Festival

God of festival

God of joy

We bring you our tears

We bring you our fears

We thank you for the gift of music

For the skills of musicians and for voices raised together in song

But we also remember all those who through infirmity or competing demands are unable to join with us in this festival may they be aware of your heavenly choir today.

Lord in your mercy...

God of festival

God of joy

We bring you our tears

We bring you our fears

We bring you our praise, remembering those who have left us a heritage of music and celebrating those new gifts and new voices which enable us to renew that praise today.

Forgive us when our music becomes a source of conflict and disagreement rather than unifying us in your love and praise

Lord in your mercy...

God of festival

God of joy

We bring you our tears

We bring you our fears

We pray for our world in all its struggles and discontents and today we think especially of those who sing songs of protest, giving voice to the suffering of their people. Give them the courage and the skill they need.

And we pray for Christians who are suffering, may their hymns and songs bring them comfort and hope when all around is uncertain and unsure.

Lord in your mercy...

God of festival

God of joy

We bring you our tears

We bring you our fears

And now we call to mind, in a moment of silence, all those we know who are in need or struggling, praying that God may place in their hearts a song of hope which will give them the strength they need

Lord in your mercy...

God of festival

God of joy

We bring you our tears

We bring you our fears

And we bring you the best of ourselves

our joy

our hope

our love

Praying that we may know your gentle hand which wipes away all tears and so celebrate with you in that great final banquet when death is finally defeated and fear is overcome