February Taize: We present ourselves to God

Introduction

In the Catholic tradition, tomorrow, Feb. 2, is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. In tonight’s Taizé Prayer Service, we present ourselves to God. We invite God to work through us to make this world a better place: relationships, environment, etc. God says: “I have called you by your name, you are mine.”

We have come together to renew our commitment to God’s call to each of us to work for justice and peace in our world, to be bearers of the light, singers of a new song. We have been called by our loving God — in different ways, in different times, in different places — prompted by the many beautiful, faith-filled people we have met along the way and by the many events that have touched us, some earth-shattering, some as gentle as the still small voice with Elijah heard.

A Psalm of Commissioning for Mission by Miriam Therese Winter

Leader: The harvest is ready. Whom shall I send?

All: Send me, Lord, I am ready to serve You, all the days of my life.

Leader: Go into the workplace and into the streets and reveal God’s saving Spirit through the quality of your lives. The world is waiting. Whom shall I send?

All: Send me, Lord, I am ready to speak of You, all the days of my life.

Leader: Preach the Good News by your actions; heal, help, teach, touch, be of good spirit in good times and bad times, and live for the glory of God. The world is hungry. Whom shall I send?

All: Send me, Lord, I am ready to nourish, all the days of my life.

Leader: Feed the hungry of body and spirit, break the bread of compassion, distribute the garments of hope, and be fed by the Word within you. The vineyard is ready. Whom shall I send?

All: Send me, Lord, I am ready to work for You, all the days of my life.

We stand here, loving God, freed from our bondage, filled with the fire of Your love and Your passion for peace, a fire that burns deep in our hearts and our souls. We stand here before You reborn, made new, renewed in spirit, and recommitted to the struggle for peace and justice for those who cry out for an end to their anguish. Send us forth as Your servants, Your instruments, Your Presence in our world. We ask all of this in the name of the One who walked this path before us.

Amen.