I had fun with this. You can use this as the Prayers of the Church, or as an extended Kyrie, especially on the Sunday after Christmas (when many congregations have a services of lessons and carols anyway). It’s set to the tune, “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” (a sadly overlooked carol in politically correct times!). The petitions are sung by the cantor, assisting minister, or someone else who can enunciate and get the words out briskly. The refrain is done by the whole assembly. It’s written so that almost every syllable has its very own note, until the refrain, so that even though the words certainly march along, the cantor doesn’t have to think hard about what syllable goes with what note!
