John Augustus Swanson, "Festival of Lights" (2000)
Baruch 5:1-9. The return of scattered Israel
Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. 2 Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting, 3 for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven, 4 for God will give you evermore the name, "Righteous Peace, Godly Glory." 5 Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. 6 For they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies, but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne. 7 For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. 8 The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God's command. 9 For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.
Voice 1 Our Father who art in Heaven
Voice 2 Holy One beyond all names, Eternal Wellspring,
Voice 3 O Great Spirit, our Father from above,
Voice 1 Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come
Voice 2 May love rise again in us today
Voice 3 we honor your name as sacred and holy.
Voice 1 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Voice 2 with food for every table, shelter for every person,
Voice 3 Bring your good road to us,
where the beauty of your ways in the spirit-world
above is reflected in the earth below.
Voice 1 Give us this day our daily bread
Voice 2 and reverence for every living being.
Voice 3 Provide for us day by day
--the elk, the buffalo, and the salmon.
The corn, the squash, and the wild rice.
All the things we need for each day.
Voice 1 Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us
Voice 2 Forgive us our failings in love, and free us from all
falseness,
Voice 3 Release us from the things we have done wrong,
in the same way we release others
for the things done wrong to us.
Voice 1 and Lead us not into temptation,
Voice 2 that the light of our souls may shine
Voice 3 Guide us away from the things that tempt us
to stray from your good road
Voice 1 but deliver us from evil
Voice 2 and help the strength of our spirits endure
for earth and all its people
Voice 3 and set us free from the evil one & his worthless ways.
Voice 1 For the kingdom, the power, & the glory are yours forever
Voice 2 this day, tonight, and forever.
Voice 1 Amen!
Voice 2 Yes, I commit!
Voice 3 Aho! May it be so!
Matthew 6: 9-13 , (from "Celtic Benediction," by John Phillip Newell) First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament.
Closing Prayer
Out of the embrace of mercy and righteousness, you have brought forth joy and dignity for your people, O Holy One of Israel.
Remember now your ancient promise: make straight the paths that lead to you, and smooth the rough ways, that in our day
we might bring forth your compassion for all humanity. Amen.
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