MISSION SPIRITUALITY
PART 5: BENEDICITE
By Ian Adams, mission spirituality adviser for Church Mission Society
CANTICLES: SONGS OF THE CHURCH The mission of the church has been shaped over two millennia. One wonderful repository of this experience lies in the collection of texts we know as canticles, which emerged from some of the earliest songs of the Church.
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hese songs have been sung in times of plenty and in times of need, in times of joy and of persecution, of hope and fear. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by experience, they continue to offer gifts to us now as we seek to live and share the Jesus Way in the time of Covid-19.
d: Bless the Lord all you works of the Lor sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 2 Bless the Lord you heavens: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 3 Bless the Lord you angels of the Lord: bless the Lord all you his hosts; heavens: bless the Lord you waters above the sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 4 Bless the Lord sun and moon: bless the Lord you stars of heaven; bless the Lord all rain and dew: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 5 Bless the Lord all winds that blow: bless the Lord you fire and heat; er cold: bless the Lord scorching wind and bitt sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 6 Bless the Lord dews and falling snows: bless the Lord you nights and days; bless the Lord light and darkness: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 7 Bless the Lord frost and cold: bless the Lord you ice and snow; bless the Lord lightnings and clouds:
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What might happen if we begin to speak or sing these canticles under lockdown? How might we be changed if we allow them to shape our response to pandemic and its chaos? This series in The Call continues by exploring the canticle Benedicite. The photo was taken in winter on the coast of South Devon.
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 8 O let the earth bless the Lord: ; bless the Lord you mountains and hills und: bless the Lord all that grows in the gro sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 9 Bless the Lord you springs: bless the Lord you seas and rivers; t swim bless the Lord you whales and all tha in the waters: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 10 Bless the Lord all birds of the air: bless the Lord you beasts and cattle; bless the Lord all people on earth: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 11 O people of God bless the Lord: bless the Lord you priests of the Lord; d: bless the Lord you servants of the Lor sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 12 Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit: humble bless the Lord you that are holy and in heart; y Spirit: bless the Father, the Son and the Hol sing his praise and exalt him for ever.*
THE C A LL – S UM M E R 2 0 2 0
