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+ Failte Liturgy +

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(This liturgy can be used to welcome new members of a prayer community who are not formally joining the CCC, but who wish to be part of a local community while remaining in their own denomination.)

 

+ PROCESSION AND GATHERING +

IF procession, then:

Lights are dim.  CCCers have candles and an Paschal candle (or Advent Wreath) is lit in the center of a circle of chairs. Presider is vested in Alb and Stole. Just before starting, an incense coal is lit and left to burn in preparation for incensing later. Newcomers are asked to gather with sponsors from the community. They stand in prayerful silence outside, until the community comes to gather around them with candles chanting to the melody of “Jesus Remember me,” (Taize), using the words:

"Jesus, we welcome Thee, in the heart of friend and stranger.
Jesus, we welcome Thee, in the heart of friend and stranger."

If there are newcomers:   The newcomers are encircled and led inside to be seated among the community members for the liturgy of the Word. Once in place, singing ends. Candles remain
lit throughout liturgy.  All remain standing…  Hymn is sung.

IF NO PROCESSION START HERE:  

 

 

 

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Presider:  With open hearts and warm spirits we welcome each of you this
night, who join us for the first time.  We greet the Christ within you,
we greet you as the Presence of Christ in our midst. Come in, out of
the dark, into the light of Christ’s presence among us here, who gather
in his name.  Come in, out of the cold, into the warmth of Christ’s
embrace.  Come saint and sinner, come seeker and sought, come with your
questions, your burdens, your gifts and gratitude.  Come with all that
you are and all that you are not.  Come with all that you hope to be. 
All are welcome this night to come into the light of Christ. To
be the light of Christ in the world  No matter who you are, or from
whence you come, no matter how long or far you have journeyed,
welcome…welcome…welcome. You are welcome. Find rest in our
friendship…FAILTE!  (silent pause)…

Presider:  Let us pray:  + In the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit.

All:  Amen.

+ OPENING PRAYER +

Reader: Lord Jesus, you welcomed all who came to you and taught us
that in welcoming even the least of our sisters and brothers, it is you
we welcome into our hearts.  Bless now, those gathered here in your
name, that we may look upon your countenance in the faces both familiar
and new.  And make us to know, Lord, that in your body there can be no
strangers among us; only friends whom we have not yet met.  Amen.

Please be seated.




+ LITURGY OF THE WORD +

First Reading: Hebrews 13:1-3, 5-6, 8

Lector: A Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews

Continue to love each other as brothers and sisters, and remember
always to welcome strangers, for by doing so, some people have
entertained angels unaware. Keep in mind those who are in prison, as
though you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly
treated, since you too are in the body.  Put avarice out of your lives
and be content with whatever you have; God himself has said: I shall
not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the
Lord on my side, I fear nothing: what can human beings do to me?  Jesus
Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for
ever.

Lector: The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Pause for silent reflection.

Responsorial: Psalm 131: Childlike Trust in God

Lector:
Lord, I hold myself in quiet and silence.

All:
Lord, I hold myself in quiet and silence.

Lector:
Lord, my heart is not haughty, I do not set my sights too high.
I have taken no part in great affairs, in wonders beyond my scope.

All: Lord, I hold myself in quiet and silence.

Lector:
No, I hold myself in quiet and silence, like a little child in its
mother’s arms,
Like a little child, so I keep myself.

All: Lord, I hold myself in quiet and silence.

Lector:
Let Israel hope in the Lord, henceforth and forever.

All: Lord, I hold myself in quiet and silence.

Pause for silent reflection.

After several moments of quiet, a priest/deacon goes to the center of
the circle to retrieve the Gospelary and taking it up, proclaims the
gospel.

Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Priest: The Lord is with you.
All: And also with you.
Priest: +A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
All: +Glory to you O, Lord!

‘When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels,
then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All nations will be
assembled before him and he will separate people one from another as
the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his
right hand and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those
on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your
heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the
world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you
gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking
clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you
came to see me.”

Then the upright will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you
a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you? When
did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?”
And the King will answer, “In truth I tell you, in so far as you did
this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”
Then he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your
curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and
you never gave me anything to drink, I was a stranger and you never
made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in
prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask,
“Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking
clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he
will answer, “In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected do this
to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.” And they
will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life.’

Priest: The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ.

Welcoming Reflection: _____________


+ PRAYER OF WELCOMING AND ENCIRCLING CAIM +

The New Comers are now gently led into the center of
the circle by the CCC member standing nearest to them.  Once they are
in place in the center, CCC members lay hands on them.  All move in closer to
fill in the gaps, thus creating a circle within a circle.

Meanwhile incense is placed on the coal and as the praying of the
Lorica begins, a deacon or server encircles the outer circle with incense the
incense forming a circle of Divine Presence and Protection. The caim
continues very slowly throughout the praying of the Lorica.   All CCC
members now put down this liturgy book, and at musician's lead begin to
quietly hum as s/he prays/sings the Lorica.

The Lorica

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 on the day of doom; I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today, the great love of the Cherubim; the sweet
"Well done" in judgment hour; the service of the Seraphim, Confessor’s
faith, Apostle’s word, the Patriarch’s prayers, the Prophet’s scrolls;
all good deeds unto the Lord, and purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today the virtues of the starlit heaven, the
glorious sun's life-giving 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.

Against the demon snares of sin, the vice that gives temptation force, 
the natural lusts that war within, the hostile ones that mar my course;
or few or many, far or nigh, in every place, and in all hours, against
their fierce hostility, I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles, against false words of heresy,
against the knowledge that defiles, against the heart's idolatry,
against the wizard's evil craft, against the death wound and the
burning,  the choking wave and poisoned shaft, protect me Christ, till
your returning.

Beginning with these chants, as Art+ prays each "Christ" phrase very
slowly, CCC members may randomly, appropriately, and gently lay hands
on the corresponding part of the newcomer.  Do what comes naturally and
try to ensure that all newcomers are attended to.  You may move from
one person to another as the prayers continue.

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.

All CCC Members now reform a circle around the Newcomers.

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 has creation: Eternal Father, Spirit, Word, praise to the Lord
of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord.  Amen.


Humming ends…pause for a moment of silence.

Presider: Dear Friends:  In Christ we welcome you, in his name we bless
you, and it is his peace we offer to you; a peace which the world
cannot give.  Thus, to all gathered here: Peace be with you.

All: And Also with you.

Presider: Let us share an embrace of Christ's peace with one another.

All share a sign of peace and welcome, saying,  "Failte!"


+ CLOSING PRAYER +

Presider: Let us pray.
Now Lord, let your servants go in peace;
Your Word has been fulfilled:
Our 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.

All: Protect us Lord as we stay awake, watch over us as we sleep.  That
awake we may keep watch with Christ and asleep rest in his peace.

Presider: As we keep watch with Christ throughout the night, let our
light shine in the darkness, and let us celebrate the gift of one
another and rejoice in each other's company.  For this we give thanks
and make this prayer in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord.

All: AMEN!



NEEDFUL THINGS
White Taper candles
Incense bowl with sand
Coal
Incense
Matches
Paschal Candle or Advent wreath
Christ candle
Candles for wreath
Cream tablecloth
Table with cloth
Liturgical color banners
Copy of liturgy