Sunday, July 03, 2005

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.

8 comments:

Stuart said...

I bought you a card (honest)the idea was to give it to Liz to give to caroline to give to you. Only I forget oh well there's always the post. Well done any way and may God Bless you in your ministry.

Stuart.

Gordon said...

I prayed for you while hemmed in trying get out on the march - seemed a good way to use the time!! Glad all went well

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear you had such a good weekend, Kathryn.

pax et bonum

Unknown said...

Kathryn, blessings to you in the wake of your life-changing day. My memory of ordination is mostly about the weight of the hands laid on by my colleagues. It was heavy, but I found I could bear it.

Anonymous said...

Blessings on this new chapter of your life and ministry. The Lancelot Andrews Prayer was wonderful. Thamks for sharing it.

Rick Lord+

Caroline said...

I'm fairly sure that I heard god muttering that it was absolutely her pleasure to welcome you to the magic circle...congratulations, it was an awesome weekend to share with you

bls said...

Congratulations!

jonny said...

congrats - blessings for the journey...