Taizé A Time of Prayer

A Taize Liturgy on the Feast of St. Irenaeus

Bishop of Lyons (c. 202)

(June 30)

Opening Meditation: Leader: Be still and know that I am God People: Be still and know that I am God Leader: Be still and know that I am People: Be still and know that I am Leader: Be still and know People: Be still and know Leader: Be still People: Be still Leader: Be People: Be

Confitemini Domini (sung in Latin)

Psalm 145:8–13, Exaltabo te, Deus

8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, * slow to anger and of great kindness.

9 The LORD is loving to everyone * and his compassion is over all his works.

The glory of God is the human person fully alive. 10 All your works praise you, O LORD, *

and your faithful servants bless you. 11 They make known the glory of your kingdom *

and speak of your power; The glory of God is the human person fully alive. 12 That the peoples may know of your power *

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; *

your dominion endures throughout all ages. The glory of God is the human person fully alive.

[Response from Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies, Book 4, Chapter 34, Section 7]

Silence

Luke 11:33–36 Jesus said, "No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays."

READER: The Word of the Lord PEOPLE: Thanks be to God.

Silence

Intercessions (adapted from New Zealand Prayer Book)

We pray for the church and for people of faith everywhere. Gracious God, may your Spirit give strength to all your people as they work and serve you in your world. Unite us in your truth and love, and help us to show your love to others.

Lord, we pray: Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison. Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison

We pray for the peoples of our world, especially for those facing war, disease or famine. God our creator, help us to share all the good gifts that you have given us. Guide those who lead the nations of the world that they may find wisdom to see your kingdom and courage to seek it.

Lord, we pray: Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison. Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison

We pray for our community and for all who live and work in this city. God our companion, be with our families and friends. And be with us as we seek to help each other just as you love and help us.

Lord, we pray: Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison. Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison

We pray for those in need, for sick people, for those in hospital, and for those in trouble. Compassionate God, give your strength and healing to all those who are sad, lonely, or sick. Make us instruments of your peace.

Lord, we pray: Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison. Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison

We pray for those who have died. We pray for all who mourn, that they may feel your care for them. God of hope, we thank you that not even death can separate us from your love.

Lord, we pray: Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison. Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison

Finally, we pray for ourselves, for all that we will do this week, and for all those we will meet. Loving God we give this week into your hands. Be with us in all that we do, may we find your joy and know your peace this week, and may we learn and grow ever more into your likeness.

Lord, we pray: Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison. Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison (Said in unison) God, Creator, bring us new life. Jesus, Redeemer, renew and strengthen us. Holy Spirit, Sustainer, guide us and give us your peace. AMEN.

Prayers Around the Cross

Concluding Prayers (Compline, BCP)

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. Lord, you now have set your servant free * to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, * whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, * and the glory of your people Israel. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. Ubi Caritas

Officiant: Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God!

IRENAEUS, Bishop of Lyons, Theologian (28 June 202)

Irenaeus (pronounced ear-a-NAY-us) was probably born around 125. In 177, Pothinus, the bishop of Lyons, sent him on a mission to Rome. During his absence a severe persecution broke out in Lyons, claiming the lives of the bishop and others (see 2 June). When Irenaeus returned to Lyons, he was made bishop. He died around 202. He is thus an important link between the apostolic church and later times, and also an important link between Eastern and Western Christianity.

One of the earliest heresies to arise in the Christian church was Gnosticism, and Irenaeus

was one of its chief early opponents. Gnostics claimed to be Christians, but Christians with a difference. They said that Jesus had had two doctrines: one a doctrine fit for the common man, and preached to everyone, and the other an advanced teaching, kept secret from the multitudes, fit only for the chosen few, the spiritually elite.

In opposition to this idea, Irenaeus maintained that the Gospel message is for everyone. He was perhaps the first to speak of the Church as "Catholic" (universal). In using this term, he made three contrasts:

(1) He contrasted the over-all church with the single local congregation, so that one spoke of the Church in Ephesus, but also of the Catholic Church, of which the Churches in Ephesus, Corinth, Rome, Antioch, etc. were local branches or chapters.

(2) He contrasted Christianity with Judaism, in that the task of Judaism was to preserve the knowledge of the one God by establishing a solid national base for it among a single people, but the task of Christianity was to set out from that base to preach the Truth to all nations.

(3) He contrasted Christianity with Gnosticism, in that the Gnostics claimed to have a message only for the few with the right aptitudes and temperaments, whereas the Christian Gospel was to be proclaimed to all men everywhere.