Thursday, 13 September: Closing Ritual

Thursday, 13 September

Closing Ritual

Opening Hymn ‘Sing a New Church’

Summoned by the God who made us
Rich in our diversity
Gathered in the name of Jesus,
Richer still in unity; (R)

Radiant, risen from the water,
Robed in holiness and light,
Male and female in God’s image
Male and female, God’s delight; (R)

Trust the goodness of creation;
Trust the Spirit strong within.
Dare to dream the vision promised
Sprung from seed of what has been. (R)

Bring the hopes of every nation;
Bring the art of ev’ry race.
Weave a song of peace and justice;
Let it sound through time and space. (R)

Refrain:
Let us bring the gifts that differ
And, in splendid, varied ways,
Sing a new church into being
one in faith and love and praise.

Opening Prayer

Summoned by the God who has made us rich in diversity, and richer still in unity, we pray:

Fill us with your care, O God for those who are least and lowest in this world.
Help us to respond to all who come to us
with the warmth of love, and with all the gentleness that comes from holy fear of you.
We ask this through Jesus the Christ,
who lives in love with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Reading: Romans 12:9–18

The response to the reading was a slide show with music reviewing the symposium interspersed with the refrain from the opening hymn, our cue to sing was the appearance on the screen of the CIB logo.

Watch the slide show (video on Flickr, no sound)

Call and Mutual Blessing

When each region was called, the delegate and participants came forward to receive the cloth of another region and a gift from the CIB—a flash drive of all the presentations in pdf format, gift from Jim and Patrice, and a medallion made by an elderly sister in Sr Lynn McKenzie’s community.

Sr Judith Ann:–
Daughters of Benedict and Scholastica, we commission you to pray for the sisters of _______ and send you forth in grace, mercy and peace.

After each delegate of the group had received a cloth, we sang the response ‘Deo gratias, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia’

Region 1 pray for the sisters of Region 6
Region 2 pray for the sisters of Region 17
Region 3 pray for the sisters of Region 13
Region 4 pray for the sisters of Region 14
Region 5 pray for the sisters of Region 4
Region 6 pray for the sisters of Region 9
Region 7 pray for the sisters of Region 11
Region 9 pray for the sisters of Region 7
Region 11 pray for the sisters of Region 3
Region 13 pray for the sisters of Region 5
Region 14 pray for the sisters of Region 19
Region 15 pray for the sisters of Region 16
Region 16 pray for the sisters of Region 1
Region 17 pray for the sisters of Region 15
Region 18: M Theodora was the only person present from the region, Sr Jane Ann told her that ‘we’re just going to comission you to pray for all of us’
Region 19 pray for the sisters of Region 2
Mary Robinson, Jim and Patrice: ‘we’re just going to commission you to pray for all of us, and we will be saying special prayers of gratitude for your help with us’

Closing Prayer

As we take leave of this place and return to our communities, we pray:–

Open our eyes, O God,
that we may see the deepest needs of people;
move our hands that they may feed the hungry;
touch our hearts that we may bring warmth to the despairing;
let us cloth the naked, strengthen the sick
and share in the quest to set the prisoner free.
For in welcoming the stranger, the guest, and the poor,
we partake of your divine presence,
Most Blessed Trinity, One in Unity,
now and forever. Amen.

Final Hymn ‘Sing a New World’

Draw together at one table
All the human family;
shape a circle ever wider
and a people ever free.

Refrain
Let us bring the gifts that differ
And, in splendid, varied ways,
Sing a new church into being
one in faith and love and praise.

listen to the final hymn:–

Final Hymn