An order of worship - praying for the Indian Ocean Islands

MORNING PRAYER
Monday 25th October, 2010

Dieu, mon ami
Tu me fortifies
Dieu, mon bouclier, mon secours
Tu veilles sur moi
Tu me donnes du large
Car tu m’aimes
Tu es la lumière de ma lampe
Tu éclaires ma nuit
Grãce à toi, Dieu, je franchis la muraille.
Pour cela, je te célébrerai
Le matin, et le soir
Maintenant et toujours.
Amen.

Thuma Mina 134: Laudate omnes gentes
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and for evermore.
Luke 11: 5-13
And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

Reflection - by Faautu Talapusi

Thuma Mina 156: Oh Lord, hear my prayer (English, German, French verses)

Prayers
In the ecumenical prayer cycle this week we pray for the people and churches of theIndia n Ocean islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles. We pray for the churches and communities of these islands and the different struggles they are facing and in particular, the effects of climate change.
God of mercy, we silently bring our prayers before you…
Your kingdom come. Your will be done.

Let us each bring to mind one headline from today’s news and pray for the people in that situation.
God of love, we silently bring our prayers before you…
Your kingdom come. Your will be done.

Let us each bring to mind one member of our family, a friend or a colleague who stands in need of our prayers
God of mercy, we silently bring our prayers before you…
Your kingdom come. Your will be done.

Let us each bring to mind the work we must do today and offer it to our God.
God of love, we silently bring our prayers before you…
Your kingdom come. Your will be done.

Hear us dear God, and may your persistent love give us strength and courage to act so that we may become an answer to the prayers we have offered.
Amen.

Lord’s prayer (in our own languages)

Thuma Mina 108: Ream leboga (X3)

Lord God, you open wide your love for all.
We open our lives to one another and to you.
In your spirit we go to do our daily work.
May our worship become our living and our living become our worship.
Amen

Have a blessed and awesome week! 

Order of service praying for Pakistan, India and Srilanka

Morning Worship, Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, October 18, 2010
This order of service was prepared by Deenabhandu Manchala


Rebuilding lives, rekindling hopes

Invocation (sung in Sinhala) Repeat line by line after the leader
Namo, namo, mavumkarun We worship you, Creator
Namo, namo, midumkarun We worship you, Redeemer
Namo, namo, sudath(n)gurun We worship you, Holy Spirit
Namo, namo, tiyek(n)murun We worship you, Triune God

Vandagena bathi pem pamen We kneel in love and devotion
Devinduta passasum deemen to praise and thank God,
Devi saranaya, dan path(n)men to seek refuge, and
Karamuwa arayum samen God’s presence among us.

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.

Hymn: Bless and keep us Lord in your love united in Thuma Mina 195

Readings : II Timothy 3: 14 – 4:4 (Read in Sinhalese)
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.

Reflection by Shanta Premawardhana

Prayers
Gracious God, as we come together in thanksgiving and prayer before you, we pray for the sub-continent. We pray for Sri Lanka – a nation that has bled for several decades, and continues to bleed which we come to know through the pain and agony of millions of silenced and displaced people, whose lives are constantly threatened, abused and destroyed. We pray for Pakistan which is facing fragmentation at multiple levels and which seems to have become a home for terrorism, even as millions of its people suffer from hunger and malnutrition. We pray for the nearly 400 million hungry people in India that we often hear about as a rising economic power. Grant peace and life to the people of these nations and to all us.

Khuda ya Rahem kar (to be sung after each prayer - No: 45 Thuma Mina)

Compassionate God, we live in a world that is constantly under the spell of something tragic and shocking, which distracts our attention and response quickly from one to the other, we remember today the forgotten victims of the tragic natural disasters that have resulted in the deaths of hundreds and thousands of people – of the floods in Pakistan and India. We pray for the vulnerable – the rural and urban poor, the destitute children and the aged. Grant help, strength and hope that they may see the light of your salvation.

Khuda ya Rahem kar

Loving God, who wants us to reciprocate your love for us by loving one another, we thank you for giving us the capacity to celebrate our differences. We recognise amidst us the causes and forces of division, hatred, suspicion and selfishness that operate through the phenomena of religious fundamentalism, political manoeuvrings and economic injustice. Grant wisdom to the people of these nations and everywhere that they may realise that in your love and wisdom you have made us all, the way we are.

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. Have mercy on these millions today. 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: Help us accept each other in Thuma Mina 224

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.

The assurance of things hoped for ... A sermon by Peter Prove

The following is a sermon by Peter Prove, director of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance
Preached as a Monday morning reflection at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 9 August 2010
You can find the order of service and Bible reading here.

This week in the ecumenical prayer cycle, we journey again in prayer to Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. We underline our relationship with our sisters and brothers in Christ in those countries. We express our solidarity with the peoples of both countries in their challenges and struggles. And we affirm again with the author of the book of Hebrews that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.
This classic definition of the irreducible essence of faith was originally offered to an early Christian community struggling with persecution, marginalization and fear; a community in need of support; a community - like so many of us still today - yearning for concrete reassurance that the madness and lostness we see all around us and within us are not the last truth about the world, but only the next to last truth.
Reassurance is given in the example of Abraham, who obeyed when he was called to go out from his place, not knowing where he was to go, but looking forward to the city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God. It is given in the example of Sarah, who by faith received power to conceive - and to become the mother of a nation - though she was long past the age of child-bearing. And though they did not reach the promised land, they saw it from afar, and died in faith as “strangers and exiles on the earth”. They did not think of the home they had left, but desired “a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” Such is the nature and example of faith.
In my own home country of Australia, a political revolution has taken place - a revolution at least by Australian standards. A sitting Prime Minister was brought down, to be succeeded by his deputy and giving Australia its first female Prime Minister. This welcome and historic sign of the growing maturity of Australian politics and society seems, however, to have a darker shadow. The issue at the crux of the political upheaval in Australia was the previous Prime Minister's proposal for a 20% 'super-tax' on mining industry profits. Though a reasoned debate might have concluded that the nation and people of Australia have a perfectly legitimate claim to a greater share of the proceeds of exploitation of its natural resources, mining industry lobbying and political influence ensured that no such debate would need to take place.
And now an election campaign is in full swing, driven largely by slogans and rather less largely by policy choices. Except of course for the fact that the super-tax proposal has been quietly shelved by our first female Prime Minister. And anyway, there is a certain irony in a nation founded on dispossession being dispossessed of the wealth of its soil. The historic apology delivered by our former Prime Minister to the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia still lacks adequate practical consequence.
It's confusing. In which direction is the better country?
In Aotearoa New Zealand a public debate is raging over large-scale foreign (i.e. Chinese) acquisition of dairy farm properties. A small competitive nation that sought greater access for its products in large emerging (i.e. Chinese) markets is now challenged by the flipside of liberalization. In this context, racism bleeds all too easily into the debate about national sovereignty. And again, national sovereignty becomes a contested concept from the perspective of the Maori people, who have seen the legal commitments of the Waitangi Treaty repeatedly and blithely disregarded.
It's confusing. By what path may we approach the land of God's promise?
The question is, do we really desire a better country, as Abraham and Sarah did, or are we content with the one we have? Do we look forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God? Do we have faith in God's promise, and are we willing to go out, leaving our familiar homes, not knowing where we are to go, but trusting in God's promise to lead us there? Are we willing to be strangers and exiles on the earth, and to die in faith, not having received what was promised but having seen it and greeted it from afar?
Such a faith is not an antidote to reality; it is not belief in spite of the evidence. It is trusting in, looking towards, and setting our hearts upon things which are real, are known, and are urgently hoped for - knowing that the hope of heaven is not separate from the hope for a transformed world. The trials and confusions of today - this very day - are connected to the promised land just across the horizon. We step forward in faith not because we know the path, but because we trust in God's promise. Because we desire a better country, a heavenly one.

copyright Peter Prove

God of Kiwis and Kangaroos - an order of service for prayers for Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia

The prayers in this order of service were written by Lucy D'Aeth. The service was led by Jill Hawkey and the preacher was Peter Prove. I particularly love the God of Kiwis and Kangaroos in the final blessing.

Morning Prayer at the Ecumenical Centre
Monday August 9th
Ecumenical Prayer Cycle: Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia

Welcome

Gathering
L: In the name of the Creator, the fountain of life,
the name of Christ, the pulse of life,
and the name of the Spirit, the breath of life. Amen

People: Holy! Holy! Holy! Earth is filled with God’s presence.

L: Christ, we come into your presence today
To worship in this sanctuary called Earth

P: A planet filled with your presence,
quivering in the forests,
vibrating in the land,
pulsating in the wilderness,
shimmering
in the rivers.

L: God, reveal yourself to us in this place
and show us your face in your creation.

Song: Where mountains rise to open skies (see sheet)

Reading: Hebrews 11: 1-3: 8-16
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a long time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old- and Sarah herself was barren-because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore, from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore”.

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed he has prepared a city for them.

Reading: Luke 12: 32-40
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes: truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour”.

Song: Tama Ngakau Marie (Thuma Mina, No 47)

Reflection

Intercessions
Creator God,
We thank you for this new day and this new week. As we meet together on this summer morning, we remember our sisters and brothers across the globe in their winter evening and we thank you for the beautiful lands of Aotearoa and Australia – for the mountains and rivers, forests and beaches, the unique creatures and plants which shout the promise of these distant lands.
We remember before you all who call these lands ‘home’, that you may work through them to transform histories of suffering, violence and exile into communities of justice and peace.
God, in your mercy : Hear our prayer

God of justice and power,
We ask your blessing on all who make decisions about land use and resource management. We pray for politicians, business leaders, tribal elders, researchers and all who shape our planet’s future. Forgive us for our violent denial of indigenous wisdom, which taught us to treat our lands as our nurturing mother. Challenge the greed and despair which leads to the rape of this fragile planet; inspire us all to reverence and awe, that we may know your Spirit enlivening us as we journey into your promised land of justice and hope.
God, in your mercy : Hear our prayer

Gentle and surprising God,
Appearing when we least expect you, holding us in your web of love; weaving our diversity into your wholeness; we offer you our working week – our comings and goings, our deliberations and our efforts, that all may work to your glory. We pray for our colleagues, our families and our neighbours – all who make up the fabric of our daily lives. We pray for people of faith throughout the world, that through us, you may bring your promise of justice and joy, healing and hope to the whole world.
We ask all prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, our brother and our saviour.
Amen

Song: When the road runs out (see sheet)

Blessing
May the God of Abraham and Sarah bless us with hope,
May the God of kiwis and kangaroos surprise us into creativity,
May the pulsating, shimmering God, ever old and ever new, be with us, breathe through us, inspire and guide us, this and every day.
Amen

Morning prayers for the beginning of the Football World Cup

It so happens that as the soccer world cup started the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle turned to South America.
While I was attending the WCRC assembly in Grand Rapids my colleague Guillermo Kerber from Uruguay led morning service concetrating on football and God's playfulness. Wish I had been there!

Morning prayers Ecumenical Centre Geneva

Monday, June 21, 2010
(Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay)

Welcome

Song: Coritos #2

Opening prayer
(Bishop Aldo Etchegoyen, Argentina)

1. O God, Lord of the wind and the sea,
of the mountains and the valleys,
of the world and of the church:
In the midst of fear and insecurity
give us trust and hope in you

2. We live in a world where the gales of power
blow strong enough to shake life itself,
where from the arrogant and the interests of the powerful
roll the waves of injustice and violence.

1. We pray for those suffering
because of their poverty, their ignorance, their limitations,
because of their colour or status, social or sexual.
We think of your church sailing on a sea
where the waves of racism, militarism, sexism
and economic marginalization hurt human life.

2. Take care of your church and put in it
a sincere love for those who suffer,
a clear vision of your will,
healing pastoral words for the needy
and a valiant, prophetic proclamation
against those who create violence and pain.

1. O God, Lord of the wind and the sea,
may your strong mercy calm the whole earth
in the name of Jesus Christ

All: Amen

Readings
From the Book of Proverbs, chapter 8, 1- 30 (excerpts) (NJB)
“Is not Wisdom calling? Is not Understanding raising her voice? On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossways, she takes her stand; by the gates, at the entrance to the city, on the access-roads, she cries out, 'I am calling to you, all people, my words are addressed to all humanity. Simpletons, learn how to behave, fools, come to your senses.
Listen, I have something important to tell you, when I speak, my words are right. My mouth proclaims the truth, for evil is abhorrent to my lips… For Wisdom is more precious than jewels, and nothing else is so worthy of desire.
'I, Wisdom, share house with Discretion, I am mistress of the art of thought. I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behaviour and a lying mouth. To me belong good advice and prudence, I am perception: power is mine! By me monarchs rule and princes decree what is right; by me rulers govern, so do nobles, the lawful authorities.
I love those who love me; whoever searches eagerly for me finds me. With me are riches and honour, lasting wealth and saving justice. I walk in the way of uprightness in the path of justice, to endow my friends with my wealth and to fill their treasuries.
'Yahweh created me, first-fruits of his fashioning, before the oldest of his works. From everlasting, I was firmly set, from the beginning, before the earth came into being. The deep was not, when I was born, nor were the springs with their abounding waters. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I came to birth; before he had made the earth, the countryside, and the first elements of the world.
When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep, when he thickened the clouds above, when the sources of the deep began to swell, when he assigned the sea its boundaries -- and the waters will not encroach on the shore -- when he traced the foundations of the earth, I was beside the master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence, at play everywhere on his earth, delighting to be with the children of men.

Song: El cielo canta alegría, Alleluya (Argentina, Thuma Mina 54)

From the Gospel according to Matthew 16, 1-4 (NJB)
The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to put him to the test. They asked if he would show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “In the evening you say, ‘It will be fine; there's a red sky’, and in the morning, ‘Stormy weather today; the sky is red and overcast’.
You know how to read the face of the sky, but you cannot read the signs of the times!
It is an evil and unfaithful generation asking for a sign, and the only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah.'
And he left them and went off.

Meditation – “On football, religion and hope” – Guillermo Kerber (Uruguay)

Prayers of intercession

 This week, according to the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we are invited to pray for the people and the churches in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Let’s pray for them.
God of Mercy, have mercy with the people in these countries, especially with the poor and most vulnerable: indigenous peoples, women, children, and the elderly, in their uncertainty, fear and distrust as they face their future. Give your Wisdom to their governments democratically elected, so that they may discern what needs to be done in the name of justice, peace and care for creation. Sustain and strengthen through your Spirit, the churches in those countries, so that they remain a prophetic voice unbound by political and economic alliances and with all people. Grant just peace to these countries and their citizens, O Lord.
Ore Poriahu (Paraguay) (Thuma Mina 46)
 Let us pray for ourselves, for our families, organizations and churches
God of Grace, you have called us to labour and play in your vineyard. Without you we can do nothing. Grant us your gracious presence in our forthcoming meetings, works and holidays. Inspire us so that all our decisions at the personal and institutional levels follow your Wisdom.
Ore Poriahu (Paraguay) (Thuma Mina 46)
 Let us pray for our homelands and for all the nations of the world
God of Playfulness, behold and visit, we pray, the nations of the earth. Let the world rejoice with the beauty and passion of the Football World Cup. But especially enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, injustice and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness and justice with fairness, and that men and women from different cultures and religions, and with different talents may find with one another the fulfilment of their humanity.
Silence

Song: Santo, santo, santo, santo (El Salvador) (Thuma Mina 117)

The Lord’s Prayer (in your own language) (stand)

Blessing
The Lord bless our eyes that we may see clearly
The Lord bless our mouth that we may speak the truth
The Lord bless our ears that we may hear those who speak to us
The Lord bless our hearts that we may be open to the poor;
The Lord bless our feet that we may walk with humility and courage,
In the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

All: Amen

Final song : Tenemos esperanza (Argentina – Uruguay)

Order of service for Pentecost Tuesday

Pentecost Tuesday Prayers
Ecumenical Centre
25 May 2010
Praying through the ecumenical prayer cycle for Botswana and Zimbabwe

Musical preparation

Welcome
Call to prayer
In the joy of the promise of God’s Holy Spirit
We gather to pray together for God’s “oikoumene” – the whole inhabited earth;
We ask that God may send his Spirit upon us
that we may celebrate the name of the blessed Trinity, one God, now and forever.
Amen

Sing: Come Holy Spirit

O Lord, open my eyes,
that I may see the need of others,
open my ears that I may hear their cries,
open my heart so that they need not be without succour.
Let me not be afraid to defend the weak
because of the anger of the strong,
nor afraid to defend the poor,
because of the anger of the rich.
Show me where love and hope and faith are needed,
and use me to bring them to these places.
Open my eyes and ears that I may, this coming day,
be able to do some work of peace for you.

Shona prayer

Sing: Come Holy Spirit (from Iona)

Psalm 104: 24, 31-25 (read antiphonally)

All: O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

Women: May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works

Men: who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke.

Women: I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.

Men: Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!

All: O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

Stand to sing: Thuma Mina 84 (twice)
Rakanaka Vhangeri Rakanaka
Rakanaka Vhangeri Rakanaka

Ndanguri ndaku udze kuti Rakanaka
Ndanguri ndaku udze kuti Rakanaka

Bible reading - Acts 2:1-18 read in French and Amharic
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs - in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘People of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
“In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.

Stand to sing: Thuma Mina 84 (twice)
Rakanaka Vhangeri Rakanaka
Rakanaka Vhangeri Rakanaka

Ndanguri ndaku udze kuti Rakanaka
Ndanguri ndaku udze kuti Rakanaka

Meditation – Dr Stephen Brown

Sing: There’s a Spirit in the Air
(see end for music)

There's a spirit in the air,
telling Christians everywhere:
"Praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world."

Lose your shyness, find your tongue;
tell the world what God has done:
God in Christ has come to stay,
we can see his power today.

When believers break the bread
when a hungry child is fed:
praise the love that Christ revealed
living, working in our world.

Still his Spirit leads the fight,
seeing wrong and setting right:
God in Christ has come to stay,
we can see his power today.

When a stranger's not alone,
where the homeless find a home,
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.

May the Spirit fill our praise,
guide our thoughts and change our ways:
God in Christ has come to stay,
we can see his power today.

There's a Spirit in the air,
calling people everywhere:
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.

Copyright Brian Wren, 1969

Prayers of the People
L: Great God of all
we pray to you for the people of Botswana and Zimbabwe
Assure them of your Spirit’s comfort and support
at all times and in all places.
Hallowed be your name

Sung response: Mayezinwe

L: 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: Mayezinwe (Your will be done on earth)

L: We pray for all seeking to bring practical
and humanitarian aid to people in need throughout the world
May your Spirit of love fuel practical solidarity between human beings
Your kingdom come

Sung Response: Mayezinwe (Your will be done on earth)

L: We pray for all facing illness in body mind or spirit,
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: Mayezinwe (Your will be done on earth)

L: We pray for ourselves, our friends, colleagues and families.
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: Mayezinwe (Your will be done on earth)

The Lord’s Prayer (we rise to say each in our own language)

Blessing
Now go out into the world to sow seeds of peace with justice,
And may:
The God of overflowing creative energy
The Jesus of vast compassion
The Holy Spirit who turns chaos to life enhancing wholesomeness
Be with you as you go.
Amen.

Sing: Wa, Wa Wa Emimimo Thuma Mina 12
Wa Wa Wa Emimimo. Emimoloye
Wa Wa Wa Alagbara. Alagbarameta
Wao Wao Wao.Emimimo.

An order of service on

Morning Prayer, Monday, 3 May 2010, in the Ecumenical Centre
This service was put together by Sabine Udodesku and Rogate Mshana

There is enough food for all to share.
Hunger in a world of plenty is not caused by lack of food.
There is enough food to make most people in the world fat!
It is caused by lack of compassion and justice.

Prelude

Welcome
L: Christ is risen!
All: He is risen indeed!

Song: Mfurahini, Halleluya (Thuma Mina 280, sung in Swahili)

Prayer

L: Eternal God,
your Word declares
that the love which is laid down in faith
will be raised and produce a great harvest.
This we celebrate as we proclaim:

All: Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.

L: In silence,
we surrender ourselves
and all that we count important
to your will and purpose.

All: For we cannot know
the glory of Christ’s resurrection
if we do not have the fellowship of his sufferings.
And we cannot expect to gather the kingdom’s harvest
if we do not sow the kingdom’s seed.

Psalm 104:24-31 (in Swahili and English)

L: Ee Bwana, jinsi yalivyo mengi matendo yako; kwa hekima umevifanya vyote pia. Dunia imejaa mali zako.
All: God, how many are the works you have created, arranging everything in wisdom!
Earth is filled with creatures you have made:

L: Bahari iko kule, kubwa na upana, ndimo vilimo viendavyo visivyohesabika, viumbe hai, vidogo kwa vikubwa. ndimo vipitamo merikebu,
All: See the vast ocean
teeming with countless creatures, great and small,

L: ndimo alimo Lawiathani uliyemuumba acheze humo.
All: where ships go to and fro,
and Leviathan that you made to play for you.

L: Hao wote wanakungoja. Wewe uwape chakula chao kwa wakati wake.
All: All creatures depend on you
to give them food in due season.

L: Wewe huwapa, wao wanakiokota; wewe waukunjua mkono wako,
wao wanashiba mema,
All: You give them food they eat;
with generous hand, you fill them with good things.

L: wewe wauficha uso wako, wao wanafadhaika, waiondoa pumzi yao, wanakufa, nakuyarudia mavumbi yao,
All: If you turn your face away – they suffer;
if you stop their breath – they die and return to dust.

L: waipeleka Roho yako, wanaumbwa , nawe waufanya upya uso wa nchi.
All: When you give your spirit, they are created.
You keep renewing the world.

L: Utukufu wa Bwana na udumu milele; Bwana na ayafurahie matendo yake.
All: Glory forever to you, God!
May you find joy in your creation.

Song: Murassalat (verses 1 and 2)

Bible Reading - Matthew 14:14-16

When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." Read in Arabic

Song: Murassalat (verse 3)

Reflection (Rogate Mshana)

Song: Cuando el pobre (verses 1 & 2 in Spanish, verses 3 & 4 in English)

Prayer of Intercession

L: This week in the Ecumenical prayer Cycle, we pray especially for the churches and people in Sudan and Uganda…

Almighty God,
we pray for peace on earth.
For peace that is life-giving;
for peace that is love-baring;
for peace that is true freedom;
for peace that is purposeful;
for peace that is prevailing.

We pray for children in time of war; they are defenseless.
We pray for the old; they are unable to escape danger quickly.
We pray for those with physical disabilities; they are at the mercy of others.
We pray for women; they are vulnerable to abuse.
We pray for the innocent; they suffer from the unjust desires of others.

We pray for those whose lives have been changed by war:
the blinded; the burned; those who have lost limbs;
those who have lost their reason;
those who have lost their peace of mind;
those who have lost their health and strength forever.

O God, above all we pray for those in anguish,
those whose lives will never be the same again;
those who have lost their loved ones; those who have lost their lives.

Deepen in us our desire for peace,
restore our resolve for peace, increase our intent to work for peace.
Will for us your peace, perfect and prevailing
for your Son, our Saviour Christ’s sake.
Amen

Song: Bendice, Señor, nuestro pan (sung in Spanish and in English)

The Lord’s Prayer (each in his or her own language)

Benediction

L: Living God,
we thank you for this time of worshipping together
and for the thoughts and awareness that have been awakened within us.

All: May the peace of your presence,
the fire of your Spirit,
and the energy of the wind of heaven fill us
and rekindle the living flame of love in our lives.
Amen.

An Easter service on the promise of peace

This order of service was prepared by the WCC's general secretariat for the beginning of the WCC's staff planning days. The service was led by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit who also preached.
Morning Prayer, Monday, 26 April 2010 – Chapel, Ecumenical Centre

(This week in the ecumenical prayer cycle we prayer for the people and churches in Eritrea and Ethiopia.)

Prelude

Welcome

(L) Christ is risen!
(All) Indeed, he is risen!

Hymn: Cantai ao Senhor (Thuma Mina 3; verses 1-3 in Portuguese) (stand)

Invocation
(L) Eternal God, as you created humankind in your image,
women and men, male and female, renew us in that image:

(All) God the Holy Spirit, by your strength and love
comfort us as those whom a mother comforts:

(L) Lord Jesus Christ, by your death and resurrection,
give us the joy of those for whom pain and suffering become,
in hope, the fruitful agony of travail:

(All) God the Holy Trinity, grant that we may together
enter into new life, your promised rest of achievement
and fulfilment -- world without end. Amen.

Hymn: Cantai ao Senhor (Thuma Mina 3; verses 4-5 in English)

(L) The risen Lord is our peace; those who are divided he has made one.
He has broken down the barriers of separation by his death and his resurrection
and he has built us up into one body, with God.

(All) To all of us who repent and believe God promises forgiveness and reconciliation.
(L) Bless the Lord, my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, my soul, and forget not all that the Lord has done for you.

(All) The Lord forgives all our iniquities, heals all our infirmities,
redeems our life from corruption, crowns us with mercy and compassion,
satisfies our desire with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

(L) The Lord performs deeds of mercy, and justice for all who are wronged.
The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

(All) The Lord will not always strive with us, nor will he keep his anger forever.
The Lord has not dealt with us according to our iniquities,
nor has he rewarded us according to our sins.
For as heavens are high above the earth,
so great is the Lord’s mercy toward those who fear him.

(L) Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion.
In all places of his dominion, bless the Lord, O my soul.

Hymn: Let us praise the Lord our God (Thuma Mina 2) (stand)

Gospel Reading: John 20:19-23
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you". After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained".

Hymn: Hallelujah (Thuma Mina 55)

Meditation (sit)

Intercessions
(L) We give praise to Christ, our risen Lord, the radiant light of the world. He guides our steps in a path of light and we no longer live in darkness. Let us pray to the Lord.
(All) Kiria alayson









(L) Christ, our Saviour, may your word take flesh in our lives and your truth shine forth in our actions. May your love burn brightly within us. Let us pray to the Lord.
(All) Kiria alayson

(L) Teach us to work for the good of all, whether the time is right or not; make your Church a welcome light for the human family. Let us pray to the Lord.
(All) Kiria alayson

(L) Bless the work of our effort, bring together those you have called into unity, and give us the grace to be faithful to your calling. Let us pray to the Lord.
(All) Kiria alayson

(L) We pray for unity among the Christian churches and genuine dialogue with people who confess other faiths. Let us pray to the Lord.
(All) Kiria alayson

(L) We pray for churches and people in Eritrea and Ethiopia. We pray for peace in the region, for harmony between its peoples, for genuine ecumenical relations among churches. Let us pray to the Lord.
(All) Kiria alayson

(L) O Christ, our God, author of life and giver of peace, guide us so that we may walk in your ways of righteousness. For you are our helper and our deliverer and to you is fitting glory, dominion and honour, now and for ever and unto the ages of ages.
(All) Amen.

Lord's Prayer (stand)
(L) Let us, in fellowship with Christian people of all nations join in united petition to the one God and Parent of all humankind, after the manner of the prayer which our Lord himself has taught us.
(All) Our Father in heaven.

(L) We are weak and blind and selfish; but you are wisdom and love and life, and give us wisdom, love and life in its fullness to those who trust in you:
(All) Our Father in heaven.

(L) Through the continued search for fullness of life for all people, regardless of race and ideology:
(All) Hallowed be your name.

(L) Through the persistent desire in all people to seek fellowship with one another in your one family:
(All) Hallowed be your name.

(L) By the faithfulness of your people in seeking first your kingdom and your righteousness:
(All) Your kingdom come.

(L) By the new dedication of churches in all lands to the establishment of justice in all the earth:
(All) Your kingdom come.

(L) In the struggle against all that diminishes life in our world:
(All) Your will be done.

(L) In the determination among all to work for secure peace in a world order that is fair to the generations yet to be:
(All) Your will be done.

(L) By the establishment of peace and the unremitting search for justice:
(All) Give us today our daily bread.

(L) By passionate caring and committed sharing:
(All) Give us today our daily bread.

(L) Because by our self-interest and self-concern we have increased the bitterness between peoples and nations:
(All) Forgive us our sins.

(L) Because we have been arrogant, seeking to exalt ourselves rather than to find your will for us and do it:
(All) Forgive us our sins.

(L) If other countries while pursuing their own interests have hindered ours and impoverished the life of our people:
(All) We forgive those who sin against us.

(L) If any have injured us by exploiting our ignorance and weakness:
(All) We forgive those who sin against us.

(L) When opportunity comes to secure better living standards for ourselves at the cost of increased poverty to others:
(All) Save us from the time of trial.

(L) When fear distracts the mind or security lulls the conscience, and we are in danger of forgetting you:
(All) Save us from the time of trial.

(L) At times of self-satisfaction, self-seeking and self-confidence:
(All) Deliver us from evil.

(L) When we fear the designs of others, and desire to gain security or advantage by unjust means:
(All) Deliver us from evil.

(L) For over all races and nations you rule as sovereign; your parental love embraces all; and in your will is our peace and in your life our life.
(All) For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn: La paz del Senor (Thuma Mina 187) (stand)

(L) O Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles,
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you:
grant us that peace and unity which is agreeable to your will.
(All) Amen.

(L) Brothers and sisters, in the love of Christ, let us offer each other a sign of peace.

(L) May the Lord of peace give us peace in all ways at all times.
(All) Amen.

Postlude

Prayer for Monday 19 April 2010 and opening of Icon exhibition

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre Monday 19 April 2010
Praying through the ecumenical prayer cycle for the people of Somalia and Djibouti

Musical preparation

Welcome

Christos anesti!
Alithos anesti!

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!

Cristo ha resucitado!
!En verdad ha resucitado!

Le Christ est ressuscité!
Il est vraiment ressuscité!

Christus ist erstanden!
Er ist wahrhaftig erstanden!

Christos anesti!
Alithos anesti!

Sing - Agios o Theos, Agios Ischiros. Agios Athanatos, Eleison imas (three times)

Prayer
When we are all despairing
When the world is full of grief
When we see no way ahead
And hope has gone away:
Roll back the stone.
Although we fear change;
Although we are not ready;
Although we would rather weep
And run away:
Roll back the stone.
Because we hope where hope is vain;
Because you call us from the grave
And show the way:
Roll back the stone.

Sing - Agios o Theos, Agios Ischiros. Agios Athanatos, Eleison imas (three times)
please be seated

Colossians 1:15-20
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation;
for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created,
things visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers
all things have been created through him and for him.
He himself is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have first place in everything.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things,
whether on earth or in heaven,
by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Sing - Agios o Theos, Agios Ischiros. Agios Athanatos, Eleison imas (three times remain seated)

Reading from the Hebrew Scripture Genesis 1:26-31
Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ 27So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ 29God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. 31God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Stand to sing - A Toi la Gloire, verse 1 in French - remain standing for the gospel readings
À toi la gloire, O Ressuscité!
À toi la victoire pour l’éternité!
Brillant de lumière, l’ange est descendu,
Il roule la pierre du tombeau vaincu.
À toi la gloire, O Ressuscité!
À toi la victoire pour l’éternité!

Gospel Reading John 14:8-12
Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Sing - A Toi la Gloire, verse 2 in English - remain standing for second gospel reading
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
Let the church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
For her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.
Thine is the glory, risen conqu'ring Son,
Endless is the vict'ry, Thou o'er death hast won.

Gospel John 17:11-22
And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one.

Sing - A Toi la Gloire, Verse 3 in French (be seated)
Craindrais-je encore? Il vit à jamais,
Celui que j’adore, le Prince de paix;
Il est ma victoire, mon puissant soutien,
Ma vie et ma gloire : non, je ne crains rien!
À toi la gloire, O Ressuscité!
À toi la victoire pour l’éternité!

Meditation “Images of the invisible” by Theodore A. Gill Jr.

Prayers of intercession ~ with the peoples of Djibouti and Somalia
O God Eternal, good beyond all that is good,
Fair beyond all that is fair, in whom is calmness and peace: reconcile the differences which divide us from one another and bring us back to the unity of love which may bear some likeness to your divine nature. Grant that we may be one, through the grace mercy and tenderness of your son, Jesus Christ.
Sing Agape 110: Yarrabba ssalami amter alay na ssalam
Yarrabba ssalami imla’qulubana na ssalam.

O God, you who are glorious and truly bounteous,
we pray to you for the countries and peoples of Djibouti and Somalia.
Even where drought and famine reign,
may sustenance be given to those suffering from malnutrition and facing starvation.
Even when rivers run dry and rain doesn’t fall,
we pray that all may have access to clean water.
Sing: Yarrabba ssalami amter alay na ssalam
Yarrabba ssalami imla’qulubana na ssalam.

O God, your Son had “nowhere to lay his head”,
we pray to you now
for the hundreds of thousands of Somalian refugees throughout the world,
and for the refugees from Eritrea and Ethiopia who have fled to Djibouti;
we pray that they may find shelter, protection and people willing to welcome them and offer practical support.
As we remember them,
we also pray for all refugees and displaced peoples in our world today.
Sing: Yarrabba ssalami amter alay na ssalam
Yarrabba ssalami imla’qulubana na ssalam.

O God of peace,
we pray for peace in Somalia.
With heavy hearts we pray
for peace in our time and in the times to come;
that, throughout our world, swords may be beaten into ploughshares.
Sing: Yarrabba ssalami amter alay na ssalam
Yarrabba ssalami imla’qulubana na ssalam.

God of resurrection and promise
we pray for the Church of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
And we pray also for ourselves, for our work here and elsewhere,
for our families, friends and loved ones, for those we find it hard to love.
Teach us, too, to beat our swords into ploughshares.
May our prayers, and our actions, become icons
that illustrate the abiding reality of your love.
Sing: Yarrabba ssalami amter alay na ssalam
Yarrabba ssalami imla’qulubana na ssalam.

The Lord’s Prayer ~ said by each in their own language

A prayer of sending

O Creator and Mighty God
You have promised
Strength for the weak, Rest for the labourers, Light for the way,
Grace for the trials, Help from above, Unfailing sympathy, Undying love.
O Creator and Mighty God
help us to continue in your promise.
Amen

Blessing

Sing - Agape 77:
Reamo leboga
Modimo wa rona

We give our thanks to God
We give our thanks to God

Wir danken unserm Gott
Der Dank gilt unserm Gott

Merci à toi Seigneur
Nous te rendons grâce

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)

An order of service as the Ecumenical Prayer cycle turns to Switzerland, Austria, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Andorra ...

Worship Ecumenical Centre, Monday 1 March 2010

This week the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle invites us to pray for the countries of Andorra, Austria, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, and for the churches in these countries

This order of service was put together by Rudolf Renfer LWF director of Human resources

Welcome – Invocation

God of the past
Who has fathered and mothered us
We are here to thank you.

God of the future
Who is always ahead of us
We are here to trust you.
God of the present
Here in the midst of us
We are here to praise you.

God of life
Beyond us, within us
We rejoice in your glorious love.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever.
Amen

Hymn: In Dir ist Freude (stand)
Verse 1 in German, Verse 2 in French, Verse 3 in Italian

Prayer of Repentance and Forgiveness
Spirit of joy, through you, Christ lives in us, and we in Christ.
Forgive us when we forget you and when we fail to live in your joy.
Spirit of God, forgive us, and lead us to life in you.

Esprit d’amour, tu nous lies par amour, à toi-même et à ceux et celles qui nous entourent,
dans les liens de famille, la communauté des amis et à nos places de travail.
Pardonne quand nous faisons tort à ceux et celles que nous aimons
et nous détournons de l’amour de nos amis.
Esprit de Dieu, pardonne-nous et conduis-nous à vivre en toi.

Geist des Leibes Christi, verbinde uns in einer Kirche
durch deine lebensspendende Gnade und Hoffnung.
Vergib uns unser Stückwerk beim Aufbau deiner Kirche
und unser Versagen, deine Liebe in die Welt hineinzutragen.
Geist Gottes, vergib uns und führe uns zum Leben in dir.

As the dove gently settles on the tree, receive the gift of peace.
As the flame rises free with light and warmth, receive the gift of life.
As the wind moves and dances around the earth, receive the gracious gift of the Spirit
Amen
(In Spirit and in Truth, Worship Book WCC Assembly Canberra 1991)

Hymn sung by the Focolare Community

Bible Readings

Psalm 140 - Read in Romansch
Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers; protect me from those who are violent.
who plan evil things in their minds and stir up wars continually.
They make their tongue sharp as a snake’s, and under their lips is the venom of vipers.
Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
protect me from the violent who have planned my downfall.
The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net,
along the road they have set snares for me.
I say to the Lord, “You are my God; give ear, O Lord, to voice of my supplications.”
O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot.
Those who surround me lift up their heads; let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
Let burning coals fall on them! Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!
Do not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil speedily hunt down the violent!
I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall live in your presence.

Luke 13, 4 - 5
“Those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them – do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

Sermon: Risk, chance, crisis ... Rudolf Renfer

Hymn sung by the Focolare Community

Prayer of intercession
Lord, our God,
We thank you that any crisis is not only a risk, but also a chance.
We thank you that human disasters are not a fatality and that its consequences have nothing to do with punishment or disobedience.
We thank you to show us how and where we can repent, how and where we can assume our responsibilities and struggle for the justice of the poor.

We pray today for Andorra, Austria, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland, privileged small countries in Europe. We pray that their high standard of living will allow them to be examples of justice and good behavior among the nations of the world. We pray for the churches in these countries who live with a tradition of many centuries of Christian faith and service.

We pray for the ecumenical movement and for all organizations in this house. Give them the wisdom to assume the risks and to grasp the chances, in order to see any crisis as an opportunity for improving their witness and presence among the churches in the societies all over the world.

And we pray with the words of Nikolaus von Flüe, a Swiss monk of the 15th century:

You, my Lord and my God,
Give me all that leads me to you.
You, my Lord and my God,
Take away from me, all that separates me from you.
You, my Lord and my God,
Take me away from myself and offer me entirely to you.

The Lord’s prayer (said by each in our own language)

Hymn “Nada te turbe” (stand)
Verse 1 in Spanish, 2 in German, 3 in Italian

Blessing
O Lord, you have mercy on all,
take away from us our sins,
and mercifully set us ablaze
with the fire of your Holy Spirit.
Take away from us the heart of stone,
and give us a human heart, a heart to love and adore you,
a heart to delight in you,
to follow and enjoy you,
for Christ’s sake.


Hymn sung by the Focolare Community

Chance and risk - a sermon by Rudolf Rennfer

Chance and Risk - a sermon by Rev. Rudolf Renfer director of Human Resources at the Lutheran World Federation
This sermon was preached on 1 March 2010, the gospel text was the tower of Siloam falling down and killing 18 people. You can find the full liturgy here. A choir of 75 members of the Focolari movement also joined us for the service.
Perhaps "opportunity and risk" or opportunity and danger may work better for you that "chance and risk" but I think the meaning is clear.


It seems that in Chinese you use quite often two ideograms which separately mean one thing,
and together something else, but in relation with the two previous ones.
The ideograms on this worship sheet mean (above) “risk” and below “chance”. Together,
they express the concept of “crisis”.
In this context, I want to tell you an old story from China that I heard some time ago.
On the country side of rural China, a father offers a horse to his son who just got of age.
So the men from the village come to see the father and tell him:
“What a chance he has, your son, with such a wonderful horse.”
And the father answers:
“Maybe it is a good chance, maybe it is high risk.”
Some weeks later, the son comes back to the village with his horse, together with a wild horse that he was able to capture, a rare event.
So the men from the village come to see again the father and comment:
“What a chance for your son to capture such a wonderful wild animal.”
And the father replies: “Maybe it is a good chance, maybe it is a high risk.”
Some weeks later, when trying to tame the wild horse, the son falls down from his own horse
and breaks his leg, which is a tragedy in an isolated Chinese village.
So the men from the village come to see again the father and they complain:
“What a bad luck for your son, will he recover with his broken leg?”
And the old peasant answers:
“Maybe it is a high risk and bad luck, maybe it is a good chance.”
Some weeks later, a group from the army enters into the village and takes away all the young
men who can serve to fight on the battlefields. But one young man remains in the village; the
one with his broken leg.
So the men from the village come back to the peasant and comment again:
“What a chance he had your son not to be taken by the army.”
And the father says again:
“Maybe it is a good chance, maybe it is a high risk.”
As I said before: “Chance” and “risk” together in Chinese mean “crisis”. In fact, every
decisive moment in any life is a moment of crisis.
Every crisis has a chance and contains a risk.
We are praying this week, amongst other countries, for Switzerland. During decades, Switzerland has been seen as a blessed country, almost like a kind of biblical place where milk and honey flows. Everything works well, there is such a high standard of living, people are so friendly, and they make such wonderful chocolate and watches and cuckoo clocks and other clichés. But for several years, this image is vanishing, and the country is in the middle of a crisis, I would say mainly an identity crisis.
Look at the Swiss banking system and all these things that have happened behind the scenes
for many years in order to increase gains and profits, without respecting ethical principles, and these were all so friendly and nice Swiss people who did it.
Look at these dirty negotiations about secret bank accounts and names of French, American and German bank clients in Switzerland, and Swiss banks encouraging them to tax evasion.
Look at this incredible saga of two Swiss citizens detained as hostages in Libya, and the Swiss government who has lost any capacity of negotiation, leading finally the president of Libya to his stupid declaration of a jihad, due to the vote refusing the construction of minarets, where Switzerland has lost most of its credibility, and where some very unfriendly and narrow minded anti-islamic ideas become the majority view.
This is a crisis.
Look also at the ecumenical movement, at the organizations where we are working. Of course, there were always attacks from outside and from inside against the WCC and some of its positions, declarations and statements. But in general, it was a respected movement and
supported by the member churches. And now it seems that there is no more trust, that the churches and their agencies don’t see anymore a deep sense of what we are doing in this
house, and there is pressure on funding, on programmes, on staff. And even if we maintain the
hope that declaring this as a winter time where we can do a lot of things inside the house, and
that it is a good occasion for reorientation, we need to know that spring will be coming one day and that we have to get out of the impression of being in the middle of a crisis.
Or look at ourselves, at our own lives, at our chances and risks. Look at the moments we have
been going through or we are now confronted with, in our families, with our friends, at our workplace, with our neighbors, and we realize that life is full of crisis.
I would like to repeat that each crisis has a chance and contains a risk. The risk is to get used
to the critical remarks, to feel resigned and to conclude that in the end, nothing or almost nothing
can be done to reverse the situation. How can you convince member churches or agencies
that we are better than what they think of us? We are such a reduced number of staff, our
efforts did not show many results. Let’s do what we can, but without any illusions. This is a
risk indeed.
But the crisis has also a chance. It allows us to reflect on ourselves, to reorient our action, to
re-centre our activities, to learn from failure. Let’s be convinced that what we are doing and
living is full of meaning, will bring us forward and will overcome negative experience. What
sometimes might have the aspect of a tragedy, like the broken leg of the young Chinese man, can
suddenly be a blessing for a life and give new chances for survival.
In our biblical text from the Gospel of Luke, the disciples come to see Jesus and mention to
him the destruction and collapse of a tower at the city wall of Jerusalem, killing eighteen
persons. They ask him: Is this a fatality, and act of God, like the earthquake in Haiti or now in Chile was a terrible fatality? Were these victims more sinful than any other habitants of Jerusalem? Jesus clearly answers that there is no link between the causes (like an accident) and the effects.
However, what is important is to pay attention to what is happening in the world and to find
out where our responsibilities lie. Each "fatality" is an occasion for repentance. In other words:
obviously there has not been a good prevention when building the tower in Siloam. There has
not been enough consideration for the Haitian people for decades, and the risk that they
would suffer just another catastrophe was left too high.
So let’s look at the chances in a context in Switzerland where economic and political networking is based on justice and transparency and not on fraud and evasion.
Let’s look at the chances to open new spaces for the ecumenical movement where collaboration, confidence building and concrete new steps will be possible.
Let’s take the crisis as an extraordinary occasion for new departures, even if each occasion
implies a new risk.
Let’s be open to Christ’s call for a responsible way of using the opportunities in our lives.
Let’s repent, reorient ourselves, look ahead and start again, in order not to perish.
Not as a theoretical approach, but as a challenge for our daily important and nitty gritty work,
as the Chinese peasant said:
“Maybe it is a good chance; maybe it is a high risk.”
Amen

Copyright (c) Rudolf Renfer/LWF

A sermon by Jet den Hollander on Love

This sermon was preached at the chapel of the Ecumenical Centre on February 8 as we were praying for Belgium, the Netherland and Luxemburg


Next Sunday is Valentine’s day,
and even though in Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands this is not a big tradition, as the preparatory group for this morning’s worship we decided to take our theme from this: “All you need is love”
- Hence the Beatles
- the “sweet hearts” in the basket (please take some when you leave the chapel)
- the candles in the shape of a heart.

As we were brainstorming on love and Valentine’s Day, I remembered an evening years ago in Cuba. I was staying with Carlos Ham and the family and we were going out for the night. First to Che Guevara’s cabaña – in a fort on the harbour where he used to work when he was a government minister in Castro’s revolutionary government. Not a big place but full of Che’s stuff: his doctor’s kit, books, binoculars, diaries, cigars, photos of his wife and children.

Then it turned towards 9 pm and we had to rush outside for the - what Carlos called – “the cannonball ceremony”: an incredible spectacle because Cubans dressed up as the 18th century Spanish soldiers - complete with wigs and lances - marched up to the large cannon. And, as it has happened for three centuries, commands were shouted and the cannon was fired to tell the population that the harbour – and in the old days the city of Havana – was now closed.

Just then across the harbour a large tourist boat floated by, illuminated - here in revolutionary Cuba - by a huge red heart of lights.

Three worlds, three completely different realities in the space of an hour on that same square next to Che’s cabin –
- The Cuban Revolution – with its vision of justice and opportunity for all, though with its own inherent problems
- The colonial period - with all its pomp and privilege for a few, and exploitation and harshness for many - that in a real sense provoked that revolution
- And the Valentine’s Day cruise – that symbol of commercialism that has found its way into our many societies, and yet, for all its play on the market (I understand chocolate factories in Britain have their biggest turnover of the year between Valentine’s day and Easter) that inspires a lot of thoughts of love.

Which one is the real Cuba? Or are all of them together the real Cuba?

The same question can be asked of my own country, the Netherlands, or of Belgium or Luxemburg for which we pray today.

Three rather small countries, yet within each of them there is such a diversity,
- of landscapes and architectural traditions;
- of norms and values and ways of life: for instance certain ways of doing things may be rejected in the Randstad in the west of the Netherlands but still linger on in the rural parts in the East near Germany,
- a diversity of languages and dialects; even in the Netherlands there are two official languages (Dutch and Frisian) but then there is a great variety of dialects, not to mention the many languages spoken by the "allochtoon" part of the population.
- Even that word itself points to two different realities: “allochtoon” means those originated from a foreign land; "autochtoon" means “of the land itself”, so, the immigrants and the “indigenous Dutch”, each have an often quite different view of what is Dutch reality today.
- And then of course there are the many different ways of believing, speaking of God, experiencing God in our highly secularised societies

Last week Jane described the experience of even your own mother tongue becoming unfamiliar. I recognise that. Each year the Dutch identify a new word that has become accepted into our language. In 2009, the "Word of the Year" was "ontvrienden", a Facebook term that means "de-friend", when you no longer "want to be friends" with someone on Facebook. What kind of a society choses this cold concept as "Word of the Year"? Jane talked of the sense of alienation and confusion and conflicting realities in a world that you thought you knew but turns out to be Babel, the place where we do not understand each other anymore. I think it’s an experience that is very widespread today, and yet – an experience that is probably of all times.

One theologian who has done a lot to help people to grapple with that experience of multi-realities all criss-crossing in the same space was Edward Schillebeeckx, who died on 23 December after a long and – in his own words – happy and fulfilled life.

Schillebeeckx was born in Belgium in 1914 but lived for most of his life in the Netherlands and so as Dutch and Belgians we can both claim him as “ours”. He was a Dominican priest, a radical thinker, a prolific writer and a great interpreter of the theology underlying Vatican II. From the early 60s he was the moving force behind the renewal in the Dutch Catholic church province – liturgy, priests who married, rethinking the sacraments, etc.

His books are not easy, but he led Protestants and Catholics alike back to the sources, and made faith transparent again, often through pithy concepts like:

 God is new every day
 God is “ons rakelings nabij”, so close to us we almost touch
 Jesus, the story of one who lives

And then there was, already in the 1970s, his book: Justice and love, liberation and grace.

Schillebeeckx used the word “love” seldom “sec” but always in context and often in combination with that other concept that for us today is so important: justice. Which brings us back to 1 Corinthians 13: love.
"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude." 1 Cor 13.4

Love that comes from God, and shines through us, focussed on the other. That love for God, for others and for creation came through in what Schillebeeckx said and wrote. It’s good to know that he, in a unique combination of making things clear and yet keeping the mystery, now has the privilege of seeing God no longer as in a mirror, but face to face.

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Cor 13: 7
But is that real? Do-able? Isn’t it sometimes unwise, unrealistic ....

(poem Erich Fried - read by different voices)

It is what it is: Love
Do-able because Jesus did it.

May that love be concrete today in what we say, how we speak to each other and deal with the issues on the table. May it be God’s love that shines through us today.

Amen.

Copyright (c) Jet den Hollander WARC

All you need is love - a service prior to valentine's day

This morning colleagues from the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg led our worship, giving it the theme "all you need is love".

Ecumenical Centre Morning Worship

Monday 8 February 2010
Praying with the peoples and churches of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands

All you need is Love

(Red candles in shape of heart on the altar “Sweet-hearts” in basket next to the liturgies)

Musical prelude – Beatles, All you need is love, on piano, guitar, flute, drums


Words of welcome
- welcoming all and especially visitors
- the countries on the prayer cycle this week...
- Invitation to stand and begin this morning’s worship as is customary in Dutch churches, by expressing our trust in the One who called us here together ....

Votum and greeting Lucette
(all stand) Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Whose steadfast love endures for ever
Who does not forsake the work of his hands.

Grace to you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:3)

In response to God’s peace we sing to God:

The Gloria(sung in Dutch)
Ere zij de Vader en de Zoon en de Heilige Geest
Als in den beginne
Nu en immer
En van eeuwigheid tot eeuwigheid
Amen

(Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
now and always, and for ever and ever. Amen)

Ps 100
Hymn Juicht Gode toe, bazuint en zingt – All people that on earth do dwell
(Psalm 100 in the language of your choice, attached)

Scripture reading 1 Cor 13:1-13 raed in Dutch

Reflection Jet den Hollander
Ending with a question that serves as invitation to begin the poem

Poem What it is (Erich Fried)

Lucette stays at the 2nd mike and invites to sing the song ( remain seated)

Hymn Lumière de Dieu (Thuma Mina 150, in French, German, English)

Prayers of thanksgiving and intercession (Lucette and Lut)

For Gods goodness ….
Nous chantons / we sing: Lumière de Dieu (French only)

For the peoples and churches of Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Nous chantons / we sing: Lumière de Dieu

For our world
Nous chantons / we sing: Lumière de Dieu

For ourselves and our colleagues in the Ecumenical Centre
Nous chantons / we sing: Lumière de Dieu

Closing song The Love of God (Thuma Mina 219, in the language of your choice)

Zegen / Benediction, in Dutch

Musical postlude as we leave the chapel - All you need is love.

Morning Prayer from Iona

Mark Taylor has been leading morning prayers this week in the Ecumenical Centre based on this outline from the Iona Community

Iona Community Prayers

Opening Responses
The world belongs to God
THE EARTH AND ALL ITS PEOPLE
How good and how lovely it is
TO LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY
Love and faith come together
JUSTICE AND PEACE JOIN HANDS
If Christ’s disciples keep silent
THESE STONES WOULD SHOUT ALOUD

Song or chant

Confession
Loving God, Maker of all
HAVE MERCY ON US
Jesus Christ, Servant of the poor
HAVE MERCY ON US
Holy Spirit, Breath of life
HAVE MERCY ON US
Let us in silence admit our frailty and confess our failings

Silence

Before God, with the people of God, I confess to my brokenness:
To the ways I wound my life, the lives of others and the life of the world
MAY GOD FORGIVE YOU, CHRIST RENEW YOU, AND THE SPIRIT ENABLE YOU TO GROW IN LOVE
Amen

BEFORE GOD, WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD, WE CONFESS TO OUR BROKENNESS:
TO THE WAYS WE WOUND OUR LIVES, THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND THE LIFE OF THE WORLD
May God forgive you, Christ renew you, and the spirit enable you to grow in love
AMEN



Move among us, O God; give us life
LET YOUR PEOPLE REJOICE IN YOU
Make our hearts clean within us:
RENEW US IN MIND AND IN SPIRIT
Give us again the joy of your help
WITH YOUR SPIRIT OF FREEDOM SUSTAIN US.

Word and Wisdom
Listen now for Word and Wisdom:

(Readings)

This is the word of God
FOR THE WORD OF GOD IN JESUS
FOR GOD’S WISDOM ALL AROUND US
FOR GOD’S WORD AND WISDOM IN US
THANKS BE TO GOD

Affirmation
With the whole church
WE AFFIRM THAT WE ARE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE, BEFRIENDED BY CHRIST, EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT
With people everywhere
WE AFFIRM GOD’S GOODNESS AT THE HEART OF HUMANITY, PLANTED MORE DEEPLY THAN ALL THAT IS WRONG
With all creation
WE CELEBRATE THE MIRACLE AND WONDER OF LIFE, THE UNFOLDING PURPOSES OF GOD, FOREVER AT WORK IN OURSELVES AND THE WORLD

Song or chant

Prayer for the Iona Community (ALL)
O God, who gave to your servant Columba the gifts of courage, faith and cheerfulness, and sent people out from Iona to carry the word of your gospel to every creature, grant, we pray, a like spirit to your church, even at this present time.
Further in all things the purpose of our Community, that hidden things may be revealed to us, and new ways found to touch the lives of all.
May we preserve with each other sincere charity and peace, and if it be your holy will, grant that a place of your abiding be continued still to be a sanctuary and a light.
Through Jesus Christ, Amen

Universal Prayer for Peace (ALL)
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill our lives, our world, our universe.
Peace, peace, peace.

Prayers of the Community
God of power and promise,
You gather and scatter your people to the ends of the earth;
But wherever we go, we are never beyond the reach of your love.
Gather us together now with the Iona Community as we share in the common prayer…

(Prayers of gratitude and concern are invited)

(The leader prays for the priorities of the community, for the world, for the Full and Associate Members)

May they not fail you
NOR WE FAIL THEM

The Lord’s Prayer (ALL)
(In our own mother-tongues)

Silence

Closing responses
In work and worship
GOD IS WITH US
Gathered and scattered
GOD IS WITH US
Now and always
GOD IS WITH US

Copyright (c) Iona community