Morning Prayer in the Ecumenical Centre 27 October 2008
Hospitality and visitation – basic dimensions of diaconal practice
According to the ecumenical prayer cycle we pray this week for the Indian Ocean Islands:
Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles
"In Madagascar, when you feel lost in an unknown situation, the safest place to go is the church. There is always someone to receive you. This is partly a manifestation of Malagasy hospitality, but also it is a real manifestation of a caring church, the living image of God. God through his church always welcomes strangers no matter who they are or where they come from. There is always room for anybody who knocks at the door. The living condition of the church is its deeds towards needy people. We should know by now that actions are more important than words. There are many uprooted people around the world who seek refuge and shelter, with a load of despair and bitterness but full of hope. They feel lost and knock at the door of the church! Welcome them as God welcomes you!"
(Ranto Ranaivoson)
Welcome
Opening responses
Creator of time and space, we come together from different places and contexts
To meet in your presence.
Redeemer of the whole creation, we come with our hope and our sorrow
To be transformed in your presence.
Sustainer of all life, we come to listen to you
To strengthen our communion in your presence.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.
The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures;
and leads me beside still waters;
You restore my soul, O Lord,
and guide me along right pathways for your name's sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup is running over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 58:6-12 (read in Malagasy)
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
New Testament reading: Hebrews 13:1-3
Let mutual love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.
Reflection - Kjell Nordstokke
Hymn: Let us build a house were love can dwell
Hospitality and visitation – basic dimensions of diaconal practice
According to the ecumenical prayer cycle we pray this week for the Indian Ocean Islands:
Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles
"In Madagascar, when you feel lost in an unknown situation, the safest place to go is the church. There is always someone to receive you. This is partly a manifestation of Malagasy hospitality, but also it is a real manifestation of a caring church, the living image of God. God through his church always welcomes strangers no matter who they are or where they come from. There is always room for anybody who knocks at the door. The living condition of the church is its deeds towards needy people. We should know by now that actions are more important than words. There are many uprooted people around the world who seek refuge and shelter, with a load of despair and bitterness but full of hope. They feel lost and knock at the door of the church! Welcome them as God welcomes you!"
(Ranto Ranaivoson)
Welcome
Opening responses
Creator of time and space, we come together from different places and contexts
To meet in your presence.
Redeemer of the whole creation, we come with our hope and our sorrow
To be transformed in your presence.
Sustainer of all life, we come to listen to you
To strengthen our communion in your presence.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.
The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures;
and leads me beside still waters;
You restore my soul, O Lord,
and guide me along right pathways for your name's sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup is running over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 58:6-12 (read in Malagasy)
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
New Testament reading: Hebrews 13:1-3
Let mutual love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.
Reflection - Kjell Nordstokke
Hymn: Let us build a house were love can dwell
Intercessions from Madagascar
Everlasting God,
who love in justice
and whose justice is fulfilled in love,
we give thanks to you,
in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
for the faithful witness of your churches in the islands of Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles.
We praise you for the lives and works
of those who witness hardship,
in the midst of multi-cultural and multi-religious contexts,
in deep poverty,
always exposed to killer diseases,
yet sharing the good news of your love
through their empowering word
and through work for social and economic justice.
We pray for your continued presence through the Holy Spirit,
to strengthen the ministry of the churches
in the public and political arenas
that the abundant life promised in the Gospel
may become real in the lives of people.
Teach us, Lord Jesus, to live your love in justice
and your justice in love throughout our daily lives.
teach your church to love the Gospel it preaches
and to love those to whom the Gospel is preached.
Prayers continued in silence
Lord’s Prayer (each in his / her own language)
Blessing
On our hearts and on our houses
the blessing of God.
In our coming and our going,
the peace of God.
In our life and our believing,
the love of God.
At our end and new beginning,
the arms of God to welcome us
and bring us home. Amen.
On our hearts and on our houses
the blessing of God.
In our coming and our going,
the peace of God.
In our life and our believing,
the love of God.
At our end and new beginning,
the arms of God to welcome us
and bring us home. Amen.
Hymn
This service was put together by Simone Sinn, Kjell Nordstokke and Antsan'ny Rakotoarisoa.
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