John Wesley's Rules for Congregational Singing (1761)

1. Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up and you will find a blessing.

2. Sing lustily, and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of it being heard, then when you sing the songs of Satan.

3. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, as to be heard above, or distinct from, the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.

4. Sing in time. Whatever time is sung, be sure to keep with it. Do not run before, not stay behind it; but attend closely to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can. And take care you sing not too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from among us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.

5. Above all, sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this, attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve of here, and reward when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.

Save the Afflicted

We beseech thee, Master,

to be our helper and protector.
Save the afflicted among us;

have mercy on the lowly;
raise up the fallen; 

appear to the needy;

heal the ungodly;
restore the wanderers of thy people;
feed the hungry;

ransom our prisoners;
raise up the sick;

comfort the faint-hearted.

 ~ ~ ~ Clement of Rome (1st Century) 

 

For the poor and the oppressed,
for the unemployed and the destitute,
for prisoners and captives,
and for all who remember and care for them,
let us pray to the Lord.
"Lord, have mercy."
~ ~ ~ Book of Common Prayer

Prayer for Ephiphany 2015

Lord Jesus Christ, 
You have shown yourself to the nations and transformed many by your radiant light. 

Your ongoing revelations bring a continual rebirth, recreating each of us in your likeness. 

May today’s rising sun remind us that your light is for the healing of the nations. Amen.

~ ~ ~ from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals

Nativity Prayer of St. Augustine

As our Christmas season comes to a close (today is the 11th Day of Christmas), here is what is known as the Nativity Prayer of St. Augustine.

Let the just rejoice,
for their justifier is born.

Let the sick and infirm rejoice,
For their saviour is born.

Let the captives rejoice,
For their Redeemer is born.

Let slaves rejoice,
for their Master is born.

Let free men rejoice,
For their Liberator is born.

Let All Christians rejoice,
For Jesus Christ is born.

Amen

St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-440)