liturgy – Rich Clarkson Poetry

I’ve been at a conference with the Society for Liturgical Study this week, and I wrote this poem on the final day to sum up some of what we had been thinking about over the week.

~~~~~

The maple tree, through open window, listens
as we inside delve deeply into all
that happens when our worshipping traditions
are woven through the crises that befall
the natural world, our planet, God’s creation.
We weigh up and discuss what it might mean
to worship in lament and jubilation
in partnership with life, seen and unseen.
We study and explore our rites and rituals,
Ponder the circularity of time,
Critique our prayerbooks, liturgies and missals
and contemplate the places where they rhyme.
And all the while, outside the window, swaying
gently in the breeze our Sister Maple Tree is praying.

Photo by Ehud Neuhaus on Unsplash

I’m currently at a conference with the Society For Liturgical Study in Leeds, which is on the theme of ‘Liturgy and Creation’. In last night’s keynote address, Margaret Daly-Denton offered the challenge to rewrite the hymn “O Thou who at thy Eucharist didst pray” (William Turton 1856-1938) to draw in the unity of all creation, not just Christian unity. This is my attempt to do that!

~~~~~

O Lord, who at your Eucharist did pray
That all your Church might be for ever one,
Grant us, despite our differences, to say
With hopeful heart and soul, ‘your will be done.’
Oh, may we all one Bread, one Body be,
And round the world be joined in unity.

O Lord, who in your incarnation came
That all creation may, in you, be healed,
Grant us, who call upon your holy name,
To live our lives that you may be revealed.
Oh, may your creatures – human, tame, and wild –
Through Christ our maker now be reconciled.

O Lord, who in your resurrection gave
New life to all and broke the chains of death
Grant us, who you have rescued from the grave
To praise you with our every living breath
May we, with all creation, join as one,
United now with Father, Spirit, Son.

Tag: liturgy

Maple Tree

O Lord, who at your Eucharist did pray

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