Celtic Retreat Liturgy – Morning Gathering

Many of you have told me how much you would like to be at our Celtic retreat if you were closer so over the next couple of days I will post the various liturgies from the day. This is the first.

The second morning litany is posted here. 

The litany from the afternoon gathering.

Morning Gathering

Welcome and introductions

Welcome song – Holy Holy Holy

Welcoming litany

Creator God, loving God, 

source of all life, 

Compassionate, caring and generous One. 

We gather in this place of your amazing generosity,

Surrounded by your rich abundance and lavish hospitality,

Hospitable and welcoming God,

We give you thanks, 

for all you are and all you give to us, 

through this visit in your creation.

We are blessed by your wild hospitality all around. 

Berry-laden vines surround us,

Wild salad greens flourish underfoot.

Rich soil teeming with microscopic life,

Majestic trees nourished by its goodness,

Lush ferns growing in their shade.

Let us taste the goodness of our Creator,

And drink in the wonder of Christ’s sacrifice.

Let us eat of the fruits of the Spirit,

And partake of God’s overflowing generosity,

Let us join in the banquet feast of God.

In Jesus, you place the gospel at the center. 

Together with Brigid, Columba, Patrick and Hilda,

you draw all of life into the sacred circle of your redeeming love, 

through which all creation is related.  

Jesus, you welcome all creation to your banquet feast.

Let us remember we sit at table with the oppressed and the marginalized,

And learn to share your generous and compassionate ways. 

Nourished by faith, hope and love,

Let us welcome all who hunger and thirst,

Let us taste of the fruit of your spirit together.

Instructions for preparing the Altar

Let us gather items that speak of God’s generosity and wild hospitality. 

Let us prepare the altar together together. 

At this point we go out to collect material from the land to decorate the altar.

Celtic retreat – the altar

Sending prayer

God who created from nothing all that we see around us, 

And wove together all plants and animals in intricately connected ecosystems, 

Restore us, refresh us, renew us, create a generous spirit within us.

As we gather from your bounty to build your altar,

May we build together in a spirit of caring, unity, and hospitality. 

Let us taste the goodness of our Creator,

And drink in the wonder of Christ’s sacrifice.

Let us eat of the fruits of the Spirit,

And partake of God’s overflowing generosity,

Let us join in the banquet feast of God.

Song – Go in the wilderness

Go out to collect items for decorating the altar

Children gather afterwards with Ann & Cory for the children’s program.

Song – Brigid’s Feast  (composed by our worship leaders Matt and Sundee Frazier.)

God bless the poor. God bless the sick.

And bless our human race.

God bless our food.  God bless our drink.

All homes, oh God, embrace.