Liturgy for ecumenical prayer cycle ~ Malawi and Zambia

Morning Prayer at the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva for Monday 19 May, 2008.
The following liturgy was put together by Fulata Mbano-Moyo, Rolita Machila, Sydia Nduna and John Nduna who all come from either Malawi or Zambia.

Musical Presentation

Welcome.
We welcome you all to this morning’s worship and in the ecumenical prayer cycle, we remember and pray for the countries and people of Malawi and Zambia.
Let us come together and worship the Lord.

Opening song: Blessed assurance (the Southern African tune).

Call to worship
How good it is to sing praises to our God
It is a blessed assurance
Our merciful God forgives all our sins
For he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting
God fulfills the desire of all who trust Him
He hears our cries and saves us

Prayer
God of love, God of compassion
In the midst of suffering, you journey with us
Constantly reassuring us of your care.
Grant us the joy of this occasion
as we celebrate the blessings and the faith
of the people of Malawi and Zambia,
We know that your love is life.
Amidst death and disease,
Your Spirit comforts us
We are part of Sub-Saharan Africa where HIV and AIDS
Is roaring like a hungry lion devouring both young and old
Yet we still know you caring, providing, healing and smiling your love for us
That is why we can still rejoice in Your being with us! Amen

Hymn- Chimwemwe mwa Yesu- Agape 15-

Reading: 2 Kings 4: 1-7
The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves."

Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?"
"Your servant has nothing here at all," she said, "Except a little oil."
Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the doors behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars and as each is filled, put it to one side."
She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one."

But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing.
She went and told the man of God and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."

Ascription of praise
I will bless the lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth
My soul makes boast in the Lord, my Provider.
When I was in need, I sought the Lord,
and He answered and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to God and be expectant; so your faces shall never lose radiance.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.

Reflection/ sermon ~ Rolita Machila

Song- The Lord my Shepherd (1.English, 2. Tumbuka, 3.French)

2. Apo ndikuti vyalema
Wakundi-vukuska
Wakundendeska makora
Nkhumu-chinda-mika

Prayers of Intercession
God of love, God of compassion,
In the midst of death and evil, you mercifully look after us:
Protecting, providing and smiling,
Constantly reassuring us of your care.
Grant us the joy of remembering the people of Zambia and Malawi
Who among many brothers and sisters faced with so many life threatening challenges,
still hold fast and celebrate their faith in you.
We pray for forgiveness for being part of those who have stigmatized others
By calling them strange names,
Like “people of strange faiths,” “those with the disease,” “street kids,”
yet there is no one who is not your own beloved creation
Are we not all interconnected as part and parcel of your vast creation?
Teach us to number our days right and be in touch with our own vulnerable interdependence,
That we may acquire a heart of wisdom through Him who walked the mysteries of death and whose life has become our light- Jesus Christ

Sung response- (senzenina)

Almighty and eternal God,
We fervently lift up our eyes to you,
Searching for help and guidance
Come show us how to serve those who are oppressed and marginalized
How to stand alongside those who strive for social justice
Come liberate us from captivity to confessionalism and make us agents of
reconciliation and unity
Give us the will to serve and love you through serving others.

Sung response- (Senzenina)

We thanks you for the peace experienced in Zambia and Malawi,
The peaceful governmental transitions
We still ask for your deliverance from corruption and unaccountable exercise of power
So that your earth may experience a life-giving and love bearing peace, true freedom with justice-to flow like a river and challenge the dry bones of injustice with just love.

We thank you God for the faith in your people of the world.
Send the breath of your spirit so we may speak in our own tongues yet understand and love one another. Through Jesus Christ we pray all this. Amen.

Lord’s prayer ( in our own languages)

Blessing

Go ye out and live the way of love and compassion
Embrace the hope you have in the God of love
Learn from His compassion
Learn to share what you have with those who do not have
Resist the temptation to accumulate more
Work for justice where there is injustice
Love mercy and walk humbly with your God

Sending song: There is no one x 2 like Jesus

Palibe woposa Yesu (3x) Sadzapezekanso
Ndayendayenda konse konse
Ndazungulira konse konse
Ndafunafuna konse konse
Sadzapezekanso