A Book of Vigils - Softcover

Webber, Christopher L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0898693837 ISBN 13: 9780898693836

Verlag: Church Publishing, 2000

Inhaltsangabe

This useful book falls in the category of resources for structuring liturgies to fit local occasions. In addition to seven complete vigil services inspired by the ancient monastic discipline of nighttime prayer and meditation, there are new models such as "A Vigil in the Presence of God" or "A Vigil for Peace and Justice".

Ample notes throughout explain the history of vigils and offer advice for planning small private and large public vigils.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Christopher L. Webber, a graduate of Princeton University and the General Theological Seminary in New York, is an Episcopal priest who has led urban, rural, and overseas parishes. He is the author of several books, including Welcome to Christian Faith,Beyond Beowulf, and A Year with American Saints, co-authored with Lutheran Pastor G. Scott Cady. Webber grew up in Cuba, New York, and lives in San Francisco.

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A Book of Vigils

By Christopher L. Webber

Church Publishing Incorporated

Copyright © 2002 Christopher L. Webber
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-89869-383-6

Contents

Introduction to A Book of Vigils
What is a vigil?
Using this book
Planning a vigil
A Vigil in the Presence of God
A Vigil for Peace and Justice
A Vigil for the Sick
A Vigil at the Time of Death
A Vigil for Maundy Thursday
A Vigil of Pentecost
A Vigil before the Election or Consecration of a Bishop (with notes for 
adapting the vigil to other uses)

CHAPTER 1

A Vigilin thePresenceof God

NOTES FORA Vigil in thePresence of God

The material provided here for prayer and meditation centers attention on thepresence of God: recalling God's presence, being open to God's presence, beingpresent to God. It can be used with any of the other vigils in this book (exceptthe vigil for the Eve of Pentecost) or separately. Begin the time with prayer,using one or more of the passages provided. Use the words provided here as aframework for your prayer, then let your own life and the guidance of the Spiritenlarge upon that framework. Spend most of your time in silence: waiting,listening, using the Jesus Prayer or any other centering devices you finduseful.

The Jesus Prayer is an ancient method of prayer that comes to us from theRussian Orthodox tradition. It consists of repeating the sentence, "Lord JesusChrist, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner," or, more simply,"Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." This is said slowly and meditatively,preferably in time with one's breathing, so that the address ("Lord Jesus,etc.") is said as breath is drawn in, and the petition ("have mercy, etc.") issaid as one breathes out.

The vigil model presented here provides an opening prayer followed by foursegments, each one of which contains a reading, a psalm or hymn, and a prayer.The model is intended for a private vigil but can also be used for a largepublic vigil with readers for the readings and a leader who directs the liturgyand leads the prayers, hymns, and psalms.

For a private vigil

For a private vigil, simply have these materials or materials modeled on themready for those keeping the vigil. If the vigil is to be kept for many hours, itis usually best to ask individuals to volunteer for one or more hours and toassign two segments for each hour. Those keeping the vigil would begin with theopening prayer, spend a half hour on each of the two segments assigned, andconclude with the closing prayers. There should be no uncertainty amongparticipants about which segments they have been assigned.

For long, private vigils, you may wish to provide a liturgical way for eachparticipant to mark his or her cumulative contribution to the ongoing prayer.One way to do this is with candles: each participant lights a candle beforebeginning and leaves it burning to be joined by other candles as the turns comeand go. The last participant concludes the vigil on behalf of the group byextinguishing the candles. The practice of burning candles throughout much ofthe night, however, presents serious safety concerns. Very tall votive candlesmay prove safer than tapers which can fall from their holders. Never leaveburning candles unattended. If candles are to be used, at least two individualsshould be in the vigil space at all times.

For a public vigil

If this material is used as part of a public vigil, hymns and talks by civic andreligious leaders also may be added. The recommended order is as follows: 1)reading; 2) psalm or hymn (the hymns printed here after the readings areintended to be read like psalms); 3) prayer; 4) talk by civic or religiousleader; 5) hymn to be sung by the congregation. Additional instructions forpublic prayer are as follows:

Prayers: Beginning with the opening prayer ("You are great, O God, andworthy ofhighest praise") and for every prayer thereafter, the leader says, "Let us pray"(if the leader is to pray aloud on behalf of the assembly) or "Let us pray thefollowing prayer together" (if the assembly is to join in).

Psalms: Before each psalm, the leader says, "Let us say Psalm [number]responsively"; or, "Let us say Psalm [number] together." For hymns that followthe readings, the leader says, "Let us say the words of the hymn together." Forresponsive readings for large ecumenical gatherings, print the congregation'sresponses in italics.

Readings: The reader announces each reading as indicated. After thereading, thereader remains in place, keeping the silence. If there is some concern that lessexperienced readers may rush the silence, have an unobtrusive watch or smallclock at the podium so that the silence is kept for an appropriate length oftime. The silence concludes when the reader proclaims the brief, epigraphic"echo" from the previous reading; these epigraphs appear in the vigil textimmediately following the rubric "Silence."

Segments: The text is divided into four segments, each prefaced with a"title"that states a theme as follows: I. The Importance of Prayer; II. How is God'sPresence Known?; III. The Vision of God; IV. The Vision of God in Christ. If theliturgy you are planning will be multimedia, you may wish to use an overheadprojector to flash these titles before the assembly at the appropriate moment.In addition, or instead, the leader may establish the theme of each segment bysaying the following:

Segment I: The next part of our vigil will help us focus our thoughts ontheimportance of prayer.

Segment II: The next part of our vigil will help us turn our thoughts totheways in which God's presence is known.

Segment III: In the next part of our vigil, we reflect on the vision ofGod.

Segment IV: In the final part of our vigil, we reflect on the vision ofGod inChrist.

Note that this vigil also may serve as the "First Hour" for the much longerVigil for Peace and Justice (see notes for A Vigil for Peace and Justice below).

A Vigil in thePresence of God

Opening Prayer

You are great, O God, and worthy of highest praise:you stir in us the joy of praising you,since you have made us for yourself,and our hearts are restlessuntil they find rest in you.

One thing have I asked of the Lord,one thing I seek:that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the daysof my lifeto behold the fair beauty of the Lordand to seek him in his temple.For God alone my soul in silence waits;from him comes my salvation.

—Psalms 27:5–6; 62:1

God of peace,let us rest in your presence,let us keep watch in your holy place,let our restless thoughts be stilled,let your peace sink deep into our souls,let your presence be sufficient for us,as we keep watch before you.

O Israel, wait for the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy;let that mercy be with those who keep watch this night;with those who seek for peace in human heartsin places of conflict and tension;with those who preach the gospelto those who have not heard it;with those who witness to your loveto those who have not seen it;with those who work for healing tonightin places of conflict,in hospitals and homes;with those who bring your presenceto those who need your love and healing power.

Be present, Lord Christ, with those who watch this...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Church Publishing
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2000
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0898693837
• ISBN 13: 9780898693836
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 152
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: preigu; mail@preigu.de; ; Lengericher Landstr. 19; Osnabrück; 49078; Deutschland