Praying for Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam - a liturgy

Worship in the Ecumenical Center on 15 March 2010
Praying for Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
Living together in diversity

Welcome

Song: Tenemos esperanza – Agape 72

Opening prayer
O Dieu qui est bon au-delà de toute bonté,
Beau au-delà de toute beauté,
En qui n’est que calme, paix et concorde ;
Guéris les discordes qui nous séparent les uns des autres
Et ramène-nous dans une unité d’amour,
Qui soit à la ressemblance de la nature divine.
Toi qui es au-dessus de toutes choses,
Crée en nous l’unanimité d’un esprit bienveillant,
Afin que dans l’étreinte de la charité et les liens de l’affection,
Nous soyons spirituellement un,
Tant en nous-mêmes que les uns dans les autres ;
Par ta paix qui répand la paix sur toute chose,
Par la grâce, la miséricorde et la tendresse de ton Fils Jésus Christ. Amen.

Reading : Genesis 12, 1-3
Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

Gospel reading: Luc 10, 29-37
A lawyer stood up and asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’
Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.
Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

Prayer
O God, you have spoken to us your divine and saving words.
Illumine the souls of us sinners
to comprehend that which has been read,
that we do not appear simply
as hearers of your spiritual words,
but doers of good deeds,
true pursuers of faith,
having a blameless life
and a conduct without reproach
in Christ our Lord,
with whom you are blessed and glorified,
together with your all-holy and good, and life-giving Spirit,
now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Prayer from the liturgy of St James

Meditation: by Rev. Peter ALOKAN, Nigeria

Intercessions
Lord, we give thanks for the peoples and the Churches in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam: may their testimony of Christian life be a light for their brothers and sisters.
Response: O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.

For love, peace and reconciliation in the life of families, especially those who face difficulties and the threat of brokenness.
Response: O Lord, hear my prayer…

For an end to the violence and poverty that displaces so many people from their homes and homelands. For migrant workers, that they may labor and live in safe and just conditions. For the families and children of migrant workers, that they be reunited.
Response: O Lord, hear my prayer…

For an end to human trafficking, that the dignity of all God's children will be acknowledged and protected. For the law-makers, that they establish and enforce laws that protect the rights and dignity of everyone, especially those most vulnerable.
Response: O Lord, hear my prayer…

For all those who see "home" and all it means disappear behind them; for all those who cannot see a home in the days ahead of them; for all those who dwell in daily insecurity; for all those who are weary and without a safe place to rest their heads; for all families in migration we pray. May the image of the Holy Family fleeing oppression stay with us each night as we are blessed with returning to a home.
May we also be blessed with compassion for those still weary, still seeking, still with so far to go.
Response: O Lord, hear my prayer…

Music from Vietnam

Our Lord’s prayer

Prayer for all faiths (All)
O God, we thank you for the wholeness of the human family:
for people of other faiths and of none, especially those who are our friends and neighbours;
for the rich variety of human experience and the gifts we bring to one another when we meet in a spirit of acceptance and love;
for dialogue in community, and for mutual enrichment and growing understanding;
for movements to establish and sustain the legitimate rights of persons of every religious conviction.
And we pray to you
that people of all faiths may enjoy the freedom to set forth their conviction with integrity and listen to one another in humility; that the Church may perform a reconciling ministry in a world divided by suspicion and misunderstanding, and bring healing to those places where religious intolerance fractures human community; that the Church may bear a true and loving witness to the One it calls Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Final prayer
We are not worthy, Lord, to offer you a hymn of praise for the benefits you have vouchsafed to us, but grant us this also by filling our mouths with praise; and as you have given the grace of prayer to those who ask for it – that we may know for what and how to pray – so now give our lips the power to praise you.

Final Song : Viens et nous bénis (Agape 45)