I was a lay member of our parish before being called to serve as its priest. My successor, on her Sabbatical, went to Iona, the island where St. Columba set up his base for evangelizing the Scots. She brought back a Celtic Eucharist service that included prayers from a number of sources. We still use this Iona Liturgy on the first Sunday of the month. One of my favorite features is this version of the Lord's Prayer from the New Zealand Book of Common Prayer. It really makes you think when you see something familiar through the eyes of another culture.
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.
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