A liturgy for a reflection on justice and greed ...

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre
Monday, 30 August 2010
Praying for the People and Churches of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia

~ Heal our times ~ Sauve notre temps ~ Heile die Zeiten ~ Redime los tiempos ~

Welcome

In the name of God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Amen

God of life and light and joy
We rejoice in your glorious creation
God of hope and love
We praise you for your love and faithfulness in Jesus Christ
God of compassion and justice
Send your Holy Spirit of discernment upon us
Alleluia!

Sing Thuma Mina 20 Lobe den Herrn, Praise to the Lord
verse 1 German, verse 2 English verse 3 in the language of your choice

Psalm 12
1 Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
the faithful have disappeared from humankind.
2 They utter lies to each other;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
4 those who say, ‘With our tongues we will prevail;
our lips are our own—who is our master?’
5 ‘Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
I will now rise up,’ says the Lord; ‘I will place them in the safety for which they long.’
6 The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,
silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7 You, O Lord, will protect us;
you will guard us from this generation for ever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among humankind.

Prayer
Graceful God
You are not hidden in silence.
You have spoken and you speak to us even today.
We thank you and we ask you:
Let us preserve your word and may it bear fruit in our lives. Amen

Sing Thuma Mina 56 Gloria a Dios

Reading from Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and makes me tread upon the heights.

Sing Thuma Mina 56 Gloria a Dios

Reading from Romans 8:18-25
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Sing Thuma Mina 56 Gloria a Dios

Meditation – Dr Rogate Mshana

Sing Thuma Mina 253 Jesus Christ is waiting

Prayers of the people
We pray for all people everywhere working for justice and peace in the world,
send your Spirit to renew and refresh their commitment.

When war and violence threaten lives and destroy communities
May your Spirit of peace teach us:
Blessed are the peacemakers

Sung response Thuma Mina 46
Ore poriaju vereko Ñandejara Ore proiaju vereko Ñandejara

We pray for all seeking to bring practical
and humanitarian aid to people in need throughout the world.
We pray particularly for the people of Pakistan,
for all who have lost everything, for those facing a desperate and uncertain future.
May your Spirit of love fuel practical solidarity between human beings
Your kingdom come

Sung response Thuma Mina 46
Ore poriaju vereko Ñandejara Ore proiaju vereko Ñandejara

We pray this week for people of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia,
for the witness to unity of the churches
and for all leaders in political life and civil society.
We pray for all facing illness in body mind or spirit.
As we hear the call for justice and against greed
We pray for all who struggle on a daily basis to find enough water or food.
We unite our voice with theirs saying:
Give us this day our daily bread

Sung response Thuma Mina 46
Ore poriaju vereko Ñandejara Ore proiaju vereko Ñandejara

We pray for ourselves, our friends, colleagues and families.
For those facing illness and grief grant solace and balm.
In our lives and in our work grant us your Spirit’s steadfast support
Lift us up when we are discouraged
Comfort us when we are downhearted
Celebrate with us when we rejoice.
At all times
Your will be done

Sung response Thuma Mina 46
Ore poriaju vereko Ñandejara Ore proiaju vereko Ñandejara

Lord’s prayer
We rise to say the Lord’s Prayer each in our own language

Closing responses and blessing

Look at your hands
See and touch the tenderness
God’s own for the world

Look at you feet
See the path and the direction
God’s own for the world

Look at your heart
See the fire and the love
God’s own for the world

Look at the cross
See God’s Son and our saviour
God’s own for the world

This is God’s world
We will serve God in it

The love of the faithful Creator
The peace of the wounded Healer
The joy of the challenging Spirit
The hope of the Three in One
Surround and encourage you
Today, tonight and forever.

Sing Thuma Mina 108 – Reamo Leboga