Midday Prayer
The Church lives in time and with time, and this truth is borne out by the observance of prayer even in the midst of a busy day.
Prayer at midday provides a way to consecrate the day at its centre and to realise the presence of God in the heart of life.
The admonition of Jesus that we pray and not be weary is fulfilled in this way, and we identify with him on the cross, the centre of his work.
Midday Prayer is one among many opportunities for God’s people, laity, religious orders, or clergy to extend the range of daily prayer.
Invocation
E te whānau / My brothers and sisters,
our help is in the name of the eternal God,
who is making the heavens and the earth.
Eternal Spirit,
flow through our being and open our lips,
that our mouths may proclaim your praise.
Silence
Let us worship the God of love.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Psalm
The following or some other psalm is said.
SundayWalking in God’s path
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Blessèd are those who are honest in their ways, who walk in the paths of God’s law. |
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Blessèd are those who treasure God’s wisdom, who seek God with all their heart. |
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Those who do no evil deeds are those who tread the way of justice. |
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Dear God, you have given command that we diligently hold to your word. |
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May my ways be kept steadfast on the narrow road of your love. |
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So shall I not be confounded while I respect the whole of your counsel. |
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I shall thank you with unfeigned heart as I learn to be guided by your Spirit. |
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I shall hold fast to your truths: do not utterly abandon me. Psalm 119:1–7 |
Monday Desiring life in God’s Spirit
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Teach me, dear God, the way of your truth, and I shall follow it to the end. |
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Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law, I shall keep it with my whole heart. |
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Lead me in the path of your wisdom; to do your will is my deepest desire. |
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Incline my heart to your love, and not to envious greed. |
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Turn away my eyes from vanity, and give me life in your Spirit. |
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Establish me in your promise, be faithful to those who are in awe of you. |
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Take away from me the rejection that I fear, for your justice is good. |
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See, my delight is in your commandment: quicken me in the power of your word. Psalm 119:33–40 |
Tuesday Resting in God’s hands
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Your hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding that I may know your mind. |
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Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, because I have put my trust in your word. |
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I know that your judgments are right, that in your faithfulness you have caused me to be troubled. |
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Let your merciful kindness be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. |
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Let your loving mercies come to me, that I may live, for your law is my delight. |
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Let the proud be confounded, who twist us with deceit, and I will meditate on your wisdom. |
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Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your truth. Psalm 119:73–79 |
Wednesday Trusting in God’s purpose
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Dear God, your eternal word of love endures for ever in the universe. |
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Your truth stands fast from one generation to another. You have laid the foundations of the earth, and it abides. |
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In fulfilment of your purpose it continues to this very day, for all things serve you. |
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If my delight had not been in your wisdom, I should have perished in my trouble. |
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I shall never forget your truths, for with them you have given me life. |
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I belong to you: save me; for I have sought your counsel. |
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The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me, but I will meditate on your law. |
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I see that all things come to an end, but your commandment is exceeding broad. Psalm 119:89–96 |
Thursday Being guided by God’s light
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Your word is a lantern for my feet, a light searching out all my ways. |
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I have sworn, and am steadfastly purposed to keep the way of your justice. |
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I am troubled beyond measure: give me life, dear God, according to your promise. |
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Accept my offerings of praise, and teach me your truths. |
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My life is always in your hand, and I do not forget your law. |
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The ungodly have laid a snare for me: may I not swerve from your commandment. |
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Your wisdom have I claimed as my heritage for ever, it is the very joy of my heart. |
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I incline my heart to your counsel, always, even to the end. Psalm 119:105–112 |
FridayStanding firm in God’s counsel
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The powerful oppress me without cause, but my heart stands firm in awe of your word. |
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I rejoice in your love more than one who finds great spoils. |
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As for lies, I hate and abhor them, but your law do I love. |
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Seven times a day do I praise you, because of the justice of your way. |
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Great is the peace of those who treasure your wisdom, nothing can make them stumble. |
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Dear God, I have looked for your saving health, and followed your counsel. |
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Guide me in the path of your truth, all the ways of my heart are open before you. Psalm 119:161–168 |
Saturday Rejoicing in God’s love
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Your steadfast love is wonderful: therefore I treasure your wisdom. |
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When your word goes forth it gives light and understanding to the simple. |
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I opened my mouth and drew in my breath, for my delight was in your counsel. |
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Look upon me and show me kindness, as is your joy for those who love your name. |
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Keep my steps steady in your word, and so shall no wickedness get dominion over me. |
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Relieve me from the weight of oppression, and so shall I keep your commandments. |
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Show the light of your face upon your servant, and teach me your way. Psalm 119:129–135 |
Reading
One of the following or some other passage of scripture is read.
Silence may follow the reading.
Sunday
For anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here. It is all God’s work. It is God who through Christ has won us back and given us a share in this work of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17–18
Monday
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:22, 23a, 25
Tuesday
From the rising of the sun to its setting my name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 1:11
Wednesday
As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labours, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:4–10
Thursday
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 4:32–5:2
Friday
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:12–15
Saturday
Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
Canticle
One of the following or some other hymn or canticle may be said or sung.
1 A Hymn for Midday
O God, creation’s secret force,
Thyself unmoved, all motion’s source;
Who, from the morn till evening’s ray,
Through all its changes guid’st the day.
Come, Holy Ghost, with God the Son,
And God the Father ever one;
Shed forth thy grace within our breast,
And dwell with us a ready guest.
By every power, by heart and tongue,
By act and deed thy praise be sung;
Inflame with perfect love each sense
That others’ souls may kindle thence.
O Father, that we ask be done
Through Jesus Christ thine only Son.
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.
2 Poi Kingi Ihaka
The poi chant offered here as a canticle may be chanted on one note or
expressed in group action, in accordance with its original form.
The translation is provided for information only.
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Kia mau! Titiro e ngā iwi! Te kapu taku ringa He taonga tēnei nā ngā tūpuna; He poi, he poi, he poi, hei! |
Be ready! Take a look all people at what is in the cup of my hand for this is a treasure from our forebears; a poi, a poi, a poi, hei! |
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Poi puritia! Poi takawiri! Taupatupatu, taupatupatu, Taupatupatu, ko te tau! Patupatu taku poi, Ka rere taku poi, Rere tika atu ana Ka tau ki Ngāpuhi Kei reira te toka Kei Rangihoua, Kei Oihi rā, Ko te toka tēnā I poua iho ai Te Rongopai rā e – Ka mau! |
Hold the poi! Quiver the poi! Twirl and strike, and now the chant! I strike my poi, my poi flies, and flies direct, landing in Ngāpuhi country, for there stands the rock at Rangihoua, even at Oihi, that is the rock on which was established The gospel – and became fixed. |
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Hei whakakorōria Te Atua i runga rawa Ka mau te rongo ki Aotearoa Tēnā anō rā ko āna purapura I ruiruia rā i roto ngā iwi Ka tupu ka hua ē – Hua nei! |
To give glory to God in the highest and peace was declared throughout New Zealand, and its seeds have been broadcast among the tribes, and have grown and borne fruit – bears now. |
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Whiti rawa atu koe Ki a Raukawa Ko Rota Waitoa Hei mātāmua, Kei roto Wanganui Ko Te Tauri Ka tae ngā rongo Ki Ngāti-Ruanui Ko Manihera rā Ko Kereopa hoki I whakamatea nei |
When you have crossed to Raukawa country it is Rota Waitoa the very first Māori ever to be ordained to the sacred ministry. And at Wanganui there is Wiremu Te Tauri the first person to introduce Christianity there. And the news has also reached the Ngāti-Ruanui people among whom were Manihera and also Kereopa the first Christian martyrs |
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Mō te Whakapono ē – Ka tau! |
for the faith in New Zealand. – Indeed! |
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Ka rere taku poi Ki te Tairāwhiti Kei reira e ngaki ana Ko Taumataākura Kei Mataatua Ko Ngākūkū rā Kei Te Arawa Ko Ihāia Kei roto Kahungunu Ko Te Wera rā ē... Te Wera! |
My Poi now flies to the Eastern seas and there strives Piripi Taumataakura who introduced Christianity to the Ngāti Porou while in Mataatua country is Ngākūkū and in Arawa country is Ihāia and in Ngāti-Kahungunu country is Te Wera... Yes, Te Wera! |
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Ka tuhi, ka rarapa, ka uira Te rangi e tū iho nei, ē Toia to waka Te utanga o runga Ko te aroha; Paiheretia mai Te rangimārie, Aue! Hei! |
The lightning glows and flashes well above the heavens drag the canoe with its cargo of love; bind it with peace Aue! Hei! |
3 A Hymn for Sunday
To God our Father, thanks and praise
For this, the first and dawn of days:
The day when thou, creation’s spring,
Didst light and life from chaos bring.
The day on which thy well-loved Son
O’er death and hell the triumph won;
The day on which the Spirit came,
Thy gift to us in wind and flame.
All laud to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son to thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To God the holy Paraclete. Amen.
4 The Lake of Beauty Edward Carpenter
Let your mind be quiet, realising the beauty of the world,
and the immense, the boundless treasures that it holds in store.
All that you have within you, all that your heart desires,
all that your Nature so specially fits you for - that or the
counterpart of it waits embedded in the great Whole, for you.
It will surely come to you.
Yet equally surely not one moment before its appointed time
will it come. All your crying and fever and reaching out of
hands will make no difference.
Therefore do not begin that game at all.
Do not recklessly spill the waters of your mind
in this direction and in that,
lest you become like a spring lost and
dissipated in the desert.
But draw them together into a little compass, and hold them
still, so still;
And let them become clear, so clear - so limpid, so mirror-like;
at last the mountains and the sky shall glass themselves in
peaceful beauty,
and the antelope shall descend to drink and to gaze at her
reflected image, and the lion to quench his thirst,
and Love himself shall come and bend over and catch his
own likeness in you.
5 Song to the Holy Spirit James K. Baxter
Lord, Holy Spirit,
You blow like the wind in a thousand paddocks,
Inside and outside the fences,
You blow where you wish to blow.
Lord, Holy Spirit,
You are the sun who shines on the little plant,
You warm him gently, you give him life,
You raise him up to become a tree with many leaves.
Lord, Holy Spirit,
You are as the mother eagle with her young,
Holding them in peace under your feathers.
On the highest mountain you have built your nest,
Above the valley, above the storms of the world,
Where no hunter ever comes.
Lord, Holy Spirit,
You are the bright cloud in whom we hide,
In whom we know already that the battle has been won.
You bring us to our Brother Jesus
To rest our heads upon his shoulder.
Lord, Holy Spirit,
You are the kind fire who does not cease to burn,
Consuming us with flames of love and peace,
Driving us out like sparks to set the world on fire.
Lord, Holy Spirit,
In the love of friends you are building a new house,
Heaven is with us when you are with us.
You are singing your song in the hearts of the poor.
Guide us, wound us, heal us. Bring us to the Father.
6 St Patrick’s Breastplate
Verses may be selected
I bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity.
By invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
I bind this day to me for ever,
by power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
his death on cross for my salvation.
His bursting from the spiced tomb;
his riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the star-lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s lifegiving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken to my need;
The wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the name,
the strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation:
salvation is of Christ the Lord.
7 Song to the Lord God James K. Baxter
Lord God, you are above and beyond all things,
Your nature is to love,
You put us in the furnace of the world
To learn to love you and love one another.
Father, we sing to you in the furnace
Like the three Jewish children.
The hope and the doom of the love of friends
Is eating up the marrow of our bones.
Lord Christ, you are the house in whom we live,
The house in which we share the cup of peace,
The house of your body that was broken on the cross,
The house you have built for us beyond the stars.
Lord, Holy Spirit, beyond, within, above,
Beneath all things, you give us life.
Blaze in our hearts, you who are Love himself,
Till we shine like the noonday sun.
Lord God, we are the little children,
The feeble ones of the world.
Carry us for ever in your breast, Lord God,
Give us the power by love to be your holy ones.
8 The Song of the Women T. S. Eliot
We praise thee, O God, for thy glory displayed in all the
creatures of the earth,
In the snow, in the rain, in the wind, in the storm; in all of
thy creatures, both the hunters and the hunted.
For all things exist only as seen by thee, only as known by
thee, all things exist
Only in thy light, and thy glory is declared even in that
which denies thee; the darkness declares the glory of light.
Those who deny thee could not deny, if thou didst not
exist; and their denial is never complete, for if it were so,
they would not exist.
They affirm thee in living; all things affirm thee in living;
the bird in the air, both the hawk and the finch; the beast
on the earth, both the wolf and the lamb.
Therefore we, whom thou hast made to be conscious of
thee, must consciously praise thee, in thought and in
word and in deed.
Prayers
Lord have mercy.
E te Ariki kia aroha mai.
Kyrie eleison.
Christ have mercy.
E te Karaiti kia aroha mai.
Christe eleison.
Lord have mercy.
E te Ariki kia aroha mai.
Kyrie eleison.
One of the following three sections is said, ending with the Collect for
Midday
and The Lord’s Prayer.
1
O God of many names,
lover of all peoples;
we pray for peace
in our hearts and homes,
in our nations and our world;
the peace of your will,
the peace of our need.
Dear Christ, our friend and our guide,
pioneer through the shadow of death,
passing through darkness to make it light,
be our companion that we may fear no evil,
and bring us to life and to glory.
O God of peace and justice,
of holiness and love;
knit us together in mind and flesh,
in feeling and in spirit,
and make us one,
ready for that great day;
the fulfilment of all our hopes,
and the glory of Jesus Christ.
Keep us in the spirit of joy and simplicity and mercy.
Bless us and those you have entrusted to us,
in and through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
2
For the hungry and the overfed
May we have enough.
For the mourners and the mockers
May we laugh together.
For the victims and the oppressors
May we share power wisely.
For the peacemakers and the warmongers
May clear truth and stern love lead us to harmony.
For the silenced and the propagandists
May we speak our own words in truth.
For the unemployed and the overworked
May our impress on the earth be kindly and creative.
For the troubled and the sleek
May we live together as wounded healers.
For the homeless and the cosseted
May our homes be simple, warm and welcoming.
For the vibrant and the dying
May we all die to live.
3
Let us be at peace within ourselves.
Silence
Let us accept that we are profoundly loved
and need never be afraid.
Silence
Let us be aware of the source of being
that is common to us all
and to all living creatures.
Silence
Let us be filled with the presence of the great compassion
towards ourselves and towards all living beings.
Silence
Realising that we are all nourished
from the same source of life,
may we so live that others be not deprived
of air, food, water, shelter, or the chance to live.
Silence
Let us pray that we ourselves cease to be
a cause of suffering to one another.
Silence
With humility let us pray for the establishment
of peace in our hearts and on earth.
Silence
May God kindle in us
the fire of love
to bring us alive
and give warmth to the world.
Lead me from death to life,
from falsehood to truth;
lead me from despair to hope,
from fear to trust;
lead me from hate to love,
from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart,
our world, our universe.
COLLECT FOR MIDDAY
Blessed Saviour, at this hour you hung upon the cross, stretching out your
loving arms; grant that all the peoples of the earth may be drawn to your uplifted love; for your
kingdom’s sake.
Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Jesus, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
E te Ariki, maharatia mai mātou i tōu rangatiratanga;
Ākona hoki mātou ki te īnoi
E tō mātou Matua i te rangi
Kia tapu tōu Ingoa.
Kia tae mai tōu rangatiratanga.
Kia meatia tāu e pai ai
ki runga ki te whenua,
kia rite anō ki tō te rangi.
Hōmai ki a mātou āianei
he taro mā mātou mō tēnei rā.
Murua ō mātou hara,
Me mātou hoki e muru nei
i ō te hunga e hara ana ki a mātou.
Āua hoki mātou e kawea kia whakawaia;
Engari whakaorangia mātou i te kino:
Nōu hoki te rangatiratanga, te kaha,
me te korōria,
Āke ake ake. Āmine.
Blessing
In the following a deacon or layperson says ‘us’ instead of ‘you’.
May the Creator
bless you and keep you;
may the beloved companion face you
and have mercy upon you;
may the eternal Spirit’s countenance
be turned to you and give you peace;
may the Three in One bless you.
Or
Kia koa koutou
Kia tino tika,
Kia mārie te ngākau,
Kia kotahi te whakaaro,
Kia mau te rongo.
Tērā te Atua o te aroha
O te maungārongo,
E noho ki a koutou.
Āmine.
Silence
The service concludes
The divine Spirit dwells in us.
Kia noho te Wairua o te Runga Rawa ki a tātou.
Thanks be to God.
Whakamoemititia a Ihowā.