Graced with God's Presence

Every year, those training for ministry at the different denominational colleges in Oxford gather for shared worship, so this responsive prayer of praise was written for that setting.

When the warmth of spring permeates our skin,
When our path is blossom-scattered;
When the air is filled with avian trills
And happy musical chatter;
When the sun lights up these limestone walls
And the vibrant green of neat-clipped lawns,
And we praise You who has made it all:
You grace us with your presence.

As the Word made flesh, our form you took,
And graced us with your presence;
When love speaks through the words of your Book:
You grace us with your presence;
And when with word and flesh combined,
We celebrate in holy sign,
Through eating bread and drinking wine:
You grace us with your presence.

In sister- and in brother-hood,
In laughter and in prayer,
In grace-filled living and forgiving,
In off'ring costly care;
As we encounter the stranger too,
The poor, and those held in negative view;
When we find in all people the likeness of you:
You grace us with your presence.

And now together in this place
From different customs gathered,
With common call to share your grace -
Thus shortly to be scattered;
We lift our voice in worship, for
By your Spirit now outpoured –
In this moment and forever more
You grace us with your presence!