Brendan of Clonfert (c. AD 484 – c. 577) is one of the early Irish monastic saints and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He is also referred to as Brendan the Navigator, Brendan the Voyager, Brendan the Anchorite, and Brendan the Bold. The Irish translation of his name is Naomh Bréanainn or Naomh Breandán. He is mainly known for his legendary voyage to find the “Isle of the Blessed” which is sometimes referred to as “Saint Brendan’s Island”. The written narrative of his journey comes from the Immram Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis (Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot).
Welcome
Hymn 321 Tune Nicaea
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee
Holy. holy, holy, Merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity
Holy, holy, holy, all the saints adore thee
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee
God everlasting through eternity
Holy, holy, holy, though the darkness hide thee
Though the sinful human eye thy glory may not see
Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee
Perfect in power, in love and purity
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity
We say sorry for the things we have done wrong
O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who trust in him. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
The Lord ransoms the lives of his servants and none who trust in him will be destroyed. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Come my children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
We are forgiven
May the God of love and power forgive us, lift our burdens from us, heal and strengthen us by his spirit and raise us to new life in Jesus Christ, our risen and ascended Lord, Amen.
Collect
God of sea and land, you endowed your servant Brendan with a bold and adventurous spirit to occupy himself for your business on the great waters and revealed to him your wonders in the deep: Make us, who recall with thanksgiving his life and ministry, zealous to be pioneers and pilgrims for the faith of Christ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A reading from the Prophet Micah
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it,
and many nations shall come and say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines
and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God (Micah 4: 1-5)
Hymn 509 Tune St Cecilia
Your kingdom come, O God,
your rule, O Christ, begin;
break with your iron rod
the tyrannies of sin.
Where is your reign of peace
and purity and love?
When shall all hatred cease,
as in the realms above?
When comes the promised time
The end of strife and war,
when lust, oppression, crime
and greed sham be no more?
O Lord our God, arise
and come in your great might;
revive our longing eyes,
which languish for your sight.
On lands both near and far
thick darkness gathers yet:
arise, O Morning Star,
arise, and never set!
A reading from the Gospel according to St John.
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.’
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God John 12: 20-26
What do we believe? (we say together)
We believe in God the Father, the source of all life, by whom every family in heaven and earth has been created.
We believe in God the Son, our friend and brother Jesus, who lives in our hearts through faith and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with his power, and makes Jesus known in the world.
We believe and trust in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
A Litany drawn from Psalm 28 Ad Te Domine
O Lord, we call to you; our rock, hear our cries.
I need your comfort and your saving presence.
For if you do not hear us, we will be like those gone down to the pit.
Teach me that I am not alone.
Hear the voice of our prayers as we cry out to you for help.
You hear the cry of your children.
We lift up our hands to your holy sanctuary.
Your love will never let me go.
Blessed is the Lord, who has listened to our pleadings.
Your strength gives power to my voice.
The Lord is our strength and our shield.
You are my saving refuge.
The Lord is the strength of his people.
Lord, grant me peace.
Hymn 386 Tune Skye Boat Song
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove:
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour’s love!
You spoke to us – long, long ago –
gave us the written word;
we read it still, needing its truth,
through it God’s voice is heard.
Refrain
Without your help we fail our Lord,
we cannot live his way;
we need your power, we need your strength,
following Christ each day.
Refrain
We say our prayers
For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the peace of the world and for the unity of all Christian people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For Michael our Archbishop, and all other clergy and lay ministers, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For our President, Michael D. Higgins, and for all the leaders of the nations, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For this city, for the communities of which we are a part, and for all who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those who travel, on land, on water, or in the air, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all those who have asked us to remember them in prayer, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the poor and the oppressed, for people living in the shadow of war, or whose lives are still affected by coronavirus, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those who have died in hope of resurrection, and all who have died recently, suddenly or violently, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the communion of saints, with Patrick, Brigid, Columba, and Brendan, we commend ourselves, and one another, and our whole life, to you, Lord God.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
The prayer that Jesus taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn 298 Tune Woodlands 712
Filled with the Spirit’s power with one accord
The infant church confessed its risen Lord
O Holy Spirit, in the church today
No less your power of fellowship display
Now with the mind of Christ set us on fire
That unity may be our great desire
Give joy and peace, give faith to hear your call
And readiness in each to work for all
Widen our love good Spirit to embrace
With your compassion all the human race
Like wind and fire with life among us move
Till we are known as Christ’s, and Christians prove
We pray together
Lord Jesus, King of Saints,
you blessed Brendan, who found refuge in you
on land and at sea.
May we, who thank you for your goodness,
come with all your saints to the royal banquet
of your kingdom in heaven;
where with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you reign, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
God, who in days of old gave to this land the benediction of his holy Church, fill you with his grace to walk faithfully in the steps of the saints and to bring forth fruit to his glory: and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you always. Amen.
