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The Blessing of Light (also known as the Service of Light or, in Latin Lucernarium) is an ancient service, going back to the origins of Christian worship. In it Christians give thanks for the light, and celebrate Christ our light. It is traditionally used as an introduction for Evening Prayer, but may be used as a service on its own. It may be celebrated either in church or at home.
A printed order of service, based on the Common Worship version (with the Common Worship version of the Phos hilaron replaced with the better known version by John Keble, usually sung to music by John Stainer) can be downloaded from here: Blessing of Light PDF . This PDF format file prints onto A4 in two columns, so that a double-sided A5 card can be produced.
For further information and texts see Celebrating Common Prayer, published London : Mowbray, 1992.) and Common Worship Daily Prayer : Preliminary Edition (London : Church House Publishing, 2002.) Some light prayers are included in Celebrating Common Prayer, in The Promise of his Glory (London : Mowbray / Church House Publishing, 1991), in Enriching the Christian Year (London : SPCK / Runcorn, Cheshire : Alcuin Club, 1993), and in Common Worship Daily Prayer : Preliminary Edition.
Worthy of praise from every mouth,
of confession from every tongue,
of worship from every creature,
is your glorious name, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
who created the world in your grace
and saved the world by your compassion.
To your majesty, O God,
ten thousand times ten thousand bow down and adore,
singing and praising without ceasing and saying,
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts;
heaven and earth are full of your praises;
hosanna in the highest. Amen.Nestorian liturgy
Blessèd are you, Lord of heaven and earth,
who has shown yourself to us in word and deed.
Your only Son came to save us from sin and error,
and proclaimed the holy gospel.
He graced the world with his presence
and ascended to show us the path to your unending glory.
You have given us of your very own self, your Holy Spirit:
Spirit of power, to inspire us,
Spirit of truth, to teach us,
Spirit of comfort, to sustain us.
Lord of wisdom and might, who gives light to all the world,
all creation is drawn to your wondrous presence.
Lord our light, our guide and our empowerer,
we join with all the angels and saints to praise you:
Blessèd are you, mighty and immortal Lord,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Blessèd be God for ever!Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, Lord, God of truth,
whose Word enlightens those who live in darkness.
Through your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
you have brought us freedom.
He walked with us on earth,
proclaimed your Word, and brought you honour.
By your power you raised him from death to reign with you in glory,
and have appointed him as judge of all.
You call us to follow his way, and obey his teaching.
Sovereign Lord, creator of all that exists,
redeemer of the world, Father of us all,
blessèd are you, our Lord and our God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Blessèd be God for ever!Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, O Lord our God,
to you belong all praise, glory and honour.
You dwell in unapproachable light,
and all creatures are struck with awe at your presence.
Yet you invite your children to stand on holy ground,
and lift up those who are bowed down.
You carry our burdens, protect us from evil,
and give rest to troubled souls.
You guide us with the light of Christ,
lead us in his way of justice and peace,
and prepare us for the glory of your eternal kingdom.
Blessèd are you, almighty and all-merciful God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessèd be God for ever.Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, almighty God, our light and our salvation,
to you be all glory and praise for ever!
Lord and lover of humankind,
you sent your Son to earth out of compassion and love,
to shine with your eternal light.
We proclaim him Saviour and Lord,
and praise your goodness and mercy.
We join with all creation in praising you, Lord of heaven and earth,
of all that exists, and is yet to be created.
All honour and praise be to you,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessèd be God for ever!Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, merciful and mighty God,
reigning on high before all ages;
and blessèd be your eternally co-existent Son,
who descended to be born on earth,
and to dwell with us in the fullness of human nature,
showing us the light of your holy presence,
and sharing with us the good news of salvation.
He suffered for us all in his saving love,
and made for us a path to your eternal glory,
anointing us with the promised Holy Spirit.
He shares your seat of majesty for ever.
We join with the saints and angels
and all that you have created in earth and heaven
in praising you, Living Lord and eternal Word,
gracious creator and compassionate redeemer.
All glory, majesty, and honour be yours,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessèd be God for ever.Colin Lunt Top
We bless you Sovereign God, and acclaim your majesty,
whose eternal Word has been revealed to us.
In Jesus Christ you have shown your boundless love for humankind,
and have shone in glory among us.
Angels proclaimed the coming of the saviour;
shepherds knelt down in adoration;
wise men offered gifts in humility;
and we also bow down to worship and adore him,
our Lord and Christ,
and offer you our praise:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessèd be God for ever!Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, Lord, God of all creation:
you make us hunger and thirst for holiness.
Blessèd are you, Lord, God of all creation:
you call us to true fasting:
to set free the oppressed,
to share our bread with the hungry,
to shelter the homeless and to clothe the naked.
Lead us through this time of discipline and reflection
to follow your way more closely,
to know your love more deeply,
and to help others to know the greatness of your mercy.
Protector of the humble, strength of the weak,
Blessèd are you, source of life and love:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessèd be God for ever!Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, Lord of heaven and earth,
who moved over the waters at the point of creation,
and breathed life into the people you made in your image.
Blessèd are you, O Holy Spirit of God:
inspiration of prophets,
giver of visions to young and old,
comforter of those who suffer.
We join with all the hosts of heaven in praising you.
Glorious presence of God among us,
wisdom descended from on high,
giver of gifts to your lowly servants,
blessèd are you, our helper and healer, our Lord and God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Blessèd be God for ever!Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, holy God, Trinity in Unity,
from whom all things come,
and in whom all shall be brought together
at the end of time.
Blessèd are you, the beginning and the end.
All creation worships you, the one true God.
The hosts of heaven fall down before your majesty,
and adore you in the brightness of your glory.
In community of love you rule on high,
you shed the light of love throughout the world,
and draw all people towards your own unity.
Perfect in power, fulfilled in love,
blessèd are you, O holy and undivided God,
three in one and one in three:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Blessèd be God forever!Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, Lord our God, light of the world,
whose glory has shone out in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Moses met you in the cloud, and his face shone, but that brightness faded;
Jesus Christ has shone on earth to guide us to salvation, and his light continues to shine.
He has revealed the brightness of your glory.
Heaven and earth are illumined by his light,
and all creation will come to bow before him.
O Lord our light, you disperse the shadows and illuminate the darkest places,
Blessèd are you, our light and our salvation,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Blessèd be God forever!Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, Lord our God, Creator of the world.
You have made light and dark, sea and sky,
heaven and earth, and all that exists.
You have blessed the world with life:
seedtime and new growth, ripeness and harvest.
You have made us in your own image,
and appointed us as stewards of your creation.
Our hearts respond with awe,
our voices offer praise to you, O Lord Most High.
The earth is full of your glory,
and we have received the richness of your blessing,
the promise of salvation.
Reigning in unapproachable light,
you stoop to restore us to yourself.
Giver of all good gifts, and lover of humankind,
we join with myriad voices in earth and heaven
to worship you, God of life and love:
blessèd are you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessèd be God for ever!Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, Lord and creator of all the earth,
who has made the peoples of the world to live in the light of your presence.
Blessèd are you, King and ruler of all,
whose power endures for ever.
The countless hosts of heaven bow in awe before you;
the faithful who have gone before us worship your majesty.
Your holy people here below offer you praise and thanks.
You are worshipped and adored in heaven and earth.
Great and holy, righteous and merciful,
blessèd are you, Lord our God, King of the ages,
enthroned on high in unending glory. Amen.Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, Lord and creator of the earth,
who has made the peoples of the world
to live in the light of your presence.
Blessèd are you, King and ruler of all,
whose power endures for ever.
The countless hosts of heaven bow in awe before you;
the faithful who have gone before us worship your majesty.
Your holy people here below offer you praise and thanks.
You are worshipped and adored in heaven and earth.
Great and holy, righteous and merciful,
blessèd are you, Lord our God, King of the ages,
enthroned on high in unending glory. Amen.Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, Christ our King,
enthroned in highest heaven.
Blessèd are you to whom the Father has given a kingdom
which shall never be destroyed.
All nations will come and bow down before you.
All people on earth will see the glory of your majesty.
The heavens proclaim your eternal reign;
your servants here below join in your praise,
with all the hosts of heaven.
Light of all who are on the side of truth,
hope of all believers,
ruler of your faithful people,
Blessèd are you, O Christ, our Lord and our King. Amen.Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, O Lord Most High,
you stoop down to the lowly and listen to our prayer.
You have created all things,
and breathed your life into humanity.
You have spoken through your Word,
and enlightened our hearts.
You have given us in your only-begotten Son a pioneer and guide,
a light to our path and the source of our salvation;
your Word is everlasting.
O Lord our Creator,
our Father and our friend, our ruler and redeemer,
you listen and give us words to speak.
Blessèd are you, O Lord our God,
you make our darkness bright:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Blessèd be God for ever!Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, O Father of us all,
to you be glory now and for all ages.
The glory of Christ has shone among us,
to light the way to your heavenly kingdom.
Christ, our great high priest, has ascended to your side,
and is crowned with glory and honour.
May Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,
guide us on our earthly pilgrimage.
As there is no lasting city for us here,
may we continue to seek the city which is to come.
May your Spirit sustain us in our exile here,
and lift our hearts to glorify you for ever,
O God, who calls us and sanctifies us,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Blessèd be God for ever!Colin Lunt Top
Blessèd are you, O Lord our God, ruler of all,
blessing and praise be yours for ever.
Your Son, our Saviour, endured the cross, disregarding the shame,
and now sits at the right of your throne.
He leads us in our faith, to bring us to your glory.
As a father you train us,
so that we may bear the fruit of peace and uprightness.
You treat us as your children, and guide us,
that we may share your holiness,
and be raised up to your presence.
We join with the great crown of witnesses to praise you.
Father of mercy, author of life,
Lord of light, source of all goodness,
you strengthen us in perseverance and hope:
Blessèd are you: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessèd be God for ever!Colin Lunt (after Hebrews 12:1-17) Top
Texts (c) 2000 Colin Lunt