Sweep over still

Prayers at Morning Prayer

Bangor Cathedral, 8 March 2018

Psalm 56; Genesis 49.33 — end of 50; Hebrews 7.1–10

A prayer as we reach the end of our reading of Genesis

In the beginning there was nothing,

ceaseless void,

and now, at the end,

Abraham and Sarah and Hagar

and Ishmael and Isaac and Rebekah

and Jacob and Leah and Rachel and Joseph,

long lives over,

lie in their tombs,

and Ephraim’s great-grandchildren

play in their little Eden.

In the beginning there was nothing,

ceaseless void,

and now there is everything,

your creation

brimming, flourishing, exalting;

in the beginning there was nothing,

and now there is us,

rejoicing, resenting, living,

sinning, repenting, forgiving.

Sweep over still

the face of the deep,

the human heart

that beats here now,

as theirs,

as yours.

Sweep over still,

God of Abraham,

Immortal Word,

Breath of the Creator.

Sweep over still

and send us out

and lead us on

to Exodus and Eden,

to wilderness and garden,

to cross and tomb

and light and flame,

your ceaseless heart

and deep.