A Service for Daybreak

Tonight we journey through the night at an All-night Bowling event. This act of worship is to end it at dawn. Orate Pro Nobis.

Copies of the videos can be downloaded from http://www.fathersimon.org.uk/daybreak/ . I can also stick this stuff on a DVD. Borrow. Reuse. Adapt. Make your own.

A Service for Daybreak

1. Call To Worship

Music: Main Theme from Crash
Image: Sunrise Video
Text:

Relax your body…
Open your mind..
Engage your spirit…
This is the house of God
Prepare to worship.

Life is an indescribable gift
Our worship is a celebration of that gift
And of the giver
In our worship we have rediscovered God’s marvellous affirmation of life.

This is different from faith
That many of us experienced in the past
Religion that was life–denying
Worship that was monochrome and one-dimensional
Where our sense and culture were left at the door.

Tonight we invite you to bring all that you are into worship
Your struggles and failures,
Your joys and fears,
Your faith and your doubts.
Your culture,
Your sensuality,
Your whole self.

Bring your self and be at home now
God is here
And all are welcome.

2. Responsory

Music: Time Passes from the Belly of an Architect Soundtrack
Images: Responsory Video
Text:

The God of creation made the first day
The sun rises and the sun sets
Noah sat on the deck of his ark and watched a miracle
The sun rises and the sun sets
Joseph counted the days in his prison cell.
The sun rises and the sun sets
David was inspired by the beauty of the sky
The sun rises and the sun sets
Mary prayed at sunset until morning when she could go to Jesus’ tomb
The sun rises and the sun sets
We watch the day pass one by one
The sun rises and the sun sets
We enter into the night
The sun rises and the sun sets
God will keep us safe
The sun rises and the sun sets
God will give us rest
The sun rises and the sun sets
God will give us peace of mind
Amen.


3. Confession of Faith

Music: Spark Instrumental by Nitin Sawney
Image: God Waits Video
Text:

God waits.

God waits for us,
Not like a lion ready to pounce
If we let our guard down,
Not like an interfering in-law
But like an old friend who’s seen it all before
And likes us anyway,
With whom we can spend time
Without having to pretend or explain.

Read aloud by all (text in yellow):

We believe in God
Three in one,
Father, Son, Spirit
Paradox
Mystery
Elemental

We believe in a God of justice,
Compassion, mercy, hope
And first, a God of love
Love personified,
Incarnated

We believe in God,
The Mother of creation
God, the father of humanity
God, the lover of us all

We believe we are called:
To activity out of passivity and apathy,
By the Son of God,
Through his actions
Calling down through history,
Bourne on the wings of the spirit

We believe we are called:
To community, with each other
Through Christ the thread
Weaving us all together


We believe that God has no favourites
Pulls no punches
Leaves no stone unturned

We believe that life is hard
We believe that life is beautiful
So. We believe, does God.


4. Ritual: Bittersweet

Setup: There are two bowls: one containing runny honey and breadsticks, one containing bitter herbs and lemon in salt water with breadsticks (sorry, no gluten-free alternative available!).
Music: Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve
Images: Dripping Honey, Words of Prayers (below) on screen for reflection
Text:

Introduction:

You are invited to reflect on your own journey of faith. You may be full of thanks for all the good things that have happened, for the fun of the evening, for the blessings you have received in your life. You may be struggling with hardships, challenges, difficulty and pain.

Many of us may be experiencing both in our lives: the sweetness of God and the bitterness of our struggle before him. As we take a time of reflection at the end of this long night, you are invited to taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps 34:8) and to share in the bitterness of tears: these herbs and salt water are used by the Jews in the Passover meal.

Our lives are a bittersweet mixture: and a life fully lived needs to taste both the sweet and the bitter. Taste. Reflect. Give thanks. Share.

[music plays]

On Screen:

Sweet:
Thanks for the gift of life
For the good things you give to us
We remember the joys and happiness
You never leave us
We shall journey in your presence as long as we live

Bitter:
We acknowledge the reality of pain and suffering in life
Often we cannot understand it and wonder where you are
We remember bitter and unhappy times
You never leave us
We shall journey in your presence as long as we live

Conclude:

There are people available to listen, not just now, but throughout your journey, as you venture out and taste the bittersweet experience of life. We all crave the good and the tasty, but without the savoury, the sour and the bitter, it all becomes a bit bland, a bit ordinary.

Share your bittersweet journey: with God, with your leaders, with others.

5. Blessing

Music: Atmosphere (SPR Edit) by Joy Division
Images: atmospheric blessing video
Text:

We have travelled long into this night, and we now look towards the dawn.
Are you ready for what the new day brings?
We welcome it. Bring it on.

We have shared fun and fellowship. Mixed with others. Shared our story.
Are you ready for the next great adventure?
We welcome it. Bring it on.

We have walked with our fellow travellers, with God, with hope.
Are you ready to do what he calls you to.
We welcome it. Bring it on.

We have paused and thought of joy, of sadness, of pain, of success.
Are you ready to go out and make God’s Kingdom on earth.
We welcome it. Bring it on.

May God give you peace, rest, refreshment and joy.
May he wipe away the bitter tears,
enable you to taste the honey of his goodness
May the peace of the Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit
send you from this place with shouts of joy

…and the blessing of God +Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Be upon you and remain with you, this morning, this day and always
Amen


END