Overwhelmed...

there is so much I could say about the Ordination service, the Retreat that preceded it and about my First Eucharist this morning...I might try to put some of it into words in the next few days, but for now I wanted to share a prayer I found on Friday, when I was keeping my own vigil. The words were perfect for where I was, and the authorship was an added bonus. Long years ago, I wrote a dissertation on the sermons of Lancelot Andrewes for Part 1 of my English degree...Since he was one of the translators of the Authorised Version, this involved a fair bit of Bible reading. I suspect a seed was sown.

Anyway...this is the prayer...

Lord Jesus, I give you my hands to do your work.
I give you my feet to go your way.
I give you my eyes, to see as you see.
I give you my tongue to speak your words.
I give you my mind that you may think in me.
I give you my spirit, that you may pray in me.
Above all, I give you my heart, that you may love in me your Father and all humankind.
I give you my whole self, that you may grow in me, so that it is you, Lord Jesus, who live and work and pray in me.
I hand over to your care, Lord, my soul and body, my prayers and my hopes, my health and my work, my life and my death, my parents and my family, my friends, my neighbours, my country and all people, Today and always.


Thank you to all who have been praying for me over the past few days and weeks. I was carried on a tide of prayer through the most amazing process...You'll perhaps be less surprised than I was to hear that the combination of prayers and Sacraments seem to have worked. Things are different. And tonight I'm simply lost in wonder, love and praise.