BIRDSONG VESPERS
Inspired by the life of St Francis, Birdsong Vespers is an inclusive outdoor worship service that welcomes the evening with song and prayer.
The next BirdSong Vespers will be 5.3opm on Tuesday August 25th 2026.
At Bishop's house - isle of Iona
Birdsong order of service
INVOCATION: The Iona Gloria
Humbly by Laurence Cole
1. Humbly we walk here humbly we sing here
Humbly we bless this land
2. Humbly and with gratitude
Remembering the ancient ones, we bless this land
QUOTE: “Once upon a time . . . there was the simple understanding that to sing at dawn and to sing at dusk was to heal the world through joy. The birds still remember what we have forgotten, that the world is meant to be celebrated.” —Terry Tempest Williams
Oh Spirit, Guide Me by Sara Thomsen
Oh, Spirit, guide me now
Oh, Spirit, guide me now
Oh, Spirit, guide me now
In your way guide me
POEM/PRAYER/CHANT to share?
The heart is not a holding place Sufi chant
The heart is not a holding place.
My heart is not a holding place.
Thy spirit is golden. My spirit is golden.
And I am free to fly
Iona — by Kenneth Steven
Is this place really nearer to God?
Is the wall thin between our whispers and his listening?
I only know the world grows less and less -
here what matters is conquering the wind,
coming home dryshod, getting the fire lit.
I am not sure whether there is no time here or more time,
whether the light is stronger or just easier to see.
That is why Ikeep returning, thirsty, to this place
that is older than my understanding,
younger than my broken spirit.