PRAYER SERVICE ON PENTECOST - 16

Bhajan;To the Holy Spirit

Introduction; ‘For I Will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on dry ground, I will pour my spirit upon your descendants and my blessings on your offspring’s.’[Is.44;3]

As we watch that most moving of histories, how God was continually leading the people even closer to Himself, and in the gifts He had promised to them. The Spirit acts as a liberator to free God’s people from oppression, to ensure them necessary freedom. The Holy Spirit is present at every birth, every new creation, every new beginning. It appears at the Baptism of every Christian, the rebirth to the Divine life.

Today as we commemorate the glorious event of PENTECOST a unique event, which gave, birth to the Church and transformed the apostles. The same spirit refreshes the weary, strengthens the weak, teaches how to pray and actively present in the life of every human being. As we celebrate the greatest and unique gift in our lives and in the life of the Church, let us thank the Almighty Father for keeping his promise through his Son.

O Spirit of wisdom preside over all our thoughts, words and actions,

Spirit of understanding enlighten and teach us.

Spirit of counsel directs our inexperience.

Spirit of fortitude strengthens our weakness.

Spirit of knowledge instructs our ignorance.

Spirit of piety makes us fervent in good works.

Heavenly Spirit makes us persevere in the service of God, and enable us to act on all occasions with goodness and benignity.

HYMN; To prepare ourselves to listen to the Word of God.

READING;

I am spirit, personification of God’s love. I am part of God and I am fully God. I am through the age’s people and prophets spoke about me but never understood me. They looked for me but never found me.

Reading: (Read Continually)

Commentary

READING; read continually

COMMENTRY. I, am present from eternity I was there at the time of creation. I was like a wind emerging from Father

Reading Genesis-1; 1-2.

Commentary

I am. Part of God and it is through me that the creation work was done. I was there with David and he praised me when he said Reading Psalm 104;30.

COMMENTRY

  I was .there  to  with prophets of old , I was  present  when prophet Samuel  anointed the first king  of Israel..

Reading-1^st Samuel 16;13

 COMMENTRY.

I was there to anoint  the prophet  Isaiah and I made my dwelling in him.

 Reading Isaiah 61;1-2.

COMMENTARY

I opened the mouth  of Ezekiel to judge the wicked counsels of Isreal.

READING Ezekiel11-5-8

COMMENTRAY

I approached Ezekiel in   a vision  and said to him,

Reading Ezekiel 2-2-4

COMMENTRAY

I courage the people of Israel through Haggai speaking to them about the future glory  of the temple.

Reading Haggai2;4

COMMENTARY.

I was sent to assist Moses to accompany him and fill him with knowledge and wisdom.

Reading Exodus-31;1-5

COMMENTRAY

I was with  Jesus  yet I was  he , I became part of him yet he came through me. His words were mine yet I reminded of his Baptism.

Reading Mathew3;10

COMMENTRY

I enlightned  Nicodemus through Jesus

Reading John9;5

COMMENTRAY

Jesus  spoke about me in the temple when He said

Reading Jn;7;38

COMMENTRAY

I refreshed the mind of the Samaritan woman  with the spring of water .

Reading Jn4;14.

COMMENTRAY

Jesus predicts my arrival and promised  me to his followers if they keep the commandments taught by him.

Reading John 14/15

COMMENTARY

I have the power to raise the dead to life for I am the source of life. St. Paul confirms my identity as a life giver when he said   Reading Romans 8/ 11

COMMENTARY

And finally on this day of Pentecost I came down in tongues of fire and in a visible form on the apostles to testify the words of Christ. The account of my arrival                                                                                                                                                    recoded in the book of Acts bear witness to me

Reading Acts2/1-4

Hymn…Praise the Lord No-27

INTERCESSIONS

RESPONSE-“ Lord listen to your people praying send your love, send your power send your grace” As we have received the spirit of son ship and the spirit of love. The same spirit calls us to be people concerned with the welfare of the whole world let us place our prayers and petitions before the father

As we pray for our Holy father Pope Benedict XVI,Cardinales, Bishops, Priests and every consecrated persons Lord send forth your Spirit that they may lead the church guided by your Spirit and be able to discern what is good in your sight ….R/

That  the whole world may experience unity and fellowship and peace by experiencing the humanizing and spiritualizing spirit of the Lord ……R/

For the leaders of the nations and for those who have responsibility in society  that following the example of Jesus who came to bring his kingdom of justice and peace that guided by your spirit they may fulfill their responsibility in a worthy manner….R/

We pray for those who suffer persecution because of the Gospel, that the spirit of consolation strengthen their witness and free them from their burden and may persevere in their Christian witness….R/

(A Souvenir with the gifts of Holy spirit written on it is passed on) each one is requested to take it.

Silence   Thanking the Spirit for the gifts received. 

Concluding prayer

(  Leader starts  and each member says each sentence )

(Come holy Spirit)

Replace the tension within us with a holy relaxation.

Replace the turbulence within us with a sacred calm.

Replace the anxiety within with a sacred calm.

Replace the anxiety within us with a quiet confidence.

Replace the fear within us with a strong faith

Replace the bitterness within us with a gentle light.

Replace the coldness within us with loving warmth.

Replace the winter within us with your spring straighten our crookedness.

Fill our emptiness.

Dull the edge of our pride.

Sharpen the edge of our humility.

Light the fires of our love.

Quench the flames of our lust.

Let us see ourselves as God sees us that we may see you as you have promised and be fortunate according to your word.

“Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.

We make this prayer through our Lord …………….forever and ever  Amen.

      

BIRTHDAY PRAYER SERVICE- 9

YOU ARE THE INTRICATE WORK OF GOD’S LOVE

Let me start again-----hymn.

Introduction:

               One morning the angels realized that God is going to perform a great work. They anxiously waited to see what is going to happen. They even had an argument among them on this issue. Some said, he is going to create a new star, some said, no, He is going to build a nation, some had the opinion that He is going to perform a great miracle, that was to create a human being, who will be called …., the daughter, of Mr.& Mrs.                    Yes, dear sisters, today we are here this morning to celebrate the great miracle, which God had performed many years ago.

                 We thank God too, for the gift of life to Sr. .. who also celebrates her birthday today. For all that she is to her family, Congregation and to this community at CFMSS. We thank and praise you Lord.

We invite sisters .. and … to light the lamp.

Pause

We shall now pay careful attention to a story being enacted.

The Island feelings

Once upon a time there was an Island where all the feelings lived. Happiness, sadness, richness, vanity, love and others include knowledge. One day it was announced to them all, that the Island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave. Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the Island paradise until the last possible moment.

When the Island was almost totally under, love decided it was time to leave. She began looking for someone to ask for help. Just then richness was passing by in a grant boat. Love asked, richness, could I come with you on your boat? Richness answered, “ I am sorry, there is silver and gold in my boat and there would be no room for you anywhere.

Then love decided to ask vanity for help who was passing in beautiful vessel. Love cried out, “Vanity, help me please?” “I cannot help you, vanity said, you are all wet and will damage my beautiful boat.”

Next, love saw sadness passing by. Love said, “Sadness please let me go with you.” Sadness answered, “ Love I am sorry, I just need to be alone now.”

Then love saw happiness. Love cried out, “Happiness please take me with you.” But happiness was so overjoyed that he didn’t hear love calling out to him. Love began to cry.

Then she heard a voice say, “ Come love I will take you with me.” It was an elder. Love felt so blest and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land the elder went on his way. Love realized how much she owed the elder.

Love then found knowledge and asked, “ Who was it that helped me?” “ It was time,” Knowledge answered. But why did time help me when no one else would? Love asked. Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity answered: Because only time is capable of understanding how great love is.

Hymn  “I can feel …….”

Each of us has seen how all his companions rejected love that wanted to preserve the Island. Finally it was time only who understood the importance of love.

Yes; dear sisters the reason for today’s celebration is non other than the unconditional love of the parents of Sr…

The love that had been poured into their hearts by God has been nurtured and fostered by the members of the family. Thus making them what they are today. Love is the only virtue that surpasses all understanding. It is this love that has enabled sisters …become new stars and the miracle of God’s creation thus enhancing them be active instruments in building the nation.

Dear sisters our hearts want to tell you that God created you and only you there is and they will never be another you in all eternity. He has made you with all the essentials of a human being that is with feelings, emotions, knowledge etc..  Yet in His unconditional love for you he has a great plan, which you have to fulfill. Jesus now expresses in this hymn “Dooja Nahin Koi…” which means there is no one like you and this is the truth.

Let us now listen to a parable

One day a man punished his young daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he was furious when the child tried to decorate the box Nevertheless the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morn and said, “ This is for you Dad.” He was embarrassed by the earlier over reaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty. He yelled at her, “ Don’t you know when you give someone a present there’s suppose to be something inside it?”

His daughter looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said “ Oh, Daddy, It’s not empty I blew kisses   into the box. All for you, daddy. The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

As years passed this girl got married and left to her husbands home. Her Father yet continued to keep the golden box by his bed for many years, Whenever he was discouraged he would take out and imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense each of us have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love, love and kisses from our friends our family and from God. There is no more precious position any one could hold.

Sr. ...., you have been instrumental in the lives of many formators who’s lives you have enriched by your very presence and interaction. Today it is you who are alive in their hearts and minds.

Psalm    105

How great is my God,

And how I love to sing His praises!

Whereas I am often frightened when I think about the future,

And confused and disturbed

By the rapidly changing events about me,

My heart is secured and made glad

When I remember how He has cared for me

Throughout the past.

When I was brought forth from my mother’s womb,

God’s hand was upon me.

Through parents and people, who cared, He loved and sheltered me

And set me upon His course for my life.

Through illness and accident my God has sustained me.

Around pitfalls and precipices He has safely led me.

When I became rebellious and struck out on my own,

He waited patiently for me to return.

When I fell on my face in weakness and failure,

He gently set me upon my feet again.

He did not always prevent me from Hurting myself,

But He took me back to heal my wounds.

Even out of the broken pieces of my defeats

He created a vessel of beauty and usefulness.

Through trials and errors, failures and success.

Through trails and errors, failures and successes,

My God has cared for me.

From infancy to adulthood He has never let me go.

His love has led me- or followed me-

Through the valleys of sorrow

And the highlands of joy,

Through times of want and years of abundance.

He has bridged impassable rivers

And moved impossible mountains.

Sometimes through me, Sometimes in spite of me,

He seeks to accomplish His purposes in my life.

He has kept me through the stormy past;

He will secure and guide me

Through the perilous future.

I need never be afraid,

No matter how and uncertain the months or years ahead of me.

How great is my God,

And how I love to sing His praises!

BIRTHDAY INTRO - 2

YOU ARE THE INTRICATE WORK OF GOD’S LOVE 

Introduction

Today the church remembers Our Lady of sorrows. Mary’s total love for Jesus and the Father gave her the cross. We pray that we, too, learn to experience joy and grow in love in our daily lives through the crosses we encounter. Let us also pray for all congregations who celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.

We here, at  CFMSS have another reason for celebration. The birthday of sisters …. and …. Yes, dear sisters God began His intricate work in you from the moment you were in your mother’s womb.

A birthday is a milestone calling for a celebration. It’s your birthday the day on which God ordained your unique place and purpose in the universe. Celebrate your beginning, your being, and your becoming! Consider yourself surrounded by a radiance that proclaims: This is my special day and I am special. A birthday is a wonderful opportunity for renewing, rejuvenating, rejoicing! Remember. You belong to God. From the first moment of your existence, God’s name was written in your heart. God claimed you from all eternity to be born this day. Read God’s personal birthday greeting to you in the kindness of loved ones, the goodness within your heart, the wonder of nature. Therefore today, we wish to portray your life with that of a butterfly.

OFFERTORY:

The plans of His heart are established; the plans of His heart are filled with praise. Yes, dear sister Sabina, it is by His touch you live, move and grow. On this joyous day we look back at your whole life as with the different stages of a butterfly.

1.The Egg Stage:

                        This resembles the birth and infancy in the life of Sr. … .We thank you Lord for Sr. … in whom you breathed life on this day. Her very existence is a blessing. We pray you Lord, to keep enkindling in her a total dependence on you as that of a child. Grant the bliss of Paradise to the souls of her dear parents.

2.Caterpillar.

                    The second stage symbolizes the childhood of Sr….. Just as a caterpillar begins to enjoy the beauty of life, so too, Sr….had begun experiencing the love of God through her family. We ask you Lord, to keep this flame of love burning brightly in the heart of Sr. ….that she may always draw strength from you. Sustain all those whom she holds dear with your love and peace.

3. Chrysalis:

              This represents the adolescent stage of Sr. ….. is when the caterpillar experiences a crucial and painful change in the process of becoming an adult. The same as experienced by Sr.S…., as she had to take a firm decision to say, “yes” to Jesus.

Lord Jesus, you have been instrumental in the life of Sr…. by your constant guidance and the assurance of your presence in her life. Thus drawing many more vocations in your vineyard may you continue to enhance the lives of those whom she encounters and moulds.

4.Butterfly

                      Finally out of the cocoon then eventually emerged a complete butterfly. It is a reflection of new life, hope and joy. A good index to measure the ecological health of a region is the number of butterflies that are seen flying freely in it. Yes, dear Sr…., you have been fully formed by the master’s touch. As a person you are generous, affectionate, youthful, kind, prayerful, optimistic, firm yet caring, joyful, simple, approachable, understanding and many more. You are this butterfly, which radiates new life, hope and joy in the lives of others.

5. Bread and wine.   

In order to get the finished product the raw materials have to under go various stages of processing. Likewise in order to grow unto the fullness of Christ we have to transcend beyond our frail nature that we may experience and share this love with those around us. We pray specially for … whom the Lord has planted in His vineyard to grow in deep intimacy with Him.        

                                                   

PRAYER SERVICE - 8

INTRODUCTION:  Life is a gift of God out of His abundant love. This gift is to be celebrated. Life is to be celebrated. To celebrate life is to appreciate God who gave this precious gift. To appreciate God is to be with Him with songs of love and thanksgiving. To praise Him in gratitude is true prayer. This prayer springs up from the depth of one’s heart and leads to total surrender. Today we join with Sr…..in her prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gift of her life.

Lord, giver of life, in to the immensity of your love and mercy, we let ourselves disappear as we praise you for the life you have gifted to our dear Sr….You created her in your beauty and filled her with your tenderness and love. You constantly renewed her as you guided her through the journey of her life. You touched her with your wisdom and enlightened her as you set her apart only for you. We thank you for all that you do in her life as we sing this hymn of praise.

Sr. offers the vase:

                   My Lord, this vase symbolizes my life. You created me in love. You know me through and through. You have a plan for me. You let people come into my life to nourish me with your love and experience. You let events happen in my life to teach me and to enlighten me. You surround me with your care, shielding me from all the dangers. O Lord, keep me within your heart and take possession of my life for your glory. (Places the vase on the stand)

SPONGE: (FAMILY)

                   This sponge symbolizes the family of Sr. The sponge absorbs the water and helps the flowers and leaves to remain fresh and united. Lord, we thank you for the family of Sr. She would not have been what she is today except for her dear ones and for their love and care. Lord, bless each one of them abundantly as we offer you this sponge.

LEAVES: (CHURCH)

                   Heavenly Father, we offer to you the entire church along with all its members. Along with this branch, we offer you Sr. with gratitude and love. Shower your blessings upon her and make her a sign of your steadfast love to all those who come in contact with her. May she be able to bring people closer to you and thus help the church in the mission of proclaiming the good news. Lord, bless Sr. and the entire church.

LEAVES AND FLOWERS:(CONGREGATION)

                   We offer you Lord, our congregation and all the members. We remember all our sisters and pray that you bless and keep us always in your protecting wings. Accept and bless us as we place these flowers and leaves. May we cherish your love and flourish in the service of your kingdom.

LEAVES: (INSTITUTIONS)

                   Leaves add beauty to the plants and they have a lot to contribute to the growth of the plants. The plants in the nature help us to live in good health as they provide the fresh air. Today we offer through this symbol all the institutions where Sr…. has rendered her loving services. Lord, we ask your blessings upon Sr…. and all the institutions. Help her to be ever joyful in her service to you everywhere.

FLOWERS:(TEACHERS AND FRIENDS)

                   Lord, as we offer these flowers, we offer you all the teachers and friends of Sr…. We implore your blessings upon each one of them who have fostered her goodness and nurtured her in the soil of love and fraternity. Bless them with your heavenly richness. Bless all their endeavors and their undertakings that they may reap a harvest of joy and peace in their lives.

FLOWERS:(All those who have helped her)

                   Lord, giver of all good gifts, we thank you for the precious gift of Sr. Today as we celebrate her life, we offer you this beautiful flowers as a symbol of all those who have helped her to grow in her life, specially her formators. Jesus, we ask you to bless them and give them your peace and joy.

Prayer Hour – Birthday – 7

In the name of the Father………..

Short introduction:

“Sing my soul to the Lord of the universe. Lift your heart in song. Bring out all the love you can. Praise the Lord, yes sing his name. Praise him for his marvelous deeds. Oh sing my soul to the Lord.

Yes Lord, whole of the universe has awakened with a whisper of joy, peace and happiness. Our hearts are thrilled with your marvelous love for the wonders you work in our life. At this beautiful dawn we raise our hearts and minds in gratitude and praise for the gift of life that you have endowed to each one of us. Today is the day of rejoicing for all the members of cfmss community as our dear Sr… celebrates her birthday. Dear Sr. …we wish you a very happy birthday.

The theme of our prayer is “You are the reflection of God’s love.” Let us begin our morning worship by invoking the Holy Spirit as we listen to this song.

  [Come Holy Spirit …….]

Life is a journey in this pilgrim land. Some moments in it are very rare and very special. Such a moment has dawned today in the life of our sister….. All through the years the Lord has been with you. All through the years He has guided you and has enabled you to experience and to express His immense love. John Powell in his book “Through the seasons of the heart” writes : ‘God sends each person into this world with a special message to deliver, with a special song to sing, with a special act of love to bestow’. Indeed, God has chosen you for a purpose with a special message to deliver – a message of love and compassion, a special song to sing – a song of thanksgiving to the Lord for the numerous blessings.

God’s love is being reflected through various ways in particular through His creation. Today as we celebrate the gift of life of Sr…., how can we say that she is a reflection of God’s love for us at cfmss.Here we have the Tech Supporter and the Customer. Let us listen to them to understand how Sr. …is a reflection of God’s love.

Installing love: [Sr. Asunta – Tech supporter and Sr. Presilla – Customer]

Yes, a person who has experienced the love of Abba Father knows how to communicate. We have experienced your accompaniment in our process of growth. Your patience and listening capacity has helped us to come to you at any time to seek your guidance. For the love that you show we sing….. God is love…..

Introduction to the flower:

We just heard that how a supporter helps a customer. How gently and caringly the supporter was guiding the customer. Dear sisters, it symbolizes the very life of our dear Sr. … who accompanies and supports those whom she has been entrusted. Lord, we wonder at your marvelous work - the life of our dear sister. Yes Lord, you have created a lovely flower with sweet fragrance and soft petals. She bloomed and blossomed with goodness and virtues. As she remains, as reflection of God’s love, let us have a view on a flower which depicts different ways of being the reflection God’s love in her day today life.

A reading for the holy Gospel according to St. Jn:15,1-16

FAITH:  Verse 4: “Abide in me as I abide in you”

Dear Sr. .….we appreciate in you the quality of deep faith in God. Your very life itself reveals the depth of your faith that which rooted in the Word of God. Whatever may be the life situations that you come across, we see in you the unshaken faith that is reflected in your actions. We thank God for this grace.

CHARITY:

Verse 5: “I am the wine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.”

This reflects the beautiful gift of charity that Sr….. is adorned with. Charity begins at home. A person to be charitable is something great and to be appreciated and that person is you dear Sr…... Lord, we are grateful to you for such a lovely person that you have given to us.

PRAYER:

Verse  “Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine.”

Prayer is the deep experience of God. God our loving Father we praise and thank you for the gift of Sr. ….who is the person of prayer. Lord, you are the source of life and goodness. You created her in your own image and likeness to be with you and proclaim your good news to all. We thank our God for you as the person of prayer.

LOVE:

Verse 9 :  “As the Father has loved me so I have loved you”

Love makes the life worth living and it inspires others to live. Love no longer remains selfish and self centered but it finds ways to bring happiness and life for others. Dear sister, the good Lord has placed a very large measure of his love in you. Through your life you are radiating this love to all and bring happiness. We thank Lord, for enabling you to reach out his great love to many by being the reflection of his love.

JOY:

Verse 11 : “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Joy is an unique gift and is acquired by those who have positive outlook towards one’s own life and life around. This gift we see in you and experience from you dear Sr…... Through this gift you radiate the joyful presence of Jesus Christ deep within you. We thank our God, for your joyful person.

SACRIFICE:

Verse 13: No one has greater love than this to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Sacrifice is a gift possessed by a person who is other centered. Dear Sr….., we pray for the Almighty God that the pain you undergo in order to sacrifice your time and energy for the growth of others and your congregation and to each one of us, may crown you with glory and happiness. For this we thank our God for you.

APPROACHABLE

Verse: 15 “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my father.”

There is no difficulty for anyone to approach sister at any time for anything. It is something great to have this beautiful quality of being an approachable person. Lord, we thank you for adorning our sister with this special quality.

OPTIMIST:

Verse16: “You did not choose me but I chose you and I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.”

Yes, dear Sr. ….God has chosen you to bear fruit that which lasts. We see in you the beautiful fruit that is an optimistic outlook in everything. We see you, as simple in thoughts and actions as a result you bear the fruit that which reflects God’s love through your optimistic approach. For this we praise and thank God.

COMPASSION:

Verse17 : “I am giving you this command so that you may love one another.”

A compassionate person takes note of others needs, and eager to help. The very quality of compassion makes to think the best for others. Dear Lord, we thank you for instilling your compassion in the heart of our sister and making her a channel of your compassion.

DEDICATION:

 Verse18: “My father is glorified by this that you bear much fruit.”

Lord, you have blessed Sr.. .….with a heart of a mother, a sign of total dedication. Thank you dear Lord for making her bear much fruit in the course of her life. We thank you for the wonderful gift that she is.

Now we request Sr……to place the flower on the alter as the symbol of God’s love. Let us pray along with her

(Hymn- Keep me in the hollow…………)

Ps103:

This is a hymn of thanksgiving for the greatness of God’s love. The psalmist urges the people to praise God for all the graces that they received. They experience God as one who is slow to anger abounding in steadfast love and mercy. Today this psalm calls us to sing praises to God for the gift of Sr….. for the selfless service, dedication, availability, guidance, sacrifice and encouragement to each and every one of us.

Ps by Sr. Asunta

Conclusion

“O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for His steadfast love endures for ever.” God our loving Father, we are indeed blessed by your miraculous gift - Sr….. to her congregation, family, community and very specially to each one of us. Thank you Lord for your lovely and lively presence we experience every day through our dear sister. Lord, we also thank you for the innumerable blessings you have showered upon each one of us during this hour of prayer. Today our only prayer for you Sister is :

“May God keep you day by day. Guide you all the way ; Never let you stray. May He keep you in the depths of His divine heart. We pray for this grace as we sing the concluding hymn.”

Kahatha hai dil mera………

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