Birthday Prayer Service – 6

Hymn

 Introduction

 Dear Brothers/Sisters we have gathered here to celebrate the birthday of ………. It is indeed a great joy for us all for she has made a difference in the life of each one in various ways. Let us join together in thanksgiving, rejoicing in song, and thanking God for the gift ……… to all of us.

Bio data of …

 (As we sing this hymn, I request the appointed the individual to come and light the candles placed in front. Each of these candles represents the meaningful years of life that our dear Sr. has lived on this earth. Just like the candles, she has never lived for her glory, but for the kingdom severing the poor and the needy.) 

Hymn (Lighting the Candle)

 Plant (Now let us present to our dear birthday baby a sapling filled with life. Dear sister this represents the many year of life that you have ahead of you. We pray may you grow to become a tree, giving life to many others. May many find meaning in their life’s from the fruits they receive. We also pray that may you be guided by the spirituality of a tree that is by a forming life that gives its fruits even when it is attacked.) Sister will place the plant in front 

Prayer

 God our Father,

the birth of your Son Jesus Christ

brought great joy to Mary and Joseph.

 Heavenly Father

, We praise You for all Your gifts to us.

 In a special way, 

We thank You for Sr…..

whose birthday we celebrate today.

 Bless him (her) always in Your love.

 May she ever grow in your faith, hope, and love.

 We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 Reading

“Every new day is a symbol of hope. Every new flower is a symbol of beauty. Every new child is a symbol of God’s immense love towards us.”

 As we celebrate the gift of …….. today we in a special way thank God for the person she is to each one of us. The challenge that she brings to our life as a religious with her simple life style and human way of dealing. Indeed it is true that she is a true human being, with flesh and blood who has dedicated her  life for the Kingdom of God.  Dear sister we appreciate in you the person that you are the model that you are to us in your words and deeds. We thank you for the pain and suffering you undertake for the well governance of our community. We thank you for all the good things that you are doing for all of us. We hope that gorgeous surprises are coming your way to make your birthday a fantastic day. Smiles and laughter joy and cheer, heavenly happiness that stays throughout the year, filling your life with surprises and joys galore. So on this very special day, we would like to tell you that we love you, we appreciate you, and we admire you for what you are to each one of us. As the apostles gathered around our Lord, keenly to listen what he said, so also we are gathered around you. However long the time may be, your loving presence is that which makes huge difference in the community as St. Paul was among the Ephesians.

Together with St. Paul we also would like to say: (Philippians 1: 3-11 )

 I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.  I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.  For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.  And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.   Thank you lord, together we sing and praise you for the gift of sister to our lives

Hymn: I thank my God each time I think of you 

(Life is a dance, each one dances in her own way the verities of steps makes the difference)

Loving God, God of all life, we thank you for the many ways in which you have gifted Sr.____ and we rejoice in the many ways she has shared those gifts with us. We pray that as Sr.____ continue her dance of life, she may always know the graced rhythm of your love and presence.  

 Reading:  “Dancing God” 

This may be read by the celebrant.  

Direct my steps, my dancing God,

 In rhythms slow or fast,

To dance life’s varied melodies,

 Moving in clear-cut syncopated time

 Or swaying slowly to the haunting music

 Only hearts can hear.

  Direct my steps, my dancing God,

 To join the dance of time,

Stretching,

 Reaching,

 Touching hand to hand

 All those who join the dance,

All those whose inner music

 Sings your name.

 Direct my steps, my dancing God,

 In solo steps

Across the stage of time,

 Swirling,

 Leaping,

Drawn by mystic music only I can hear,

Dancing life As only I can do. 

Direct my steps, my dancing God,

Moving to the rhythm of your heart,

Twirling,

Spinning,

Leaping unafraid,

Trusting in the sureness of your love

That lifts me high And

whispers softly in my heart

The music of the dance,

 I am.

 Intercessions

  Responses: Lord, in your mercy listen to our prayer...  

 1.  For the Pope, bishops, priests and deacons and all religious: that they may unfailingly testify by their lives may lead many more to this noble vocation. We pray to the Lord

2. For the World: that  we all,  recognize the minds and conscience of people, making us prophetic and helping us to treat each other more humanely so that all wars, political changes and trials may recede into the  background  leading to a more peaceful living  world, we pray to the Lord. 

 3. For Sr.----: that as she celebrates her gift of life today the lord may bless her with good heath of mind and body and may be guided by the Lord in her call to follow him, we pray to the Lord.

  4. For the parents and dear ones of Sr.----: that they may experience the presence of God in their daily life and may be guided to fulfill His wishes in their life, we pray to the Lord.

 5. For the Youth of today: that their presence will lead to a promising future, lighting up the path of all whom they encounter, in recognizing and answering to the vocation that is placed within them we pray to the Lord.

  6. For all of us: that all our dreams may be lucid and meaningful, growing realistically to it fulfilment “for your greater glory and the salvation of the world, we pray to the Lord.     

Birthday Prayer by …..

 Thank you, God, for giving me another year of life.

 Thank you for all the people who remembered me today

by sending cards, and letters, gifts and good wishes.

Thank you for all the experience of this past year;

for times of success which will always be happy memories,

for times of failure which reminded me of my own weakness and of my need for you,

for times of joy when the sun was shining,

for times of sadness which drove me to you. Forgive me

for the hours I wasted, for the chances I failed to take,

for the opportunities I missed this past year.

Help me in the days ahead to make this the best year yet,

and through it to bring good credit to myself, happiness and

pride to my loved ones, and joy to you. Amen. 

Concluding Prayer

May this year bring with it all the success and fulfillment of your heart desires.

 May each and every passing year bring you wisdom, peace and cheer.

May today be filled with sunshine and smiles, laughter and love.

May God bless you and keep you always in His tender, loving care.

May God soften the pillow on which you rest your head at night

 May He make smooth the path you walk on.not just today but everyday.

 As God adds life to your years, may He add years to your life.

 We make this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen