out for something, or against something and this, inevitably give someone offence: usually the invested powers which the teachings of Christ challenge. ++Justin is right to challenge Payday Loan Sharks, ++John is right to have stood up to the murderous and corrupt regime of Mugabe; but for ome shareholders and some political cronies, the Church will make them uncomfortable.

In the same way, should I not use Social Media to challenge Homophobia both within and without the Church, speak up for marginalised disabled people or the NHS? To do so will offend the holders of power; but I was not called to be a wet or fluffy priest like the All Gas and Gaiters Derek Nimmo and turbulent priests have always caused trouble (and got into trouble) when they spoke truth to power.

Now, the guidelines remind us that what is written on the Internet stays forever, and I am very aware of this. I made a big mistake a few years ago when the Labour Anti-Semitism row was just starting. At the time, I – because the bubble I lived in was not Anti-Semitic (although critical of the State of Israel) – thought it was an opportunist, right-wing smear. I said so. I was wrong. There is a deep, horrible layer of anti-semitism in the current Labour Party and it is one of the reasons I left (that and their pro-Brexit stance).

However, my comments (on a post by a relative of mine) were picked up by the Pseudoanonymous Archbishop Cranmer blog: a terrible right-wing Church and Politics blog by a man called Adrian Hilton, who is neither a priest nor an Archbishop but effectively hides behind this persona and is able to whip up a comments section of which every post would be in contravention of the Archbishops’ Charter.

Despite his claim that he always “asked politely”, Adrian and I exchanged messages which were full of veiled threats and the implication would be that he would turn me over to his attack dogs. Resignedly I said “bring it on then” – I suppose “Publish and be damned” would have been a better response, but then he’d have made much of the fact that a Clergyman has damned him.

The comments to his article were indeed horrible: vitriolic, homophobic, racist and protestant.

I fully accept that my assertion at the time about Labour Antisemitism was wrong.

That article on the Cranmer blog appears about half-way down the list when you search for me on Google. I have to live with that probably forever. My fault. I’m not going to link to it myself, partly out of shame and partly because his horrible site doesn’t deserve any more traffic. You can always Google it…

So, take my advice: be careful what you say on Social Media because it can and will come back to bite you. Sometimes I can be right on the button but no-one ever remembers these things, only the ones you get (spectacularly) wrong. I always say that I will only tweet what I would be prepared to say in a homily – and I will speak on Political or Social issues if I think the Gospel has something to say on the matter. I do not expect total agreement or compliance nor believe that I am infallible. I always say at all elections “I do not care who you vote for, but you MUST vote, you must make your voice heard” and that is all I say on parties, but Policies that affect the vulnerable in society, Antisemitism and Islamophobia, Misogyny, Homophobia, exclusion must be challenged because my Lord would have challenged them.

I will sign up to the Charter. I will try and abide by it. I will also not hesitate to speak out when the Gospel compels me to, and I encourage you to do the same.

Many readers of this blog are aware of my Crowdsourced Psalms Project where we are creating a digital psalter with voices from around the world, all available for free.

I have a new task for you all… if you would like to make your voice a part of this Liturgy. You are invited to record your own voice on your smartphone and send it to me, so I can use it in an act of worship. It will then be available for everyone to use.

Instructions

1. If you have a phone like an iPhone or an Android, there is usually an app to record your voice – often called “Voice Memo” or some thing similar. I use a free Android App called ASR which can be installed for free from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nll.asr  If you have better recording equipment, then even better, but I have found that most smartphones are good enough nowadays. You can configure it to record at quite a good quality: I would suggest 192k in MP3 or MP4 format if that means anything to you. If not, just record it as it comes and I will do spooky mysterious things with it with electronics.
2. iPhones will record in the very nice .M4a format. This is fine, but please try and set it to the highest quality you can.
3. Read (nicely and in the highest possible quality) the whole text shown below. It would be great Click here to jump to the optimum settings in ASR…
4. If you mess up don’t worry, just repeat the line, as I will be choosing from a lot of readings, just repeat it and then send the whole lot to me.
5. After recording select “Share” (or similar) and email it to me at fr.simonrundell@gmail.com
6. It would be really helpful if you named the file with your name and the psalm it is. This will help me collate them.
7. I will cut it up with all the others and make these into the Gospel using the multiplicity of voices, accents, genders etc.
8. Can you tell others and ask them to do it for me please so I get lots and lots of voices.

Thank you.

The Text (please record all of this)

Hear the Holy Gospel according to John
Glory to you, O Lord

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Holy Father,
I pray not only for these,
but for those also
who through their words will believe in me.
May they all be one.
Father, may they be one in us,
as you are in me and I am in you,
so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.
I have given them the glory you gave to me,
that they may be one as we are one.
With me in them and you in me,
may they be so completely one
that the world will realise that it was you who sent me
and that I have loved them as much as you loved me.
Father, I want those you have given me
to be with me where I am,
so that they may always see the glory you have given me
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Father, Righteous One,
the world has not known you,
but I have known you,
and these have known that you have sent me.
I have made your name known to them
and will continue to make it known,
so that the love with which you loved me may be in them,
and so that I may be in them.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ.

Approx 8.25am Sunday 26th April 2019. (6min 30sec)

Reflection and Response to this to come.

And God held in his hand
A small globe. Look, he said.
The son looked. Far off,
As through water, he saw
A scorched land of fierce
Colour. The light burned
There ; crusted buildings
Cast their shadows ; a bright
Serpent, a river
Uncoiled itself, radiant
With slime.
On a bare
Hill a bare tree saddened
The sky. Many people
Held out their thin arms
To it, as though waiting
For a vanished April
To return to its crossed
Boughs. The son watched
Them. Let me go there, he said.