Liturgy of the hours preparation

Overview

The format for the Liturgy of the Hours is suitable for any community prayer. It lends itself to any Christian community that meets regularly; for example a school classroom or parish meeting.

There are written prayers, psalms and readings allocated for the various times of each day and are recorded in an official book that is called "Liturgy of the Hours". These can be adapted for use in schools.

There are many ready prepared resources that adapt and use the format for the Liturgy of the Hours but the basic format is as follows:

Outline of Prayer

Gather:

Welcome
Invitation to Prayer & Praise of the Trinity
Opening Song (own choice)

Listen:

Psalmody (one psalm only)
Scripture Reading

Respond:

Silence (pauses)
Intercessions
Lord’s Prayer
Closing Prayer

Go forth:

Blessing
Dismissal

You will need:

A Leader; a Reader; a person to manage the music.
You can create a change in how your staff group gathers by organising seating in ‘choir’ ie, two sides facing each other ... the group needs to know beforehand, ‘who’ is the Left side and ‘who’ is the Right side. The Leader can decide and tell the group at the Welcome time.
A full text for all present (suggestion: insert A4 sheets into plastic folders. The above summary could be included though it is not read aloud during the prayer).
The chosen Scripture Reading (separate folder) or proclaimed from the Lectionary or bible and set near the candles. The Reader goes to the book and proclaims from the middle of the space, if possible.
Words of the chosen opening song (as an insert) and recorded music and player if needed.
Prayer space set up in the usual way with head, heart and hands candles already alight
The colour for the liturgical season: red, purple, white or green