Celebrating Diwali with the people in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

The following order of worship was put together by Deenbandhu Manchala

Morning Prayer Ecumenical Centre, Geneva
October 19, 2009

Celebrating Diwali with the people in
India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Introduction

Call to worship
(To repeat each line after the leader: No.8 in Agape)

Asa to maa sad ga ma ya
Ta ma somaa jyo tir ga ma ya
Mri tyor maa am ri tam ga ma ya
Om shanti, shanti, shanty

(Lead me through quest to what is real, from the dark night guide me to the light. From death take me to the realms of living.)

Praise and thanksgiving

God be praised at all times.
Our adoration we proclaim.
We seek God’s presence, and discover holy ground everywhere.
We long for God’s guidance, and find the Spirit in each other.
We know that God is good.
God’s goodness is our refuge and our hope.
In the vastness of your purposes, O God,
We celebrate the risky smallness of our part.
In the holiness of your touch,
We celebrate the fragile fingerprints of human hands.
In the greatness of your salvation,
We celebrate the fumbling of our ideas.
In the light and knowledge of all you are and all you do,
We wait, we wonder and we rejoice.
In the stillness and the moment,
We build a bridge of adoration.
In the glory of our diversity,
We forge a bond of hospitality.
In the work we do this day,
We weave with God’s splendid tapestry
Amen.

Scripture reading: Mark 10:35-45 (Read in Sinhala)

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Reflection

Intercessory Prayers

Gracious God, as we come together in prayer, we remember Sri Lanka – a nation that has bled for several decades which continues to groan in pain in the miseries of thousands of displaced people. We remember before you this morning those who have suffered the most in the conflict, the innocent civilians, those victimised and those who are striving for peace and reconciliation. Heal this nation, O great healer, restore and rebuild this wounded nation. We continue to pray for the people of Iraq who are also in a seemingly endless predicament of death and destruction. Grant peace and life to the people of these nations and to all of us.

Khuda ya Rahem kar (to be sung after each prayer - No: 42 Agape)

Compassionate God, we live in a world that is constantly under the spell of something tragic and shocking. Because of their frequency our attention and response are often distracted quickly from one to the other. Yet, we remember today the victims of the recent tragic natural disasters that have resulted in the deaths of hundreds and thousands of people – of the earth quake in Indonesia, of the tsunami in Samoa and of floods in India and the Philippines. We pray for the vulnerable – the rural and urban poor, the destitute children and the aged. Grant help, strength and hope that they too may experience your salvation in ways it matters most.

Khuda ya Rahem kar

Merciful God, we remember millions of hungry, homeless and malnourished people of these nations and everywhere even as their governments strive hard for place in the world market. We especially pray for the 350 million of them in India, the home for half of the world’s hungry people. Have mercy on them. Rekindle love and justice in the hearts of people. Grant wisdom to the leaders to realise that their fulfillment is possible only in their ability to protect the vulnerable and not in making the powerful invulnerable.

Khuda ya Rahem kar

God of life, we pray for the churches and Christian communities in these countries which exist and seek to witness as fragmented minority communities, often in extremely hostile situations. We thank you for their courage and commitment. We also pray that you inspire them to seek unity among themselves and with all people of goodwill, with people of other faiths, and with people’s initiatives for peace, justice, human rights, environmental protection so that the world may believe that you have ordained life, life for all in love and human togetherness. Amen

Hymn: Those who wait upon the Lord, Shall renew their strength (No:95 Agape)

Benediction

In the light of the resurrection despair is always premature.
God has a project in today’s events.
In paths we have not known, God leads, turning gloom into hope.

May the triune God accompany us in this journey of hope today and the days to come, Amen.