Opening Song Lord of all Hopefulness (Slane)
All sing; Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust ever childlike no care could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord,
At the break of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
Welcome Irish Cancer Society
Opening Prayer Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
Let us pray,
Gracious God, we give thanks for the work of the Irish Cancer Society which touches so many people throughout this island.
We ask continued blessing on their endeavours and on those affected by cancer today.
Take away our fear and strengthen weary hearts.
May we work together to bring Christ’s healing, comfort and compassion to those who need it.
We ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Song Be Not Afraid (Bob Dufford)
All sing:Be not afraid,
I go before you all ways.
Come follow me
and I will give you rest.
Reading Romans 8:35-39
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will hardship or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who love us. For I am convinced that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor
things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love
of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
Reflection Fear of the Unknown (Anon) – Mary Kennedy
Song The Lord’s My Shepherd (Crimond)
All sing: The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
He makes me down to lie.
In pastures green, he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
Goodness and kindness all my life
Shall surely follow me:
And In God’s own house for evermore
My dwelling place shall be.
Reading My First Christmas In Heaven by Ben
(This poem was written by a 13 year old boy who died of a brain tumor that he had battled for four years. He died on December 4, 1997. He gave this to his mom before he died. His name was Ben.)
I see the countless Christmas trees
around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars,
reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs
that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music cant compare
with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you
the joy their voices bring
For it is beyond description
to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me
I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away
We really arent apart.
So be happy for me dear ones
You know I hold you dear
And be glad Im spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year
I sent you each a special gift
from my heavenly home above
I sent you each a memory
of my undying love.
After all love is a gift more precious
than pure gold
It was always most important
in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other
as my Father said to do
For I cant count the blessing or love
he has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and
wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.
Song Voice of an Angel (Liam Lawton)
Gospel Acclamation Seinn Alleluia (Traditional)
All sing: Seinn Aililiúia, Seinn Aililiúia,
Seinn Aililiú, Seinn Aililiú, Seinn Aililiúia
Gospel Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.
Address Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
Remembrance
(During this time of remembrance you are invited to pray with the crosses which will be passed around and to place the names of those you wish to be remembered in the baskets)
Song You Raise Me Up (Brendan Graham)
Song On Eagles Wings (Michael Joncas)
All sing:And He will raise you up on eagles wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of His Hand.
Reflections on the Life Giving Experience of Having Cancer (Jeannette Sullivan)
It came to me in my darkest moments,
an expensive gift that only cost time.
Anger and hatred are far more malignant than cancer.
Walk with it and learn much that is beautiful.
Go gently and embrace it as a friend for it renews the soul.
Do not ask why me. Ask why not me.
My Guide is the strength and courage of those who have helped me learn to love all the more because of it.
I am privileged to be chosen to discover another dimension of God through this trial.
It has brought the madness to an abrupt halt.
I was slowly dying and it has given me life again.
I need this struggle so I can understand it in others.
The rocky road has helped me to tread carefully.
It’s a Guiding Hand that gently points me in the direction of Life.
Let it make the Spirit triumph.
What my body has lost my Spirit gains and that is what matters in the eternity of things.
Song Servant Song (Richard Gillard)
All sing:
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey we are family on the road
We are here to help each other, walk the mile and share the load.
I will hold the Christ light for you in the night time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the words you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh I laugh with you,
I will share your joy and sorrow ‘til we see this journey through.
Reflection Never Give Up – Lance Armstrong Story
Prayer of the Faithful
All say:Lord, hear us
(All those with intercessions will leave their candle on the mosaic cross)
The Lord’s Prayer Our Father (Ronan McDonagh)
Blessing Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
Recessional Song Alleluia, Praise the Lord (Fintan O’Carroll)
All sing:Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Prayer of the Faithful
United in prayer and conscious of the power of sustained intercession we bring our needs before God, our Creator.
We pray for those who are affected by cancer today that they may be reconciled with their condition and blessed with a spirit of resilience to face the future with confidence.
LORD HEAR US
We pray for all the volunteers who generously share the precious gift of time with others that they may be rewarded for their kindness.
LORD HEAR US
We pray for those engaged in medical research at this time that the Spirit of wisdom may be with them as they seek new ways to treat and eradicate illness.
LORD HEAR US
We pray for families and friends of those who suffer as a result of cancer that they may be sustained in their compassionate journeying with those they love
LORD HEAR US
We pray for the staff of the Irish Cancer Society and those in the caring professions that aspire to deliver first class treatment to all they encounter in the course of their work.
LORD HEAR US
We pray for those who have died that the gentle light of Christ may shine on them for ever.
LORD HEAR US
Compassionate God, graciously hear the prayers of your people who stand before you today. In your wisdom answer our requests and let your will be done in our lives.