Rupert Bear Prayer Book - revisited

Was at a service a while back (just found the service sheet) which had the most wonderful example of 'A Service of the Word (according to Rupert Bear)'. It contained these gems:

Welcome.

We come into God's presence
To bless Him and praise His holy Name.

Let us pray
O God who is three in one, Father, Holy Spirit Son,
We come before you here today to sing your praise, Read and Pray,
Expecting you to draw us near as you our prayers and cries do hear.
So take us in your arms we pray and bring us solace from our day,
And by your love we are made one. Through you father, Spirit and the Son. Amen.

We come to bless His holy name.
We come into God's presence.

Now, I understand the sentiments but have to ask, "What on earth makes people write stuff like this?" Surely we can write liturgy that says what it needs to without resorting to the tragedy that is rhyming?

The service continued with some really nice imagery and then as we approached the prayers, Rupert re-entered with a salty sea captain and a friend:

Intercession.
We bring to you praise and the needs of ourselves and others,
Knowing that you hear and answer because you love us.
In supplication, Lord, we come, asking that your will be done . . .


I love people trying to respond to God and to encourage others to do this and applaud anyone who seeks to write liturgy that helps us to reflect on God's love and respond to it, but there are limites. Seems that along with poor theology we will have to also expect to endure the continuing reality of naff, rhyming, liturgy too!

Still Christmas cards are on the way . . . (Advent 1 next week)