PLEASE PRAY WITH US

Tonight, Act One is having a blessing ceremony at our new offices. Together with our local friends, alumni, faculty, mentors and Board members, we will take time to thank God for bringing this weird little program to this new level (and I mean more than our higher altitude here under the Hollywood sign...). We will also ask Jesus to come and make His home among us. That this new place will be a source of only good things for the Church and the world.

I'm going to append the blessing service here in the hopes that the Act Oners out there far away, and also any others of you who read this blog, will join us in a prayer of gratitude and blessing.

Act One Office Blessing Ceremony
February 4, 2005

Presiding: Rev. Scott Erdman and Rev. Willy Raymond, csc
Fr. Willy: (Greeting)

Part I – Reflection on the Word
Rev. Scott: Peace be with this place and with all of you.
All respond: And also with you.
Rev. Scott: Blessed be the name of the Lord.
All respond: Who made heaven and earth.
Rev. Scott: When the Word became flesh, he made his home with us. Let us now pray that he will enter this place and bless it with his presence.
(pause for a moment of silent prayer)
Rev. Scott: May Christ always be here among the staff and students and faculty and guests of Act One; may he nurture your love for each other, share in your joys, comfort you in your sorrows.
Inspired by his teachings and example, seek to make this new office, before all else, a dwelling place of love, diffusing far and wide the goodness of Christ.
All: Amen.

First Scripture reading: Col 3: 13-17 (Fr. Willy)
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians

You are God's chosen race, his saints; He loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience.

Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love.

And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body.

Always be thankful.

Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God;

And never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The word of the Lord.

All Respond: Thanks be to God.

Psalm Response: Psalm 126, 127 - Todd Coleman

Todd: If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the laborers toil. If the Lord does not guard the city, in vain do the guards keep watch.

All Repeat: If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the laborers toil. If the Lord does not guard the city, in vain do the guards keep watch.

Todd: When the Lord delivered us and brought us back to the city of Zion, we were like men dreaming.

All: If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the laborers toil.

Todd: Our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues sang for joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord had done great things for them."

All: If the Lord does not guard the city, in vain do the guards keep watch.

Todd: The Lord has done great things for us; Our hearts are filled with joy.

All: If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the laborers toil.

Todd: O Lord, bless your people again, and let us be like streams in the Southern desert.

All: If the Lord does not guard the city, in vain do the guards keep watch.

Todd: Those who have sown in tears will reap with cries of joy.
Those who go forth weeping, carrying sacks of seed,
Will return with cries of joy, carrying their bundled sheaves.

All: If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the laborers toil. If the Lord does not guard the city, in vain do the guards keep watch.


Gospel Reading: (John 17:1, 11-21) - Rev. Scott

A reading from the Gospel According to John

And Jesus lifting up his eyes to heaven, said, “Holy Father, keep these through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.

Rev. Scott: The Gospel of the Lord

All: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

(Scott will share a message at this moment.)


Part II, Intercessory Prayer and blessing

Fr. Willy: Let us now join raise our hearts and minds in prayer for all of the people who make up the Act One community. For the alumni and faculty, for the staff and mentors, for donors and friends and future students.
Heavenly Father, because of your constant care for Act One, we are gathered here on this night in celebration and wonder. You have gifted the members of this community in many ways – with talent and artistry, with passion and commitment, with favor in the sight of the Church and Hollywood. But we know that the greatest gift you have given us, is the spirit of prayer. With confidence now, we turn to you to raise up our gratitude, our needs and our dreams for the future.

Appointed Prayer Leaders:
1. Thank God for blessing Act One to this point. Prayer for the ministry of Act One to continue to grow and expand. Prayer for the new Executive program.
2. Prayer for our alumni.
3. Prayer for our future students.
4. Prayer for our faculty and mentors.
5. Prayer for our donors.
6. Prayer for our staff, Advisory Boards and Board of Directors.
7. Prayer for Hollywood.
8. Prayer for the global audience.

Fr. Willy: And now, using the words our Savior gave us, let us unite all our praises and intercessions with one voice.

All: Our Father, who art in heaven…

Fr. Willy: (taking the water) This water is a reminder of our baptism, and a symbol of the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit. May it be a sign now of the blessing of God on this place. That God may drive out all the powers of darkness and make these offices a holy place of service and peace. As we sprinkle these rooms, we pray that each drop represents another life that will be touched or renewed or deepened through the work of Act One.
(Scott and Fr. Willy sprinkle the offices.)

Conclusion

Rev. Scott: Good and gracious God, let your light continue to shine through this Act One community of yours. May this office be a place that is always pleasing to you. Prosper the work of our hands, our minds and our hearts. Protect our families and help us to dream vivid and holy dreams for the future of Hollywood. We offer ourselves, our hopes, all of our talents and skills for your greater glory. And we ask only, that we may love you more and more.
We make this prayer, with confidence, in the name of Jesus your Son.
All. Amen.