Suggested format for service in parishes and schools, homes, prayer groups…wherever the people of God may be gathered.

Theme: RESPECT FOR LIFE

Opening Hymn

Suggestions:

Make me a Channel of Your Peace/How Many Times/Fashion Me a People

Opening Prayer

Let us pray

(for a deep reverence for all that God has created)

Merciful God, you created us out of love, for love. We have strayed from your path. We have allowed the work of our hands to take priority in our lives, forgetting that you are the true Source of all life. Set alight within us that spark of your divine that we may be open to conversion of heart. Remind us that we are just stewards of all that you have created so that we may be more mindful of the generations to come. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Reading Jeremiah 1: 1-10

The word of Yahweh came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I appointed you as prophet to the nations. I then said, ‘Ah, ah, ah, Lord Yahweh; you see, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child!’ But Yahweh replied, ‘Do not say, “I am only a child,” for you must go to all to whom I send you and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of confronting them, for I am with you to rescue you, Yahweh declares.’

Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth, and Yahweh said to me: There! I have put my words into your mouth. Look, today I have set you over the nations and kingdoms, to uproot and to knock down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 8

Response: O Lord how great is your name through all the earth

You have set your glory above the heavens

From the lips of children and of babes

You have ordained praise because of your enemies,

to silence the foe and the rebel.

When I see the heavens, the work of your hands,

the moon and the stars which you created;

Who are we Lord that you keep us in mind

mortal beings that you care for us.

Yet you have made us little less that a god

with honour and glory you crown us

gave us power over the work of your hands

put all things under our feet

All of them, sheep and cattle

the birds of the air and the fish that make their

way through the water.

O Lord our God how great is your name through all the earth

Gospel Reading John 1: 1-14

In the beginning was the Word; and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came into being, no one thing came into being except through him. What has come into being in him was life, life that was the light of men; and light shines in darkness, the darkness could not overpower it.

A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness to the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He was not the light; he was to bear witness to the light.

The Word was the real light that gives light to everyone; he was coming into the world. He was in the world that had come into being through him, and the world did not recognise him. He came to his own and his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believed in his name who were born not from human stock or human desire or human will but from God himself. The Word became flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Homily or reflection or song (Suggested songs – Song of a Young Prophet/Tell of My Love to the Islands)

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION