Closing Sesquicentennial Blessing

Composed by Michael Kwatera and Edited by Tom Andert

Almighty and Loving God, we give you praise and thanks
for the life of our St. John’s Community in this place for 150 years.
We praise you, God of our past,
for showing us your love in Jesus Christ,
the head of your church in every age.
You have been our refuge and strength
from one generation to the next,
and you have held us in a love
that is ever ancient and ever new.
And so we say: to you be glory forever!

TO YOU BE GLORY FOREVER!

We praise you, God of our present,
for making your salvation known to us in this place
and for calling us to renew the Church in our time.
We thank you for the monks of St. John’s Abbey
who generously exercised the ministry of Word and Sacrament,
of pastoral care and works of charity,
in this place for fifteen decades.
We thank you for inspiring their worship and work,
for strengthening them to serve you and your people,
and for building up this community of faith,
so that they might glorify you in all things.
Bless our community
and maintain our unity in the bond of peace.
And so we say: to you be glory forever!

TO YOU BE GLORY FOREVER!

We praise you, God of our future,
as we accept new challenges and opportunities
to be faithful disciples of your Son, Jesus Christ.
We trust in your never-failing presence
in our strengths and weaknesses,
in our success and failures,
in our joys and sorrows.
Grant that your Holy Spirit will equip us with everything good
to do your will,
so that we many remain close to you and to each other.
Pour out your abundant blessings upon all the members
of this community…our students, staff and faculty,
our families friends, oblates, alumni and benefactors, and all who work with us,
so that we may be a blessing for others.
And so we say: to you be glory forever!

TO YOU BE GLORY FOREVER!