Praying for Bolivia, Chile and Peru

Monday Morning Worship, Chapel of the Ecumenical Centre, June 29, 2009
Worship leaders were Martin Junge and Maria Chavez as we prayed for Bolivia, Chile and Peru.

Music: El Condor pasa

Welcome

Song: Tatanaka Mamanaka (TM 173, in Aymara language)

Call to Worship
We come together connecting to ancient dreams:
The world at peace. The world made whole.
We join this morning to be nurtured by your vision:
The world at peace. The world made whole.
We come together to listen, to worship you and to pray:
The world at peace. The world made whole.
We come together to be inspired and strengthened as witnesses:
The world at peace. The world made whole

Psalm (from Psalm 145)
I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

Song: Gloria a Dios (TM 56, in Spanish)

Reading of the Gospel: Luke 18:36-43 (in Aymara)
35As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
38He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
39Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41"What do you want me to do for you?"
"Lord, I want to see," he replied.
42Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." 43Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Reflection

Moment of silence

Prayers of intercession
God, we come before you with our deafness and blindness. Heal us with your power, so that we can listen and hear. Heal us with your power, so that we can see:

Response: A ti Señor te pedimos (TM 29, in English)

God, we come before you with our longing for peace and wholeness. Nurture us, so that our longing translates into attitudes and actions in our daily life.
Response: A ti Señor te pedimos (TM 29, in English)

God we pray this morning for the people and the churches in Bolivia, Chile and Peru. Give people and the churches, as well as societies in general and governments your dream of peace with justice, so that discrimination, racism and segregation are challenged, and social and economic inequalities are not taken as normal anymore.

Response: A ti Señor te pedimos (TM 29, in English)

God, we specially pray this morning for the indigenous people in these countries. Centuries of marginalization and oppression have not been able to erase their dignity and aspiration of being subjects of their lives and in their societies. We thank you for that witness. We pray particularly for the indigenous people in the Amazon region of Peru, defending their right to participate in the decisions regarding the use of their own land and their resources.

Response: A ti Señor te pedimos (TM 29, in English)

The Lords Prayer (each in his or her own language)

Song: Danos un corazón TM 228, in Spanish

Blessing and Sending
May God bless us with wisdom
to care for creation.
May God bless us with love
to share what is given to us.
May God bless us with hope,
to live inspired lives.
Go in peace and be witnesses of hope.
Amen