Worship in the Ecumenical Centre
Tuesday 13 May 2008
Praying through the ecumenical prayer cycle for Kenya and Tanzania
The Spirit of God is calling
Words of welcome
Psalm 107
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
those he redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
Prayer
God of the mighty wind,
send the warmth of your Spirit
so we can embrace one another.
Send the breath of your Spirit
so we can speak in our own tongues
and yet understand one another
as we go about our daily lives.
Send the fire of your love
so we can avoid conflicts and tribal clashes.
Holy Spirit, come, and fill us with your gifts
so we are strong in joy, love, patience, kindness and peace
with one another and all the neighbours around us,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
George Arende, Kenya
Sing ~ Halle Halle Halle ~ Thuma Mina No 55 (sung three times)
Acts 2 1-21
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
“In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Meditation ~ Rogate Mshana
Song ~ I Send You
I send you now into the world, go as disciples two by two
travel on the road, carry not a load, spread my word, till the end of time.
I give you power in my name, to heal and cure all who believe
travel on the road, carry not a load, spread my care, till the end of time.
I walk beside you as you go, all that you do, I do through you
travel on the road, carry not a load, spread my love, till the end of time.
Intercessions
Almighty God the true Vine,
send the Holy Spirit to the nation,
the leaders and the people of Kenya and Tanzania.
We pray also today for the leaders and people of Burma.
Transform their leaders to act as your true prophets,
instill in them the desire
for transparency and leadership according to your way.
May rays of your light bring hope,
especially during difficult, helpless and painful times
when we easily draw far from your presence.
Great Vinedresser, prune our thoughts,
our actions and our efforts.
Make us more fruitful
in addressing the enormous challenges facing us:
poverty, unemployment, diseases such as HIV/AIDS,
and good governance.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
George Arende, Kenya
Tuesday 13 May 2008
Praying through the ecumenical prayer cycle for Kenya and Tanzania
The Spirit of God is calling
Words of welcome
Psalm 107
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
those he redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
Prayer
God of the mighty wind,
send the warmth of your Spirit
so we can embrace one another.
Send the breath of your Spirit
so we can speak in our own tongues
and yet understand one another
as we go about our daily lives.
Send the fire of your love
so we can avoid conflicts and tribal clashes.
Holy Spirit, come, and fill us with your gifts
so we are strong in joy, love, patience, kindness and peace
with one another and all the neighbours around us,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
George Arende, Kenya
Sing ~ Halle Halle Halle ~ Thuma Mina No 55 (sung three times)
Acts 2 1-21
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
“In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Meditation ~ Rogate Mshana
Song ~ I Send You
I send you now into the world, go as disciples two by two
travel on the road, carry not a load, spread my word, till the end of time.
I give you power in my name, to heal and cure all who believe
travel on the road, carry not a load, spread my care, till the end of time.
I walk beside you as you go, all that you do, I do through you
travel on the road, carry not a load, spread my love, till the end of time.
Intercessions
Almighty God the true Vine,
send the Holy Spirit to the nation,
the leaders and the people of Kenya and Tanzania.
We pray also today for the leaders and people of Burma.
Transform their leaders to act as your true prophets,
instill in them the desire
for transparency and leadership according to your way.
May rays of your light bring hope,
especially during difficult, helpless and painful times
when we easily draw far from your presence.
Great Vinedresser, prune our thoughts,
our actions and our efforts.
Make us more fruitful
in addressing the enormous challenges facing us:
poverty, unemployment, diseases such as HIV/AIDS,
and good governance.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
George Arende, Kenya
Sung response ~ Nkosi, Nkosi Yibanceba ~ Thuma Mina 37
(1st line repeated, 2nd line repeated, 1st line once)
God of peace and reconciliation
Following the recent violence in Kenya we pray
- that the delicate peace accord may be respected at both national and local levels;
- for the just re-settlement of all internally displaced people;
- for all those working in agriculture and food distribution, so that shortages and hunger may be avoided.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Sung response ~ Nkosi, Nkosi Yibanceba ~ Thuma Mina 37
(1st line repeated, 2nd line repeated, 1st line once)
God of Easter and Pentecost,
Send your Holy Spirit upon your Church throughout the world.
Encourage its witness to the gospel of your Christ;
Support its service amongst the most vulnerable in our societies.
Send your Spirit upon us that we may show forth its fruits of
Joy, peace, patience, goodness, self-control and love.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Sung response ~ Nkosi, Nkosi Yibanceba ~ Thuma Mina 37
(1st line repeated, 2nd line repeated, 1st line once)
All this we pray in the name of your son Jesus Christ
with him we pray each in our own language:
Lord’s prayer – said by each in their own language
Affirmation (The congregation is invited to stand)
I dream of a community
where justice is practised
and leaders are not dictators;
where human rights are observed;
where tribalism does not exist;
where leaders are honest and able;
where politicians listen in silence.
I dream a lot more
and I still believe God will provide.
Amen.
© Clementina Naita, Kenya
Blessing
May God raise you up
above everything.
Spread out like water of a lake.
Be abundance that never ends, that never changes.
Be like a mountain.
Be like a camel.
Be like a cloud –
a cloud that brings rain always.
And God promised that it would be so.
Samburu, Kenya
Closing hymn – Njoo Kwetu, Roho Mwema – Thuma Mina 141 verses 1 & 3
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