Liturgy prepared by Patricia Sheerattan Bisnauth

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre, 14 July 2008
(This order of worship was prepared by Rev. Patricia Sheerattan Bisnauth and colleagues from the World Alliance of REformed Churches - WARC)

Music

Call to Worship
O God, open our lips
And our mouths shall proclaim your praise.
We pray to you, O God.
You hear our voices this morning hour.
At sunrise we offer our prayers
And wait for your answer.

We celebrate this worship in the name of God,
who cares for us like a parent
We celebrate in the name of Jesus Christ
who is with us even in greatest darkness.
We celebrate in the name of the Holy Ghost
who empowers and strengthens us to shape a world
in which women and men can live life in fullness.

Prayer
We celebrate you, oh God of Life
In the midst of the noise of our cities,
We celebrate you for your gift of silence.
In the midst the greyness of our houses,
We celebrate you for your gift of colours.
In the midst our distorted relationships,
We celebrate you for your gift of life in abundance.

In the midst the hierarchies of our society,
We celebrate you for your creation of equals.
In the midst the abuse of power and money,
We celebrate you for your gift of justice.
In the midst a reality where everything comes with a price,
We celebrate you for your gifts of life in abundance.
We celebrate you, oh God of Life

Thuma Mina 201 Morning has broken

Scripture readings:
Deuteronomy 15: 7 - 11
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Thuma Mina 56 Glory to God

Luke 16: 19 - 31
19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 25 "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 27 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 29 "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 30 "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Thuma Mina 56 Glory to God

Message - preached by Rev. Douwe Visser

Thuma Mina 253 Jesus Christ is waiting (verses 1 to 3)

Prayers
This week we pray for the peoples and churches of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama.

We pray for those who suffer violence,
For those who bear the brunt of poverty and exclusion,
And those who resist the evils of death dealing principalities and powers.
Clothe your people O God, with power for the struggle ahead.

We pray for leaders and decision-makers,
For citizens, old and young,
For wellbeing and future of their young generation.
Bless the churches in these lands that they may be the light shining through troubled times.

We offer all our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ to whom be blessing, honour and glory. Amen.

The Lord’s prayer (each in his/her language of preference)

Thuma Mina 253 Jesus Christ is waiting (verses 4 to 5)

Blessing

This is the day that God has made,
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
We will not offer to God
Offerings that cost us nothing.
Go in peace, and serve the Lord;
We will seek peace and pursue it.
In the name of the Trinity of love,
One God in perfect community. Amen