Ascensiontide in climate emergency

Ascensiontide is the 10 days between the feast of Christ’s ascension and Pentecost Sunday. The date is tied to Easter and so varies from year to year.

Together with all in Christ, we wait
Come Holy Spirit; soak into our deepest being …
We pray together with all your people
Come Holy Spirit; breeze through our staleness…
We will hear the scriptures together
Come Holy Spirit; fire up our imaginations for good…

pause to gather thoughts …

Brood over us as we hear the scriptures.
Change our hearts, correct our course and draw us into your counsel.
Ready us for service and steady us in wisdom,
Spirit away the dullness of our hearts. Amen.

Psalm[s] and reading[s] are announced and read.

There may be a time of quiet and/or shared reflection. A framework for reflection, using the pattern of the Lord’s prayer may be used.

When it is time to resume the service…

Together we say:
We will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes upon us;
And we will be Jesus’ witnesses
to the ends of the earth. _{See Acts 1.8}

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
You have blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ
to the praise of your glorious grace,
which you have freely given us in the Beloved

…Prayers and/or songs of praise and thanks may be shared aloud here…

And now we give you thanks because in Christ you embed us in your mission, and you equip us by the Holy Spirit, in love you adopted us through Jesus Christ: Our God In heaven
Hallowed be your name!

God, send your Spirit: mend your creation, fulfil your promises and inspire your people for good.

… prayers or biddings relating to this may be added here the leader ending with:

Your Spirit is working:
Your Kingdom come.

Bring us alongside those whom you are drawing into Life; give us hearts to listen and minds to discern so that we may have well-chosen good news to share.
… prayers or biddings relating to this may be added here the leader ending with:
Your Spirit is working:
Your Kingdom come.

Please use the following as prompts for prayer: pause to recall before God the things that each prayer reminds you of and seek God’s will in it.

Work righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. Among those who are ill and vulnerable, call forth strength and healing, support and protection.

… prayers or biddings relating to this may be added here the leader ending with:

Your Spirit is working:
Your Kingdom come.

In our world’s global community, in our world’s living systems, strengthen ecological resilience. Let those who speak for health of planet and people be heard above the din of commerce and the roar of industry
Your Spirit is working:
Your Kingdom come.

You may find fuel for intercessory reflection in respect of creation care here and here.

Be the wind in the sails of our lives and as we are blown forward by your Spirit may we know your comfort and provision.

…prayers or biddings asking for God’s provision may be added here the leader ending with

Equip us to work with you,
enthuse us to hold our course true.
Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of our lives.

We recognise that we quenched your Spirit and resisted living and sharing your good news
… No more: rather forgiveness abound; your Kingdom come.
We find again that we withhold forbearance and debt relief from others.
… No more. rather forgiveness abound: your Kingdom come.

Breathe upon us the breath of life:
And renew the face of our lives.
Make our hearts clean, O God
And re-form a right spirit within us.
Let us attend; Christ breathes upon us the peace and forgiveness of God.

A moment to take a deeper breath, reflecting on our forgiveness.

Intending to walk in the Spirit, we re-engage with the wider world, where God invites us into the ongoing work of creation and redemption, let us pray not to miss our path.

Pause to consider the hours ahead of us

Who is it that we seek?
We seek God: Sender, Sent and Sending.
Let’s seek God in neighbour and in foe
Amen. God open our hearts.
Let’s seek God in the routines and the happenstance
Amen. God be our vision.
Let’s seek God in our trials and tribulations
Amen. God be our wisdom.
Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit. _{Gal 5:25}

Return to Navigation. See also the forms for Ascension and Pentecost. The short form of this office (may be good for the middle of a busy day) is here.

Pentecost in climate emergency

Together with all in Christ, we wait;
Come Holy Spirit; soak into our deepest being
We pray together with all your creation;
Come Holy Spirit; breeze through our staleness.
We will re-join you in the world
Come Holy Spirit; spice us with the savour of Christ.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.[i]

Psalms, readings and reflection …

In the meditations of our hearts may these scriptures equip us for every good work.

We reaffirm our loyalty to God as we say:

What we have received
is not the spirit of the world,
but the Spirit who is from God,
so that we may understand
what God has freely given us.
No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”
except by the Holy Spirit. [ii]

We did not receive a spirit that makes us slaves to fear [iii]
By your Spirit, You hold us as your children
God of compassion and all comfort
We rest in your loving-kindness, O God,

Appreciations of God’s goodness and greatness may be shared…

Your Spirit hovered over unformed creation, and overshadowed Mary as the Christ was enwombed. Your Holy Spirit flares up among us re-assuring that we are your children, intimating at our core your delight in us, Our God In heaven, father and mother to us:
Hallowed be your name!

Life-giving God, release your Spirit to heal the desolations of the human society; deformed by discordant voices, and damaged by overweening desires. Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of the earth.[iv]

Life-renewing God, empower those who safeguard the integrity of creation: sustain and renew the life of the Earth. Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of the earth

Life-sharing God, you draw all people to yourself, wooing us Spirit to spirit. We remember before you the work of the gospel as it goes forth not to return empty. Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of the earth.

Care-making God; may the eternal flame of your Spirit burn in our souls and warm the lives of those whose lives we touch in person, process or in prayer. Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of the earth.

Let there be justice, let there be peace and let there be healing.

Prayers may be voiced here. Suggestions for topics here or here … the leader ending with:

Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of the earth.

Be the wind in the sails of our lives and as we are blown forward by your Spirit may we know your comfort and provision

We hold before God our own needs… ending with:

Send your Spirit forth:
And renew the face of our worlds.

There have been times when we have quenched your Spirit in our self-serving or grudge-bearing

…

We ask your help so that we might truly repent
and know
and offer
joyful forgiveness,

…

Make our hearts clean, O God
Remake a right spirit within us. [v]

Let us attend; Christ breathes upon us the peace and forgiveness of God.

We take a deeper breath in as we take to heart our forgiveness.

As we seek to walk in the Spirit, let us pause before the likely events and involvements and the unpredictable happenings that face us.

…

Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit.[vi]

—————– ɷˡˡ̷ —————

[i] 2 Timothy 3:16

[ii] 1 Corinthians 12:3b

[iii] Romans 8:15

[iv] Psalm 104:30

[v] Psalm 51:10

[vi] Galatians 5:25

Passiontide and Holy Week in climate emergency

Passiontide is a kind of intensification of Lent. It begins on the Sunday before Palm Sunday and takes us up to Easter Sunday. The focus is on the passion and crucifixion of Christ. During this time our prayers reflect the suffering and death of Christ.

Our hearts tell of your Word, O God, “Seek my face”.
Your face, Lord, will we seek [i]
What is it that we seek?
We seek God’s heart and holiness.
Let’s seek with all our reflecting
Amen. God be our vision.
Let’s seek with all our attentiveness
Amen. God be our centre
Let’s seek with all our valuing
Amen. God be our wisdom.

On the cross, Jesus framed fracturing-life’s ebb with words from scripture, may we frame our lives’ ends primed by God’s lore.

Psalms and readings. There may be a time of quiet and/or shared reflection.
A framework for reflection can be found here.

Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him.

…. pause for consideration

Lord, we believe,
help us in our unbelief.

The Canticle below, or some other, may be said.

The message of the cross
is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved
it is the power of God.
For since, in the wisdom of God,
the world did not know God through wisdom,
God decided to save those who believe, through the foolishness of our proclamation,
For some demand signs
and others desire wisdom,
but we proclaim Christ crucified,
a stumbling-block to some
and foolishness to others.
But to those who are the called,
Christ is the power of God
and the wisdom of God.
For God’s foolishness
is wiser than human wisdom,
and God’s weakness
is stronger than human strength.[ii]

O God, you so loved us, that you gave your only begotten so that we might not perish but have eternal life: long-suffering God, slow to anger, unlimited in grace and infinite in mercy,
Father in heaven
Hallowed be your name.

Thanks and praise may be shared…

For the joy you set before him, Jesus endured betrayal, grandstanding, the little collusions and the small infidelities that set you at cross purposes to the ways of the world. As we dare to intercede for a breaking world, we fear that our human agendas and ideas fall short of true wisdom. So we ask not for our will but yours to be done.

After each petition below, there may be a pause for further related prayers, silently or aloud.
it is worth reading them with climate and environmental emergency in mind: the effects and causes are captured in each bidding.

For the misled and the disregarded, not our will
but your will be done.
For the elites and powerful, leading us to breakdown, not our will
but your will be done.
For the exploiters of others, not our will
but your will be done.
For the fearful and weak, not our will
but your will be done.
For the cynical and world-weary, tired of lies and self-serving leadership, not our will
but your will be done.
For the blindly pious and those who use religion to oppress or exploit, not our will
but your will be done.
For those just doing their jobs but suffering the moral injury of co-option into wrongdoing, not our will
but your will be done.
For the helpless and the hopeless, not our will
but your will be done.
For the despairing and crushed in spirit, not our will
but your will be done.
And we ask in hope that our prayerful imaginings may grow into God’s, as we consider the forces in our times still arrayed for woe and for ill.
Your Kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as in heaven.

… prayers, petitions and requests to God, silently or aloud. Some daily prompts here, and here .

There is bread enough for all to share and though our sharing is flawed and misdirected by greed, we ask that all may be the haves, and none the have-nots.

Your kingdom come, your will be done:
Give us each day our morrowly bread.

Prayers for needs may be voiced….

Seeking first your kingdom and righteousness
May all things needful be added to us.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.[iii]
…
We confess with sorrow that we have collaborated with the fallen powers of this world knowingly or unwittingly deliberately or from fearful weakness.
We are mortified.
We repent in dust and ashes.
We turn afresh to the way of Christ,
the way of the cross
the way of life-giving wisdom.
Heal us and we shall be healed.
Save us and we shall be saved.
We hear with hope Jesus’ words: ‘Forgive them’.
…

Make us instruments of your peace:
and let your glory be over all the earth.
…pause to reflect on the coming day…
Tempted to resign ourselves to the way of the world:
Give us fresh vision and graciousness.
Pressured towards unwise compromise:
Strengthen our resolve.
Trialled by the grind of human frailties:
Teach us to remember our own.

[i] Psalm 27:8

[ii] 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

[iii] Psalm139:23-4

Candlemas in Climate Emergency

On 2 February, we celebrate the Presentation (of Christ at the Temple) aka Candlemas. This recalls when Mary and Joseph took the infant Jesus at 40 days old to be dedicated at the temple as told in Luke’s gospel. You might like to use the form of prayer for a few days or up to the start of Lent. Some people think of Candlemas as a kind of pivot-point: looking back to Christmas and forward to Holy Week and Easter.

——————————————————————————————

God’s Spirit is with us:
the Lord whom we seek comes to the temple.
The true light that lightens all has come into the world,
Calling us to serve in the temple of God’s world.

As we hear the scriptures read,
transform us by the renewing of our minds,
to discern your will O God
-what is good, pleasing and mature. _{Rom 12:2}

Psalm[s] and reading[s]. At the end of the reading[s]:

As we reflect
Holy Spirit, rest upon us.

There may be a time of quiet and/or shared reflection. A framework for reflection, using the pattern of the Lord’s prayer is available.

Nourished in what the Holy Spirit reveals
May we grow and became strong in faith,
filled with wisdom;
And with the favour of God upon us.

Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.

English translation of the Nunc Dimittis, Luke 2:29-32, ELLC license

Glory to God in the highest:
and on earth -peace and goodwill.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
…expressions of of praise and thanks …
Our God in heaven, father and mother to us, Light of the nations, Fulfilment of the desires of the ages.
Hallowed be your name

In a world needing revelation to lighten our darkness, faithful God;
glorify your name.
Among those who await consolation and redemption, faithful God;
glorify your name.
Among seekers of meaning and fullness of life, faithful God;
glorify your name.
In the work of those who bring good to exploited workers, the excluded, and the marginalised, faithful God,
glorify your name.
In the work of those who show mercy to refugees, the displaced and the traumatised. faithful God,
glorify your name.
In the work of those who sustain and guard the integrity of creation, faithful God;
glorify your name.
…other petitions may be made (suggestions here, here and here), each ending with
faithful God;
glorify your name.

The company of those who seek your face, O God, shall receive a blessing from you._{Cf Ps.24}
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
Into what will sustain our life in you, lead us.
… Pause to recognise our needs
As you provide for us, sustain us and equip us to serve you,
faithful God;
glorify your name.

When the shadows we have cast have hidden the light for others,
Father forgive.
We offer the light of forgiveness for the shadows others have cast on our lives.
Father forgive.
You are the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
Your word is a lantern to our feet
and a light upon our paths.

Though we walk in the midst of trouble, O God;
you will preserve us.
You will stretch forth your hand against the fury of our enemies;
your right hand will save us.
Make good your purpose for us;
your loving-kindness, O Lord, endures for ever
forsake not the work of your hands.
Make good your purpose for us. _{See Psalm 138:6-8}
Master, now you send us forth in peace, according to your word;
for our eyes have seen your salvation.

Nativity in climate emergency

—————– ɷˡˡ̷ —————

Through the Word, all was made that has been made.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us. ¹

Pause…

We take refuge in God’s earthing in flesh;
immersion in death;
rising to Life.
We take root in the Love of God;
the Good News of Christ;
the prayers of the faithful. ²

As we hear the scriptures read, may they lead us to the Christ and may we find in Jesus the fulfilment of all our searching.

Psalm(s) and readings.

Blessed are those who hear the word of God
And obey it.

A time of quiet and/or shared reflection, afterwards a collect may be said.

Mary’s Song³ may be said (or sung). Here, it has been divided into four stanzas. You may like to read out a different one each day.

My soul proclaims your greatness O Lord;
my spirit rejoices in you O God our Saviour,
You have looked with favour on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call us blessed.

Almighty, you have done great things for us,
and holy is your name.
You have mercy on those who fear you
from generation to generation.

You have shown strength with your arm
and scattered the proud in their conceit,
casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

You have come to the help of your servant Israel,
remembering your promise of mercy,
the promise made to our forebears,
to Abraham and his children forever.

Glory to God in the highest:
how glorious is your name in all the world.
Holy, holy holy, Lord, God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory!

… expressions of praise and thanks …

O God, you have done great things for us
And holy is your name.

Let everything that has breath flourish and fulfil your purposes, O God!
May your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
Father, may your will be fleshed out:
on earth as in heaven.

You desire the liberation of creation subjected to frustration 4
Loving Creator, may your will be fleshed out:
on earth as in heaven.

You work for peace and justice in the earth ⁵
Carer for Life, may your will be fleshed out:
on earth as in heaven.

You desire all to come to salvation and to a knowledge of the truth ⁶
Lover of all souls, may your will be fleshed out:
on earth as in heaven.

Concerns and biddings for the world’s good and God’s. …

Everliving all-loving God, may your will be fleshed out:
on earth as in heaven.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
Into what will sustain our life in you, lead us.

… reflection / requests for daily bread provision.

We look to you to supply our need, be our provider and strength.
Father, may your will be fleshed out:
on earth as in heaven.

Forgiving God, we recognise that we have avoided your call, shirked responsibilities and mis-stewarded your gifts to us.

…

God forgive us
And Let grace live within us
Sharing God; we have resisted expressing your life and bringing to birth your kin-dom.

…

God forgive us
And Let grace live within us

…

God who first loved us, help us to love others by forgiving.

…

God forgive us
And Let grace live within us

There may be silence to reflect on forgiving. After an appropriate interval, words of forgiveness may be said.

As we seek to live embodying the values and commitments of God’s just and gentle Rule, let us reflect on challenges to our faithfulness and integrity that may lie in our future, and let’s recognise the way ahead has many unknowns which may wrongfoot us.

…

We are called to bear Christ into our world. With Mary we ask, how can this be?

…

We take to heart the Angel’s reply:
The power of the Most High will overshadow you; with God it is possible:
Let it be to us according to your Word.

—————– ɷˡˡ̷ —————

[i] John 1:1ff

[ii] These words recontextualise for Christians a Buddhist affirmation and are heavily adapted from a prayer of the Church of South India.

[iii] Based on the ELLC translation of Luke 1:46-55

[iv] See Romans 8:20

[v] Reflecting Jeremiah 9:24b

[vi] See 1 Timothy 2:4. We might also reflect on this in the context of climate crisis in relation to the XR demand to tell the truth

Epiphany in Climate Emergency

Let us pray that the pilot light of God’s loving presence may fire up our hearts and transform us by the knowledge of divine glory.

A light may lit. It would be appropriate if it were set down in soil as the following prayer is said by all:

We take refuge in God’s earthing in flesh;
immersion in death;
rising to Life.
We take root in the Love of God;
the Good News of Christ;
the prayers of the faithful.

As we hear the scriptures read, may they lead us to the Christ. And may we find in Jesus the fulfilment of all our searching.

Psalms and readings. Then a time of quiet and/or shared reflection …

Blessed are those who hear the word of God
And do it. ¹
Jesus calls us to continue to follow him.

…

Lord Christ Jesus, we hear your call.
To whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We believe and know you are the Holy One of God. ²

A collect may be said …

A Song of the Cosmic Christ may be said or sung together.

Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
For in Christ all things were created:
things in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;
all things are created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead,
so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
and through him to reconcile to himself all things,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.³

Hallowed be your name, in the Beloved by the Spirit;
as in the beginning, so now and for ever. Amen.

Be exalted O God, above the heavens
Your glory is throughout the earth.
Your loving-kindness is higher than the heavens
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. ⁴

…expressions of praise and thanks may be made silently or aloud …

Our God in heaven, father and mother to us,
Hope of creation, Fulfilling the promise of the ages
Hallowed be your name!

In a world needing wisdom to read its own stars, faithful God,
glorify your name.
Among those who are excluded and held at the margins, faithful God,
glorify your name.
In lifting up the lowly and filling the hungry with good things, faithful God,
glorify your name
In the search for meaning and fullness of life, faithful God,
glorify your name.
In the naming and framing of new knowledge, faithful God,
glorify your name.
In serving and keeping the earth, faithful God,
glorify your name
In resistance to pollution, exploitation and extinction, faithful God,
glorify your name

Other petitions, intercessions or biddings. Daily praycrs for environmental concerns, Other prayer suggestions for climate and environment related matters …

In meek pursuit of God’s just and gentle ways, we find ourselves in need of means and sustenance.

Pause to recognise our needs.

As you provide for us, sustain us and equip us to serve you, faithful God,
glorify your name.

Yet our ways have too often not followed after God’s wisdom, and we have polluted God’s priorities.

… Pause to bring our wrongs repentantly to God…

As we turn from our sins and turn to Christ this day
faithful God,
glorify your name.
And we have failed to extend to others the forgiveness and forbearance we ourselves enjoy and rely upon.

… we recall before God any grudges or vengefulness we harbour …

As we forgo our claims on others for revenge. and recompense for wrongs, faithful God,
glorify your name.

As we seek to be guided by the star of Christ’s coming and be faithful to our baptism, let us reflect on what challenges to our faithfulness and integrity the coming hours may bring, and pause respectfully before the many unknowns of our future.

Pause for recollection.

Today into our lives we weave
The ways of God with the air we breathe.
Facing trials of earth’s distress
We join with God to mend and bless.
When we pass through joyful things
We make to God our thanksgivings.
All who in body or mind we meet
may God through us both touch and greet.
In every task and deed that’s done
We weave the purpose of the Son.⁵

—————– ɷˡˡ̷ —————

1 Luke 11:28

2 John 6:68

3 From Colossians 1:16ff

4 Psalm 57:5,10

Advent in climate emergency

The themes of Advent are the future of creation and the end of things, the justice and mercy of God’s judgement. This form is part of the collection of forms of prayer in climate emergency. -more here about the underlying principles for that collection.
At this point, this is a provisional form, and alterations may be made from time to time.

—————– ɷˡˡ̷ —————

We will listen to what the Lord God will say
for God shall speak peace to his people
to the faithful shall God speak
that we do not turn again to folly_.¹

…Pause to recognise God’s presence.

My soul faints with longing for your salvation,
and in your word have I put my hope.

Psalms and readings. When they have been read, a collect may be said.

Zechariah’s Praise may be said. Here, it has been divided into four stanzas. You may like to read out a different part each day.

Blessed are you, Lord God of Israel;
you have come to your people and set us free.
You have raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of your servant David.

Through your holy prophets you promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us;
to show mercy to our forebears
and to remember your holy covenant.

This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham:
-to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship you without fear,
holy and righteous before you,
all the days of our life.

In your tender compassion, O God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace².

We wait upon your loving-kindness, O God,
in the midst of creation, your temple.
As with your name, O God,
so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is full of justice.
and your mercy is upon all your creatures. ³

…when any further expressions of praise and thanks have been shared:

Gracious compassionate God, your Dayspring scatters the deathly shades haunting our darkness: as your beloved children, we rejoice:
Hallowed be your name

Light is on the horizon; a day is coming when wickedness will die back never to re-germinate. Just and merciful God, hasten that Day and in this age preview your new creation:

Extend your Reign, O God
Let Godly hopes prevail.

Concerns and biddings for the good of the world in silence or aloud …

In that day, the groaning of creation will be fulfilled in freedom and glory. Extend your Reign, O God
Let Godly hopes prevail.

In that day, death and mourning, crying and pain will be no more and God will wipe away every tear. Extend your Reign, O God
Let Godly hopes prevail.

In that Day, your Spirit will fill all things and all shall know you. Extend your Reign, O God
Let Godly hopes prevail.

As we walk the path of your Dream of a healed creation, a peaceable kin_dom and a beloved community, may we know your hand supplying our needs.

… recalling, before God, our own needs in silence or aloud...

In providing our daily bread, Extend your Reign, O God
Let Godly hopes prevail.

Give us this day the courage and insight to forgive others as you forgive us our trespasses

…

Like carbon to the atmosphere:
We have added to the world’s woes
Like nutrients from the soil;
We have taken without restoring.
Like heat to the oceans
We have sown destruction

Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.

 A moment of silence for reception of God’s mercy and grace …

in our forgiving and being forgiven, Extend your Reign, O God
Let Godly hopes prevail.

As we seek to tread lightly on the earth walking the way of Christ, let us consider the challenges to our faithfulness and planetary good neighbourliness the coming hours may bring, and that unknowns lie ahead…
Guide us O God:
by your light to live
by your grace, forgive
to speak well to all
to act on your call
in storm find your rest
in nature -seek its best
Your wisdom to know
Christ’s presence to show
Father, may we be, in this world, the leaven
And may your will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.

—————– ɷˡˡ̷ —————

1 Psalm 85:8

2 Based on the ELLC version of the Song of Zachariah aka The Benedictus

3 See Psalm 52