Advent 3 - the true light that gives light to everyone

This Service for the third week of Advent was put together by Béatrice Mukhtar from Sudan, she's been working as a youth intern in the WCC worship office for the past 12 months.
(instructions in itallics and bold for responses said by all.)

“The True light that gives light to everyone”

Words of Welcome
Call to Worship

This is the season of holy waiting.
We wait for the time when the desert will bloom abundantly.
We watch for the day when all God’s people will come together with singing.
We wait while the dawning light appears on the horizon.
Come let us walk in the light of God!

Song: Siyahamba ~ we are walking in the light of God ~ Thuma Mina 107; sung first in Zulu then in English

Bible Reading - Isaiah 35:1-10 (read in Spanish and Swahili)

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”

Song Response: Kindle a Flame from Iona

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way, the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Song Response: Kindle a Flame

Gospel Reading - John 1:1-9 (Read in Arabic)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

Song Response: Kindle a Flame

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

Carry the Light - a dance by Ngu Wah Kyaw

Lighting the Third Candle ~ Time to Change

We light three candles to remind us of John the Baptist.
He told people that Jesus was coming but that meant things would have to change. He said that we should make the world a fairer place for poor people who don’t have enough to eat and who get treated badly by people with more power. Life is still unfair for lots of people and it doesn’t help if we all think nothing can ever change.

Prayers of intercession
(Through the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle this week we pray for the peoples and churches of Benin, Ivory Coast, and Togo.)

Let us pray for homes where things are changing.
(Silence)

Where there is a new baby.
Where someone has left home or is moving.
Where someone is ill or someone has died.
Where someone has lost the job or has a new job.
Where people are considering a change in their lives.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sung Response: Lumière de Dieu (Thuma Mina 150 - in French)

Let us pray for countries where things are changing.
(Silence)

Where there is a new government and new hope or new fears.
Where prices are going up.
Where schools or hospitals are closing.
Where there is war and violence.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sung Response: Lumière de Dieu (Thuma Mina 150 - in German)

Let us pray for people who make things change.
(Silence)

Leaders who have power but don’t always do good things with it.
People who try to change the law,
so that it will be better for poor women and men.
People in the media who say things that people listen to.
Ordinary people who make the world a better place.
People who have changed situations
whereby poor and marginalised people have been helped and
given opportunities to be self-supporting.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Song Response: Lumière de Dieu (Thuma Mina 150 - in English)

We say the Lord’s Prayer, each in our own language.

Song: El cielo canta alegria (Thuma Mina 54 - all verses in Spanish)

Blessing
Hold your light out to the world
And let people of all nations feel the warmth of God’s love
as they encounter the Word made Flesh through Christ our Lord.

Follow, where the Spirit of Hope leads us.
Listen, as the Child of Peace cries for us.
Rejoice, as the love of God embraces us
and let us go
with Hope, Peace and Love in our hearts
and the blessing
of Creator, Child and Spirit for ever within us.
Amen.

Advent worship - This is what we hope

This is what we hope ~ Advent Worship, Ecumenical Centre, Wednesday 12 December 2007

This worship was put together by Simon Oxley, the prayer towards the end is copyright Janet Morley, All Desires Known 1988. One of the hymns comes from Common Ground,
sorry I don't have a copy so cannot give the copyright. The French verse in that same hymn comes from Arc en Ciel's Psaume 42. "Soon and very soon" is © 1971 by Bud John Songs, Inc.\Crouch Music Company. All rights reserved. the reposnsive in various langauges is from Taizé and "Ososo" can be found in the Agape hymnbook.

The worship opens in darkness and a Maori song is sung solo, expressing the longing for light in the darkness.

Hymn, (German words for this hymn also exist in the new EGB, please note that these French words come from Arc en Ciel and not from the new French hymnbook Alléluia, I much prefer these words, which stick less closely to the original Latin which follows the great advent antiphones which I love, I'm probably the only person who even worries about these things but anyway get in touch if you want to know more!)
1. Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

2. Oh! Viens Jésus, oh! Viens Emmanuel !
Nous dévoiler le monde fraternel,
Où ton amour plus fort que la mort,
Nous régénère au sein d’un même corps.
Chantez, Chantez, il vient à notre appel
Combler nos cœurs Emmanuel. !

3. Oh! Viens Jésus tracer notre chemin;
Visite-nous étoile du matin.
Au fond de nos regards fais monter
L’éclat soudain du jour d’éternité.
Chantez, Chantez, il vient à notre appel
Combler nos cœurs Emmanuel !

4. Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav'nly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path of misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Prayer (can be said by all of responsively)
Lord God,
we adore you
because you have come to us in the past:
you have spoken to us in the law of Israel
you have challenged us in the words of the prophets
you have shown us in Jesus, what you are really like.

Lord God,
we adore you
because you still come to us now:
you come to us through other people in their love and concern for us
you come to us through those who need our help
you come to us now, even as we worship you.

Lord God,
we adore you
because you will come to us at the end:
you will be with us at the hour of death
you will reign supreme when at all institutions fall
you will still be our God when our history has run its course.

We welcome you, the God who comes.
Come to is now in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.

We hear the word of hope for the time of Isaiah
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." A voice says, "Cry out!" And I said, "What shall I cry?"
All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.
Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. (Isaiah 40.1-11)

We sing of the same hope for our times
(The English words here are from the Iona hymn book Common ground and it says try to sing it lightly and fast, like a dance. It's an old Genevan Psalter tune for Psalm 42 so as we always get complaints about doing too much in English I managed to find one verse in French which fitted in quite well with these new English words)

Comfort, comfort now my people
speak of peace - so says your God.
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
burdened by a heavy load.
To our cities now proclaim:
God shall take away your shame.
Now get ready to recover:
guilt and suffering are over.

2. Hear the herald's proclamation
in the desert far and near,
calling all to true repentance,
telling that the Lord is near.
Oh, that warning cry obey!
For your God prepare a way.
Let the valleys rise to greet him
and the hills bow down to meet him.

3. Dans ma nuit mets ta lumière
Dans mon coeur ta vérité
Pour guider jusqu’au sauveur
Le retour de l’exilé.
A nouveau Dieu de ma joie
Je ferai monter vers toi,
Avec tous ceux qui te chantent,
Ma ferveur reconnaissante.

4. Straighten out what has been crooked;
make the roughest places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble,
live as fits God's holy reign.
Soon the glory of the Lord
shall on earth be shed abroad.
Human flesh shall surely see it;
God is ready to decree it.

This is our hope
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. (Martin Luther King)
This is our hope
Sung response (Reader lights candle)
Wait for the Lord, his day is near.
Wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart.

(Read in Korean)
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them. … I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, so that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this. (Isaiah 41)
This is our hope
Sung response (Reader lights candle)
Nah ist der Herr, es kommt sein Tag
Nah ist der Herr, habt Mut, bleibt Wach.

Testimony to hope 1 - In Spanish
This is our hope
Sung response (Reader lights candle)
Confia em Deus, teu Salvador,
Confia em Deus, Ele é amor.

(Read in German)
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1.46-54)
This is our hope
Sung response(Reader lights candle)
Confia em Deus, teu salvador
Confia em Deus, ele é amor.

Testimony to hope 2 - from Samoa
This is our hope
Sung response (Reader lights candle)
Nah ist der Herr, es kommt sein Tag
Nah ist der Herr, habt Mut, bleibt Wach.

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1.78-79)
This is our hope
Sung response (Reader lights candle)
Confia em Deus, teu salvador
Confia em Deus, ele é amor.

Testimony to hope 3 -From Sudan

This is our hope
Sung response (Reader lights candle)
Nah ist der Herr, es kommt sein Tag
Nah ist der Herr, habt Mut, bleibt Wach.

Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness. (Reinhold Neibuhr)

This is our hope
Sung response (Reader lights candle)
Confia em Deus, teu Salvador,
Confia em Deus, Ele é amor.

Hymn: (during the singing you are invited to light candles of hope)

O-so-so O-so-so, pyong-wha ui-im-gum
u-ri-ga han-mom i-ru-ge ha-so-so.

Come now, O God of love, make us one body,
come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.

Viens, viens, libérateur et libère-nous,
Viens, viens ô maître réconcilie les peuples.

O-so-so O-so-so, pyong-wha ui-im-gum
u-ri-ga han-mom i-ru-ge ha-so-so.


Prayer
For the darkness of waiting
of not knowing what is to come
of staying ready and quiet and attentive,
we praise you, O God:
For the darkness and the light
are both alike to you.

For the darkness of staying silent
for the terror of having nothing to say
and with a greater terror
of needing to say nothing,
we praise you, O God:
For the darkness and the light
are both alike to you.

For the darkness of loving
in which it is safe to surrender
to let go of our self-protection
and to stop holding back our desire,
we praise you, O God:
For the darkness and the light
are both alike to you.

For the darkness of choosing
when you give us the moment
to speak, and act, and to change,
and we cannot know what we has set in motion,
but we still have to take the risk,
we praise you, O God:
For the darkness and the light
are both alike to you.

For the darkness of hoping
in a world which longs to you,
for the wrestling and the labouring of all creation
for wholeness and justice and freedom,
we praise you, O God:
For the darkness and the light
are both alike to you.

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ
your world awaits you.
In the longing of the persecuted for justice;
in the longing of the poor for prosperity;
in the longing of the privileged for riches greater than wealth;
in the longing of our hearts for a better life;
and in the song of your Church,
expectation is ever present.

O come, Lord, desire behind, our greatest needs.
O come, Lord, liberator of humanity.
O come, Lord, O come, Immanuel

Hymn
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King,
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King,
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King,
Alleluia, alleluia, we’re going to see the King!

No more crying there we are going to see the King,
No more crying there we are going to see the King,
No more crying there we are going to see the King,
Alleluia, alleluia, we’re going to see the King!

No more dying there we are going to see the King,
No more dying there we are going to see the King,
No more dying there we are going to see the King,
Alleluia, alleluia, we’re going to see the King!

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King,
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King,
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King,
Alleluia, alleluia, we’re going to see the King!

Exit singing and dancing!

Advent liturgy for visit of Archbishop of Baghdad

The following service was prepared for Monday morning worship in the ecumenical centre Geneva on December 10 2007 attended by a group of church leaders from churches living in situation of conflict. The meditation was given by Archbishop Asadourian of Baghdad, that text is not included here but he spoke both of the way Christians prepare duringr Advent and of the desperately difficult situation of people in general and also of Christians in Baghdad today.
The liturgy was prepared from various sources, in particular Ruth Burgess's wonderful book Candles and Conifers was used for the opening sentences and closing benediciton (said by the Armenian Archbishop of Tehran!). Those parts remain her copyright. The prayer of confession is adapted from an Anglican resource available on the internet and the prayers of intercession are adapted from the WCC's Porto Alegre worship book Em Tua graça.
The music came for the most part from Agape, which is jointly published by the LWF and OUP. Other music was the Magnificat from Marty Haugen's Holden evening prayer and the Lord's prayer in Syriac.
Ruth Burgess has published several other books for the various periods of the liturgical year and I shall treat myself next to Eggs and Ashes which is the Lenten and Easter series. I love the titles!
And finally Simon Barrow put the opening Bible quote from Zechariah on his blog and that was the seed for putting the service together. It's a great peace-making call to worship. Credit where credit is due - we are not only creative on our own!

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
(Zechariah 3.6b)

WORDS OF WELCOME

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

As farmers wait for rainfall
As prisoners wait for freedom
We wait for the coming of God

As exiles yearn for home
As peacemakers yearn for justice
We long for the coming of God

As travellers search for shelter
As disciples look for answers
We prepare for the coming of God
(Coypright Ruth Burgess)

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

♪ Agape 73 (all verses in English)
Praise the God of all creation God of mercy and compassion
Alleluia, Alleluia Praise the Word of truth and life!

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
When our faith is rooted deeply in you, O God, our lives reflect your
kingdom values of justice and righteousness, but sometimes our lives become
so entangled with the values of the world, that your values take second place.

Forgive us, O God,
and reconnect us to the Holy Spirit, source of power and life.

Merciful God, strip our hearts and minds of all that prevents our lives being
firmly rooted in you.
May our lives bear fruit worthy of our faith in you, as we watch and wait
for your breaking into our world once more, in the person of Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Amen

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the Lord our God, who does wondrous things . (Psalm 72: 8)
The most wondrous of all being God's entry into our world in Jesus Christ,
"not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."
"Those who believe in him are not condemned." (John 3,17, 18)
Thanks be to God!

♪ MAGNIFICAT (from Holden evening prayer)

Leader: An angel went from God to a town called Nazareth to a woman whose name was Mary. The Angel said to her, “Rejoice O highly favoured, for God is with you. You shall bear a child, and his name shall be Jesus, the Chosen One of God most high.” And Mary said, “I am the servant of my God, I live to do your will.”
(immediately to The Magnificat)

SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 11. 1-10

♪ Agape 107 (please remain standing for the reading of the gospel)
Word of Justice Alleluia Come to dwell here Maranatha
Tu Pardonnes, Alléluia, tu te donnes, Maranatha.
♪ Word of gladness, Alleluia, Come renew us. Maranatha!
O sagesse, Alléluia, ô promesse. Maranatha!

Gospel: Matthew 3. 1-12
♪ Agape 107
Word of power alleluia live within us maranatha.
Tu libères alleluia tu nous sauves maranatha.
♪ Word of healing alleluia heal our sorrow maranatha.
Tu consoles alléluia nos tristesses maranatha.

MEDITATION

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION (based on Isaiah 61)

God of Grace, teach us to proclaim the year of your favour.

♪ Agape 110
Yarabba ssalami amter alayna ssalam,
yarabba ssalami imla’ qulubana salam.

In a world in bondage we pray for all who try to be oaks of righteousness,
for those who break the chains of injustice and bear witness
that a world transformed through grace is possible.
Hear our prayer for those who plant signs of your kingdom of love and justice in cities and countryside ruined by war, hatred or ecological disaster.
We pray especially for the peoples of Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

God of Grace, send your Spirit upon us that we too may proclaim good news.
♪ Agape 110
Yarabba ssalami amter alayna ssalam,
yarabba ssalami imla’ qulubana salam.

God of Grace, teach us to proclaim the year of your favour.
We pray for all those imprisoned by grinding poverty and degrading work,
for human beings treated and traded like items on a balance sheet.
Hear our prayer for all who yearn for liberation from unjust systems and oppressive regimes and especially for those fleeing war, famine or economic devastation.

God of Grace, may your word be fulfilled in our and their hearing today.
♪ Agape 110
Yarabba ssalami amter alayna ssalam,
yarabba ssalami imla’ qulubana salam.

God of Grace, teach us to proclaim the year of your favour.
We pray for all who suffer in mind, body or spirit and for all people longing for healing.
We pray for liberation from stigmatising attitudes towards disabled and ill people.
Hear our prayer particularly for the people and churches of Cape Verde, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal as we pray for and with them through the ecumenical prayer cycle.

God of Grace, give us the oil of gladness instead of mourning.
♪ Agape 110
Yarabba ssalami amter alayna ssalam,
yarabba ssalami imla’ qulubana salam.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (sung in Syriac)

BLESSING (please rise)
Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

We walk in the wilderness searching for meaning
May God baptise us with mercy and fire

We walk in the city thirsting for justice.
May God baptise us with integrity and hope.

We walk towards Bethlehem seeking a Saviour.
May God baptise us with holiness and joy.
(Coypright Ruth Burgess)

Any may the blessing of God
Father Son and Holy Spirit come upon us now and remain with us for ever.
Amen

Prayers of lamentation for Zimbabwe

The following service is a simple service based on Bible verses, simple prayers and times of silence. It works well for midday as the service lasts approximately 15 minutes. A short sung response is included, this is from the ecumenical hymbook Thuma Mina but a Taizé chant could work equally well. Of course these prayers can be adapted for use in other situations, these were originally put together for midday prayers for peace during the war in the Lebannon in 2006.

Prayers of Lamentation for peace, justice and reconciliation in Zimbabwe

Silence

How lonely sits the citythat once was full of people!How like a widow she has become,she that was great among the nations!She that was a princess among the provinceshas become a vassal. (Lamentations 1.1)

Song: Nkosi, nkosi yibanceba Krestu, Krestu yibanceba

Blessed is our God now and for ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more. (Jer 31:15)

Even when I cry out, "Violence!' I am not answered;
I call aloud, but there is no justice. (Job 19:7)

Silence

For these things I weep;my eyes flow with tears;for a comforter is far from me,one to revive my courage;my children are desolate,for the enemy has prevailed. (Lamentations 1.16)

Song: Nkosi, nkosi yibanceba Krestu, Krestu yibanceba

Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and an impious people reviles your name. Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild animals; do not forget the life of your poor forever. Have regard for your covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the haunts of violence. Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. Rise up, O God, plead your cause; remember how the impious scoff at you all day long. (Ps 74:18-22)

Remember this, O Lord,
Remember this, O Lord

Silence

My eyes are spent with weeping;my stomach churns;my bile is poured out on the groundbecause of the destruction of my people,because infants and babes faintin the streets of the city. (Lamentations 2.11)

Song: Nkosi, nkosi yibanceba Krestu, Krestu yibanceba

Remember this, O Lord,
Remember this, O Lord.

Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame.
Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame.

Rise up, O God.
Rise up, O God.

Silence

They cry to their mothers,‘Where is bread and wine?’as they faint like the woundedin the streets of the city,as their life is poured outon their mothers’ bosom. (Lamentations 2.12)

Song: Nkosi, nkosi yibanceba Krestu, Krestu yibanceba

Prayers for the enemy (from the Eastern Orthodox tradition)
O Christ, Our God, who prayed for those who crucified You, and asked us, your servants, to pray for our enemies; forgive those who hate and oppress us and, through Your Grace and love for humanity, change their lives from doing wrong and wickedness to love for their neighbors and life filled with goodness. That none of them may perish because of us but rather they and us together be saved through penitence; we pray You, Lord, hear us and have mercy.

Silence or time for free prayer…

We are longing for the day, when the prophecy of Micah will come true, when "they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Affirmation
The cross is the way of the lost.
The cross is the staff of the lame.

The cross is the guide of the blind.
The cross is the strength of the weak.

The cross is the hope of the hopeless.
The cross is the freedom of the slaves.

The cross is the water of the seeds.
The cross is the consolation of the bonded labourers.

The cross is the source of those who seek water.
The cross is the cloth of the naked.

The cross is the healing of the broken.
The cross is the peace of the church.
(St. Yared, Ethiopia)

You are invited to leave the chapel in silence

An order for morning prayer from Theodore A. Gill

Morning Prayers in the Ecumenical Centre Geneva 6 December 2007
We pray for the churches and people of Liberia and Sierra Leone through the ecumenical prayer cycle. In addition, we remember those whose lives have been touched by violence, and people and churches living with HIV and AIDS.

We approach God together

Let us pray.
Heavenly Father: you have filled the world with beauty.
Open our eyes to see love in all your works,
so that, while enjoying the whole creation,
we may serve you with gladness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We sing together – Thuma Mina 69. Je louerai l’Eternel (in French)

We hear from the Gospel Matthew 21:33-46
33"Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' 39So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" 41They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time."
42Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? 43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. 44The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls."
45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet. (copyright NRSV)

Response: Thuma Mina 69. Ich lobe meinen Gott (in German)

We join in common prayer
This week in the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle we remember the people and churches of Liberia and Sierra Leone. We also pray for families who have been caught up in acts of violence – including the family of Naomi and Mark Beach in South Africa and those in Guyana who have loved and respected the late pastor Ian David. We pray, too, for all who live with HIV and AIDS.

We pray for:
those we have just described, and those whom they love: may all share in your grace
Silence followed by Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
those who work to create just communities: may we discover the way to peace
Silence followed by Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
those who serve Christ in the Pentecostal movement, the Lausanne movement and the
Roman Catholic Church: may they remain ever faithful to you, and worthy in stewardship
Silence followed by Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
and bless, O Lord, all who bear witness through the ministry of minority churches
Silence followed by Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Let us also pray for:
the work of the ecumenical movement encouraged and supported from this place
Silence followed by Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
the elected leaders and staff of the organizations represented in the Ecumenical Centre
Silence followed by Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit acting in and
through each of the churches
Silence followed by Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
our family members, friends and colleagues who especially need our prayers at this time
Silence followed by Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
ourselves, especially in all that troubles us today
Silence followed by Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We pray the Lord’s Prayer together (each in our own language)

Closing response: Thuma Mina 69. Praise, I will praise you, Lord (in English)

We ask God’s blessing on Creation
O LORD, have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as we have been afflicted,
and for as many years as we have known evil.
Let your work be made known to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
May the favour of the LORD rest upon us.
O God, cause the work of our hands to prosper:
may the work of our hands prosper in your sight.

We are sent out, to love and serve the Lord
Declare God’s glory among the nations,
the marvellous works of the Lord among all peoples.
For God is great, and greatly to be praised;
the Lord is to be revered above all gods.
Bless the Lord our God.
The Lord’s name be praised! Amen.

We exchange signs of Christ’s peace

(This morning prayer service was compiled by Theodore A Gill, in part based on prayers by Simon Oxley)

Petite méditation pour la semaine de prière pour l'unité

Le thème de la semaine de prière pour l'unité des chrétiens en 2008 est "Priez sans cesse". Vous pouvez trouvez des resources sur le site du COE.

Le Rassemblément des Eglises Chrétiennes de Genève m'a invité à faire une méditation pour ouvrir une rencontre récente pour préparer ce 100ème anniversaire de la semaine de prière.

"Priez sans cesse"
1 Thess. 5: 17

C’est implacable, impitoyable
Les impératives
Le réveil du matin
Le bruit du téléphone, portable ou fixe,
la course à la prochaine réunion,
le défilé de misère aux infos
Fais ceci, fais cela…
les courriels qui attendent une réponse
la tentation d’acheter, de faire, d’avoir
si tu avais seulement ça tu serais - heureux, belle, sage, riche…

implacable
la publicité pour ce que l’on peut acheter
comment dépenser utilement et inutilement de l’argent
impitoyable
la culpabilité de ne jamais avoir le temps pour faire quoique ce soit
les demandes de faire ceci de faire cela…
les autres ont faim et nous mangeons trop
des enfants et parents qui ont besoin de nous
une copine qui a besoin de parler un peu
implacable
le temps qui passe
les jours d'une vie
les minutes qui ne suffisent pas

Et voila encore une impérative de la Bible
« Priez sans cesse »

A comprendre comme une autre contrainte impitoyable?
Un autre point d'ordre du jour à achever?
Un autre fardeau ?

Ou à recevoir comme une offre gratuite -
De repos, de pause, de sens, de profondeur, de sommeil, de créativité…

Non pas implacable mais éternel - l'amour de Dieu
Non pas impitoyable mais miséricordieuse
L'invitation à offrir son faire et ses frustrations, ses joies et ses peines
A Dieu qui écoute tout, qui transforme tout
Et qui nous donne l'assurance qu'il a toujours du temps pour nous
La prière sans cesse de Dieu a commencé
Bien avant le jour qu'il a dit
"Que la lumière soit"

« Priez sans cesse »
N'est pas une contrainte supplémentaire
Mais une reconnaissance essentielle
De prendre du temps pour nous mêmes et pour notre créateur

Prions alors sans cesse…

copyright 2007, Jane Stranz