A liturgy for Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre for Monday 21 July 2008

Love does no wrong to a neighbour;
therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Praying through the ecumenical prayer cycle for
Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico

Welcome

Sing ~ Gloria en las alturas ~ in Spanish, French, Spanish again (Thuma Mina 60)

Gloria, gloria, gloria en las alturas a Dios
Gloria, gloria, gloria en las alturas a Dios
y en la tierra paz par’aquellos que ama el Señor
y en la tierra paz par’aquellos que ama el Señor

Gloire, gloire, gloire à Dieu dans les lieux très hauts
Glorie, gloire, gloire à Dieu dans les lieux très hauts
Sur la terre paix à ceux qui aiment le Seigneur
Sur la terre paix à ceux qui aiment le Siegneur

Gloria, gloria, gloria en las alturas a Dios…

Psalm 145 (extracts)
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
God’s greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall laud your works to another,
and we shall declare your mighty acts.
The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
and we will meditate upon your wonders.
The Lord is gracious and merciful;
God is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord upholds all who are falling.
God raises up all who are bowed down.
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and all flesh will bless God’s holy name. Amen.

Sung response ~ Agape 81, “Santo, santo, santo”
Santo, Santo, Santo, mi corazon te adora!
Mi corazon te sabe decir: Santo eres, Señor

Let us bring our prayers to God:
With your faithful help rescue me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
Do not let the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the Pit close its mouth over me.

Sung response: Santo, Santo, Santo (Agape 81)

Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Do not hide your face from your servant,
for I am in distress—make haste to answer me.
Draw near to me, redeem me, set me free because of my enemies.

Please stand to sing ~ and remain standing for the reading from Holy Scripture

Hale, hale, hale luya
Hale, hale, hale luya
Hale, hale, hale luya
Haleluya, Haleluya

Epistle reading ~ Romans 13:8 -10
“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’ – and any other commandment – are summed up in this word: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

“Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Hale, hale, hale luya …

Meditation - By Theodore A. Gill Jr

Sing: “Gloria, Gloria, Gloria”, verse 1 in Spanish, French and Spanish ~ Thuma Mina 60

Prayers of intercession
We pray throughout this week for the peoples and churches of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. And we remember the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Middle East, the nation of Belgium and the people of all the lands represented in this chapel.

Spirit of peace, fill all the world with your transforming presence.
May the leaders of all countries rule with maturity and justice.
May all nations have tranquility and their sons and daughters be blessed.
May the people and the flocks and the herds prosper and be free from illness.
May the fields bear much fruit and the land be fertile.
May the face of all enemies be turned towards peace.

Sung Response: Oré poriaju vereko Ñandejara / Oré poriaju vereko Ñandejara ~ Agape 69

Spirit of unity, we pray for your church.
Fill your people with all truth and peace.
Where we are corrupt, purify us. Where we are in error, direct us.
Where anything in us is amiss, reform us. Where we are right, strengthen us.
Where we are in need, provide for us. Where we are divided, reunite us.

Sung Response: Oré poriaju vereko Ñandejara / Oré poriaju vereko Ñandejara

Spirit of love, watch over those who wake or watch or weep,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend the sick, rest the weary, give courage to women in childbirth,
soothe the suffering, and bless the dying.

Sung Response: Oré poriaju vereko Ñandejara / Oré poriaju vereko Ñandejara

God of Creation, of planting, growth and harvest:
Sow the potential of your Word in our lives, in the midst of this world,
like seed broadcast across a field of fertile soil.
Through the presence of your Son, our Light and our Life,
nurture the tender shoots of faith as they grow strong and tall.
By the power of your Spirit, help us to reap a harvest
of honest belief, unity, justice, peace and love.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer ~ said by each in his or her own language

Blessing
Let us go now, with the blessing of God.
Blessed are the poor…
Not the penniless, but those whose hearts are free.
Blessed are those who mourn…
Not those who whimper but those who raise their voices.
Blessed are the meek …
Not the soft but those who are patient and tolerant.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice …
Not those who whine but those who struggle.
Blessed are the merciful …
Not those who forget but those who forgive.
Blessed are the pure in heart …
Not those who act like angels but those whose life is transparent.
Blessed are the peace-makers …
Not those who shun conflict but those who face it squarely.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for justice …
Not because they suffer but because they love. Amen.

Sing: Reamo Leboga, Agape 77