Mission spirituality

MISSION SPIRITUALITY

CANTICLES: SONGS OF THE CHURCH

PART 5: BENEDICITE By Ian Adams, mission spirituality adviser for Church Mission Society

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.

These 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.

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.

1 Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord: 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; bless the Lord you waters above the heavens: 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; bless the Lord scorching wind and bitter cold: 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:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 8 O let the earth bless the Lord: bless the Lord you mountains and hills; bless the Lord all that grows in the ground: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 9 Bless the Lord you springs: bless the Lord you seas and rivers; bless the Lord you whales and all that swim 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; bless the Lord you servants of the Lord: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 12 Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit: bless the Lord you that are holy and humble in heart; bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit: sing his praise and exalt him for ever.*

The Benedicite is a text for our times. It places us and our circumstances firmly within the context of cosmos and creation, asking us to give attention, through all we face, to creation’s relationship to the creator God and calling us to respond in word and action.

The canticle draws heavily on Psalm 148, and on The Song of the Three, an apocryphal text included in some versions of the book of Daniel, a text shaped by experience of great trial. The canticle’s focus is never on our plight, but on the goodness of God and on the enduring nature of God’s creation. It begins in the wide open spaces of the cosmic realm: Bless the Lord you heavens... It then focuses in on the earth and its creatures: O let the earth bless the Lord... And it concludes with the human being: O people of God bless the Lord... In taking this path the canticle reveals our place in creation and our relationship to it, calling us to echo creation’s praise of God and in all circumstances to add our own

*Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England © The Archbishops’ Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.

praise to that great symphony. The opening stanza acts as a template for the whole song, charting its content and direction. Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. So three closely linked actions are urged: Bless the Lord/ sing his praise/exalt him for ever. What might happen if we choose today, whatever we face, to bless the Lord, sing his praise and exalt him for ever? Many of the elements of cosmos and creation are addressed personally as “you”. Each is thus given honour and value. So creation is not impersonal, but intimate and full of holy life and wisdom – requiring our love and our care as people who are priests and servants of the Lord, of upright spirit, holy and humble. The final stanza gives bold Trinitarian shape to our praise: bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit: sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

PRACTICE Say (or sing) a line from the Benedicite each day for a week – perhaps in the open air if you can get out to exercise. See what this does to you, allow it to shape a moment – then perhaps a day, even a lifetime – of praise and love for the Creator God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

MON – HONDURAS

The coronavirus lockdown made Steve Poulson’s work of mentoring at-risk boys extremely challenging; pray for Steve and other mentors to find ways to continue to encourage and guide those they mentor through this time.

TUES – CHILE

Alf and Hilary Cooper are in Santiago, where Alf is auxiliary bishop and rector of Trinity Parish Church. Pray for them as they continue church online and seek to be as effective as they can through virtual Bible study, Sunday services, prayer and helping those in need.

WEDS – ARGENTINA

Nick Drayson, diocesan bishop, and Catherine Le Tissier, who coordinates the work of the Argentine branch of Mothers’ Union (AMARE), ask for prayer as AMARE focuses on families this year. Pray for families to understand and live out how God intended family units to love and support each other.

THURS – PARAGUAY

Engaged with indigenous communities in Paraguay through pastoral visiting, forming small groups and discipling people, local partner Victor Gonzalez writes that many people have experienced the power of prayer over the past few months. Pray for people to press in to the power of prayer even more.

FRI – PERU

2 3 Paul and Sarah Tester, serving in mission development and children’s ministry respectively, seek to “consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10). Pray for Paul as he supports CMS’s people in mission across Latin America, and for Sarah as she supports local friends.