An order of morning prayer for All Saints Day

Morning Prayers in the Ecumenical Centre
All Saints Day Monday 1 November 2010
Praying with the peoples and churches of
Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Greetings and call to worship

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34)

Sing:
Bless the Lord my soul and bless God’s Holy name
Bless the Lord my soul, who leads me into life

Prayer of confession
Compassionate God, forgive us for the times we do not follow the path of your son Jesus Christ and forget or despise our brothers and sisters.
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy

God of Forgiveness,
Help us to treat everyone fairly and with dignity. Teach us your way of love.
Christ, have mercy
Christ, have mercy

Loving God, have patience with us even when we make wrong choices.
Clothe us with your righteousness.
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy

Words of forgiveness
Hear and believe the good news of the gospel:
God is love, and in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Thanks be to the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen.

Sing: Bless the Lord my soul and bless God’s Holy name
Bless the Lord my soul, who leads me into life

Ephesians 2:19-22
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

Please rise to sing Haleluya! Pelo tsa rona – Thuma Mina 114 –
and remain standing for the gospel reading

Gospel reading Matthew 5: 1.12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Sing Haleluya! Pelo tsa rona – Thuma Mina 114

Reflection By Canon John Gibaut

Prayers of remembrance and intercession
God of mercy and compassion
As we gather our hearts and minds in prayer grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may be united in prayer with the peoples of Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As we remember them we pray for healing:
of memories, of injured bodies and minds, of relationships.
O Lord hear our Prayer

God of peace and justice
We pray for all victims of war, for the living and for the dead.
In the face of genocide, of rape, of grinding poverty and outrageous greed
We pray for peace, for transformation and an end to weeping
O Lord hear our prayer

God of eternity
We remember and give thanks for all who have inspired us on the journey of life and faith. For their love and work and witness we give you thanks. In the silence of our hearts and aloud we name them: (names are read – please feel free to add names)

The Lord’s Prayer said in our different languages

Sing: La Paz del Señor – Thuma Mina 187
verse 1 in Spanish, verse 2 in German verse 3 in English verse 4 in French

Closing responses
On our hearts and our houses
The blessing of God
In our coming and our going
The peace of God
In our life and believing
The love of God
At our end and new beginning
The arms of God to welcome us and bring us home. Amen
(From the Iona Community)

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

An Easter order for morning worship

The following order for prayers at the beginning of the week was prepared by the wonderful Yvette Milosevic

Ecumenical Centre Geneva, Monday morning prayers, 6 April 2010

Christ is risen
Christ is risen indeed!

Christus ist auferstanden
Christus ist wahrhaftig auferstanden!

Christ est résuscité
Christ est vraiment rescuscité

Cristo ha resucitado
Verdaderamente, ha resucitado!

Hristos a înviat!
Adevărat a înviat!

Χριστός Ανέστη! Αληθώς Ανέστη!
(Christos Anesti! Aleithos Anesti!)

Христос Воскресе! Воистину Воскресе!
(Khristos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese!)

Kristus er oppstanden!
Han er sannelig oppstanden!

Words of welcome

Opening Prayer
Having beheld the resurrection of Christ,
Let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one.
We venerate your cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify your holy resurrection.
You are our God. We know no other than you, and we call upon your name.
Come, all faithful, let us venerate the holy resurrection of Christ.
For behold, through the cross joy has come to all the world.
Blessing the Lord always, let us praise his resurrection.
For enduring the cross for us, he destroyed death by death.
Amen

Hymn “Now the green blade riseth”
Liebe ist wie Weizen und sein Halm ist grün
Verse 1 in English, verse 2 in German and verse 3 and 4 English.

Psalm 118:19-24
19Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
20This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvellous in our eyes.
24This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.*

Sung acclamation of the gospel: Alleluia!

Luke 24:13-35
13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles* from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ 19He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’ 25Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah* should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us* while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Halle, Halle, Halleluia

Sermon Rev. Theodore Gill

Sing: Ubi Caritas

Intercessions

The Lord’s prayer (each in their own language)

Closing Prayer

Christ is risen from the dead:
trampling down death by death; and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.
Though you went down into the grave, O Immortal One, yet you put down the power of Hades and rose a conqueror, O Christ our God: you spoke clearly to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice; upon the apostles you bestowed peace, and to the fallen you brought resurrection.
Amen

Blessing

Final hymn: A toi la Gloire

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)

Persisiting until justice prevails

The following order for morning prayers was put together by Fulata Mbano Moyo.
Morning Prayer in the Ecumenical Centre - 26 October 2009
Persisting until justice prevails

L: I am because we are
A: Since we are therefore I am
L: As God’s creation, we are interconnected and interdependent
A: We are of the same essence
L: When one suffers injustice, we all suffer as interconnected and interdependent
A: Together we commit to seeking justice for each other

Song: Word of justice ~ Agape 107 verses 1-4 in English and 1-4 in French

Remain standing for Gospel: Luke 18:1-8: Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” 4For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” ’ 6And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’

Song: Word of justice ~ Agape 107 verses 5-8 in English and 5-8 in French

Short reflections: Persisting until justice prevails

Sharing stories of deep belief and persistence

First sharing ~ Responsive song: Senzenina

Second sharing ~ Responsive song: Senzenina

Prayers of intercession
Everlasting God, whose justice is fulfilled in love, we give thanks to you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the faithful witness of your churches in the islands of Comorros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles. We praise you for the lives and work of those who witness in hardship, In multi-cultural and multi-religious contexts,
in deep poverty, always exposed to killer diseases, yet sharing the good news of your love through their empowering word and through work for social and economic justice.
Gracious God, we pray for your continued presence through the Holy Spirit, to strengthen the ministry of the churches in the public and political arenas, that the abundant life promised in the Gospel may become real in the lives of people.

Sing: Mayenziwe

We pray for your church throughout the world, teach us to live your love in justice and your justice in love throughout our daily lives. Teach your church to love the gospel it preaches and to love those to whom the gospel is preached.

Sing: Mayenziwe

Free prayer or silence

We stand to say together in our different languages the Lord’s Prayer

Blessing ~ Mayenziwe

An order of worship for New Zealand and Australia

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre, August 10 2009

In the week the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle remembers Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia
This order of prayer was prepared by Peter Prove, Emma Halgren and Michael Wallace

Call to worship
I runga i te ingoa o te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu.
(In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit)
Amine

Grace to you and peace from God our Creator, the love at our beginning and without end, in our midst and with us.
God is with us, here we find new life.

God of holy dreaming, Great Creator Spirit,
from the dawn of creation you have given your children the good things of Mother Earth. You spoke and the gum tree grew. In the vast desert and dense forest, and in cities at the water’s edge, creation sings your praise. Your presence endures as the rock at the heart of our land.

When Jesus hung on the tree you heard the cries of all your people and became one with your wounded ones: the indigenous people, the convicts, the hunted and the disposed. The sunrise of your Son coloured the earth anew and bathed it in glorious hope.

In Jesus we have been reconciled to you, to each other and to your whole creation.
Lead us on, Great Spirit, as we gather from the four corners of the earth.
Enable us to walk together in trust from the hurt and shame of the past into the full day which has dawned in Jesus Christ. Amen

Song These hills by Colin Gibson
Verses 1, 2 and 4

Confession
God of all life, in love you made us, in grace you sustain us; but we have failed your sacred trust.

Lost in the worship of ourselves, lost in greed and lost in power we are destroying your sacred gifts to us.

All that lives, the earth, the sea and the sky; we are choking them all.
God of grace, forgive us our greed, forgive us our carelessness, forgive us our faithlessness.
Restore to us a new spirit and open us to your leading towards a new way of being. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.

Reading 2 Corinthians 9: 6-10
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,
‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.’
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Hear what the spirit is saying to the church
Thanks be to God

Song Tama ngakau marie Traditional Maori hymn
Verses 1, 3, 5

Reading John 12: 24-26
Jesus said, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.’

Hear what the spirit is saying to the church
Thanks be to God

Reflection by Michael Wallace, General Secretary of the World Student Christian Federation

Affirmation of faith He tikanga whakapono
(Michael Wallace warns that this English translation is rather approximative and a different translation will be added at a later date. The confession of faith was chanted in Maori by teh worship leader with the congregation joining in with those parts in bold - very powerful stuff)
Ko koe, e te Atua tapu, te tino Atua You are God, holy, truly God
Nou te mana, te ihi, te wehi Yours is the honour, the essential spirit, the awe
Nou to ao, te mauri, te ora Yours is the world, life
Nau te katoa, i te rangi, i te whenua Everything is yours, the heavens, the earth
Ko koe tonu te Atua You are God

Ko koe te maramatanga o te ao You are the meaning of the world
I tiaho ra koe i te pouri You shone in our darkness
Kia puta ake tau Tama ko Ihu Karaiti You gave us your son Jesus Christ
Hei pou tokomanawa mo te ao. To be the centre pole supporting the world
Ko koe tonu te Atua You are God

Ko koe te Wairua Tapu You are Holy Spirit
Ko koe taku rakau You are my tree
Ko koe taku tokotoko You are my rod/support
Ko koe taku oranga ngakau e You are the life of my heart

Ko koe tonu ra te Atua. Kororia ki a koe. You are God, glory to you

Intercessions
God of Justice and of Hope, we bring before you today those who welcome us into their midst and those who turn us away, those who travel with us, and those we cannot reach, those who share our struggle and those who ignore it.
God of Justice and of Hope, be our Pilgrim God.

You are there with the indigenous people of our lands who suffer from centuries of oppression, and continue to struggle under often harsh policies. And you are there with all those who work for healing and reconciliation.
You stride before us into communities devastated by grief after this year's bushfires in southern Australia in which hundreds of lives, and whole towns and villages, were destroyed.
God of Justice and of Hope, be our Healing God.

You are there on the road with us — at the dawn, as we head out to be with your people in their place. In the blaze of the midday sun, as we meet with traditional elders or work side by side with a farmer to repair a windmill, and in the evening, as we come home into the setting sun.

You are beside and beyond us as we settle our thoughts for the night, as we bring before you the needs and cares of those we have met (and even of those we have not). And as we gather our strength for tomorrow you are there to meet us, to inspire and refresh us, when we step out to do it all again.
God of Justice and of Hope, be our Pilgrim God.

We give you thanks for the trust you place in us — to do Your will, to be Your presence, in this Your land. We give you thanks for the courage you give us —
to say and to do the right thing at the right time and to know what matters most for these Your people.

And we give you thanks for being with us — at the day’s beginning as we go about Your business and at journey’s end.
God of Love, sustain each one of us.

God of Justice and of Hope, we bring before you today a world at odds, nations riven by inequality, peoples struggling for reconciliation.

You stride before us showing us the way to engage with each other in peace,
showing us the way to embrace justice and to love one another.

We ask you for the strength to be agents of your peace, we ask you for the fortitude to make justice reality and we ask too for your living, loving example –
that we may know again how to love one another as you have loved us.
God of Justice and of Hope, Pilgrim God, let your love live within us as we journey with you on the road. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Concluding prayer
Most loving God, creator and redeemer, we give you thanks for the life of St. Laurence and for all Saints, Martyrs and Prophets who have lead, loved and inspired your people.
Guide and enliven your church in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and all your people that we may be salt of the earth and light to the world.

Through Christ and with all your saints we offer ourselves and our lives to your service. Send us out in the power of your Spirit, to stand with you in your world. We ask this through Jesus Christ, the servant, our friend and brother. Amen

The Lord be with you
And also with you

Kia tau mai ano ki a koutou, nga manaakitanga a te Atua Kaha Rawa, a te Matua, a te Tama, a te Wairua Tapu.
(May the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with you all)
Amine

Go now to love and serve the Lord. Go in peace.
Amen. We go in the name of Christ.

Song For you deep stillness by Julie Perrin

Anzac biscuits
We've heard about the role of Australians and New Zealanders in World War I, and the enduring effects of the Gallipoli campaign on the national psyche in both countries.

While hundreds of thousands of Australians and New Zealanders were at war, women in both countries were creating a cultural and culinary symbol.

ANZAC biscuits were made by Australian and New Zealand women for the ANZAC soldiers during World War I and were reputedly first called soldiers biscuits, then renamed ANZAC biscuits after the Gallipoli landing. These biscuits remain very popular national symbols in both countries.

Perhaps these biscuits are a symbol of alternative nation building: A way of finding national meaning other than through war and violence. The women of New Zealand and Australia used what they could find and used their energies in gathering the wheat and other ingredients to make these biscuits. While the soldiers were at war the women worked on providing nourishment for the hungry, in caring for the poor, the crippled, the blind and the suffering.

We have some Anzac biscuits at the entrance for you to enjoy on your way out of worship today.

An order of morning prayer on Hiroshima Day

Chapel of the Ecumenical Centre
Thursday 06 August 2009
This morning’s prayers are adapted from resources written for the Sixth Assembly of the WCC
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 1983

Biblical affirmations
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Hide your face from my sins, O Lord, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, and put a new and right spirit within me. Amen.

For all faiths
O God, we thank you for the wholeness of the human family:
for people of other faiths, and of none, and not only those who are our friends and neighbours.
We thank you for the rich variety of human experience
and the gifts we bring to one another when we meet together in acceptance and love.

Yarabba ssalami amter alayna ssalam. Yarabba ssalami imla’ qulubana ssalam.

We thank you for dialogue in community, and for mutual enrichment and understanding;
for movements to establish and sustain the legitimate religious rights of all persons.

Yarabba ssalami amter alayna ssalam. Yarabba ssalami imla’ qulubana ssalam.

And we pray to you that people of all faiths may enjoy the freedom
to set forth their own conviction with integrity and listen to one another in humility;
that the Christian Church may perform a reconciling ministry in the world,
bearing a true and loving witness to the One whom it calls Lord; in whose name we pray.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy – and grant us peace. Amen.

Exodus 16:31-35 ( Today’s New International Version)
31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. [
a] It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.' "
33 So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the LORD to be kept for the generations to come."
34 As the LORD commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law, so that it might be preserved. 35 The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

A quotation from John Hersey

What has kept the world safe from the bomb since 1945 has not been deterrence, in the sense of fear of specific weapons, so much as it has been memory. The memory of what happened at Hiroshima.
Prayers of intercession
Today marks the 64th anniversary of the bombing with an atomic weapon of Hiroshima, Japan. This week the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle also focuses our attention on Canada and the United States of America. Let us remember the diverse peoples and churches of the North American region as well as the challenges of peace throughout the earth.
Let us pray.
Lord, God of justice and peace, you stand with those who are poor,
you ask us to be the voice of the voiceless;
we call upon you on behalf of those who suffer the injustices of war and greed.
From the depths of our being we cry to you, Lord.
Hear our cry, and listen to our prayers.

For those of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
Bikini and Enitwetok, Kwajalein and Muroroa,
Fangataufa and Christmas Island, Johnston Island and Monte Bello,
Emu and Maralinga:
For those Pacific people whose precious land and sea
have been ravaged by nuclear explosions.
From the depth of our being we cry to you, Lord.
Hear our cry, and listen to our prayers.

For those who are suffering this day from disease, genetic malformation
and the loss of those they love, as a result of nuclear radiation.
May their spirits not be broken by their bodies’ pain.
From the depths of our being we cry to you, Lord.
Hear our cry, and listen to our prayers.

For those whose land and sea are today being put at risk
through acts of war, environmental irresponsibility, radioactive pollution,
the dumping of nuclear wastes and the passage of nuclear ships.
May their livelihood and health be preserved and may they live in peace and hope.
From the depths of our being we cry to you, Lord.
Hear our cry, and listen to our prayers.

We pray that your promise of justice may become real to those for whom we pray –
and to those for whom we forget to pray.
May we all be released, to live in love and freedom.
We cry to you, Lord, and – each in our own language – we join our voices in prayer…

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing prayer
Across the barriers that divide race from race…
Reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide the rich from the poor…
Reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide people of different faiths…
Reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide Christians…
Reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide men and women, young and old…
Reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.

Confront us, O Christ, with the hidden prejudices and fears
which deny and betray our prayers.
Enable us to see the causes of strife.
Remove from us all false sense of superiority.
Teach us to grow in unity with all God’s children.
In the name of the Triune God we pray, Father, Son and Spirit. Amen.

Morning prayer for the USA and CAnada

Theodore A Gill put together this order for morning prayers which includes a long reading from Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail the extract can be found here.

Wednesday Morning Prayer, Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, 5 August 2009

Opening sentences
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy never cease,
fresh as the morning and sure as the sunrise.
Let us sing with joy, in praise of our Creator.

Thuma Mina No. 134 – in Latin, 3 times
Laudate omnes gentes, laudate Dominum…

Scripture lesson – Amos 5:18-24

Historical reading – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Excerpts: “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A. 1963

Prayer
Loving God, as the rising sun chases away the night, so you have scattered the power of death
in the rising of Jesus Christ, and you bring us all blessings with him. Especially we thank you for
the community of faith in our church…
those with whom we work and share common concerns…
the splendid diversity of your children…
indications of your love at work in the world…
we thank you for those who demand justice…
those who will not be satisfied with half-measures…
those who work for reconciliation…

Mighty God, with the dawn of your love you reveal your victory over all that would destroy or harm,
and you brighten the lives of all who need you. Especially we pray for
families suffering separation…
people different from ourselves…
those isolated by sickness or sorrow…
the victims of violence or warfare…
agents of caring and relief…
for people of every denomination, religion and belief, and for our dialogue,
and we remember this week our brothers and sisters in Canada and the United States…

Finally, Lord, hear us as we pray, in our own languages, the prayer that Jesus taught…

The Lord’s Prayer

Thuma Mina No. 160 – in Arabic, 2 times
Yarabba ssalami, amter alayna ssalam…

Dismissal
To God be honour and glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
Bless the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised!

An order for morning prayer - ecumenical prayer cycle Canada

The following order was prepared by Theodore A Gill and included a fascinating reading from Stephen Neil's A history of Christian Missions , about which more soon.

Morning Prayer - The chapel of the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva
Tuesday 4 August 2009 - The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle focuses our attention this week on Canada and the USA


Huron carol, by Jean de Brébeuf, c. 1641

’Twas in the moon of wintertime, when all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead.
Before their light, the stars grew dim, and wondering hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus, your King, is born, Jesus is born. In excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark the tender Babe was found;
A ragged robe of rabbit-skin enwrapped His beauty round.
And as the hunter braves drew nigh, the angel song rang loud and high:
Jesus, your King, is born, Jesus is born. In excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on the helpless Infant there.
The chiefs from far before Him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus, your King, is born, Jesus is born. In excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free, O you of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and heaven is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
Jesus, your King, is born, Jesus is born. In excelsis gloria.

Prayer (United Church of Canada)

L: We come to you, O Lord, with thanks and praise for Creation.
We are thankful for the passion of the young,
for the youth among us who push us all to recognize
the urgency of the environmental crisis.

All: Thank you, Creator and giver of passion.

L: We are thankful for the insights of our Indigenous
brothers and sisters who draw on their
tradition and teach us about the sacredness of all
Creation and how to live in kinship with it.

All: Thank you, Creator and giver of passion.

L: We are thankful for the inspiration of those
among us who have already begun to live their
lives in ways to show a caring for the earth,
water, and the skies.

All: Thank you, Creator and giver of passion.
We thank you, God, for all signs of hope
that keep us from despairing
and point us toward new ways of living. Amen.

John 6 :35-40

Intercessions (based on a prayer of Karl Barth at the Basel city men’s prison)

Lord, be and remain the God of our salvation in the realm above
and amid the perplexities and frustration of human ventures and current events.
Transform us by your grace.

Tell and show all people that no one is lost to your sight,
but that no one can escape your sight, either!
Transform us by your grace.

Make yourself known everywhere
as the Lord of the pious and the godless, of the wise and the fools, of the healthy and the sick.
Be and remain the God of our salvation.

Be the Lord of our poor churches, Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox – and whatever else,
the Lord of righteous and of unrighteous governments.
Be and remain the God of our salvation.

Lord of Israel, and God of all nations, we join in prayer this week for your whole Creation,
and in particular for the people and churches of Canada and the United States of America.
Teach us that none is lost to your sight, but also that none may escape your sight.

Be the Lord of the well-fed and of the underfed,
and also of those who are called to speak and write,
whether they produce creations that are good or not so good.

Be our protector in whom we all may trust, our source of grace in whom we find forgiveness,
as well as the Judge to whom we will be responsible on the Last Day,
just as we are responsible to you now.
This we pray through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Jesus says: I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

Bless the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
Go forth in the power and love of the Triune God.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayers and reflections from and for Brazil

These prayers were written by Elaine Neuenfeldt, Simei Monteiro and Rudelmar Bueno de Faria for worship in the Ecumenical Centre Geneva on Monday 11 June.

Reflecting and Interceding
(Following each reflection there is a prayer after which a sung response is sung)

Reflection - The challenge of living in cultural diversity
Our country is known for its cultural diversity. And this diversity is our richness. And in this diversity we experience pain and suffering. Our identity assembles in our bodies a mix of oppression and sovereignty. We carry this simultaneity in our daily life, and we struggle with this. Because of this JUSTICE is fundamental in our reality. We can only experience reconciliation in the diversity, if we experience justice. And the process of living together, in an inclusive and divers community is learning from each other how share and heal this memory of colonization, but full of resistance and conflict. This is a process of healing memories.

We pray for ...
learning from each other, in dialogue and sharing,
Merciful God, hear our prayer ...
Sung response

Reflection - Land and food
Brasil has an immensity territory. But the productive land is in the hand of few farmers. New technologies are presented as the solution for poverty. The sugar-alcohol sector is deeply rooted in the exploitation relations of the work and environment and the use of slave work. As a sign of resistance against transgenic products we can see the campaign in defense of the native seeds, and agro ecology as sustainable and viable response, supported by the practices of the peasant’s community’s challenge the monopolizing advances of the biotechnology companies. The women of the Via Campesina are working with the concept of food sovereignty and justice. Through their testimonies all the society faces the reality of the paper and cellulose monopolies and its artificial forest or green desert.

We pray for
Indigenous peoples who have lived on the land for thousands of years, but whose ways of life have been threatened or ended in the name of development and greed.
Landless peasants who struggle to make a life for themselves and their children.
God of Justice, hear our prayer...
Sung response

Reflection: Violence
Violence and police corruption are a serious problem in Brazilian cities. There are 50,000 homicides each year in Brazil, which is one of the highest rates in the world. A large number are concentrated in the favelas. However, residents do not just suffer at the hands of criminals; violence often arises from the police themselves. Such killings are registered as "acts of resistance". Also, human rights defenders, particularly those working on issues of police violence and land conflicts, suffer intimidation and violence. Domestic violence is also a daily reality in many homes. As signs of resistance we can share: the national domestic violence law signed in Brazil in 2006, Maria da Penha, which shares the perspective that domestic violence is a violation of the human rights of women and stipulates a national, integrated set of public policies to eradicate this grave problem; and some initiatives for platforms and participatory processes for citizenship in public policies.

We pray for:
The hundreds of thousands of children who are forced to live and work on the streets; that they may know your gentle touch and love; An end to political violence, torture and brutality by police and others who are charged with the well-being and safety of the people;
Respect for human rights, so that no one can deny others their basic liberty with impunity.
God of Peace, hear our prayer.
Sung response

An order of morning prayer for Brazil

Ecumenical Centre Morning PrayerMonday, 15 June 2009
Praying for Brazil through the ecumenical prayer cycle
this order of prayers was put together by Simei Monteiro and Elaine Neuenfeld

Prelude
Call to worship

Let there be the Word of God,
in every heart impearled.
The living Word
is told and heard for the healing of the world.

Let there be the Love of God
In Jesus Christ unfurled.
The Cross of death
gave life its breath
for the healing of the world.

Let there be the Wind of God.
Through all times it has whirled.
The Spirit moves,
reviews, renews
for the healing of the world.

Let there be the Church of God,
committed, true and bold.
The bread we share
in deed and prayer
for the healing of the world.

Song Agape # 54

Thanksgiving
God, we give you thanks and praise for:
The strength of the church in Brazil, the work of the National Council of Christian Churches, the witness of Pentecostal and Evangelical Christians, the work and commitment of ecumenical groups with the popular and contextual reading of the Bible and those who work to spread the Gospel on the streets and in the favelas.
Those who work for the liberation of the people, and for social, political and economic justice.
The beauty and biological diversity of the Amazonian rainforest – for parrots and the golden-headed lion tamarin, for the medicinal plants and the wisdom of the people who live at the margin of the Amazon (ribeirinhos); for the social movement in defense of the forest, rivers and indigenous land.
Feijoada, strong coffee, rice and beans - for daily bread, bread of justice, bread for all.
Carnival, popular fiesta, spread in all our regions, giving the diversity of colors, songs and when rich and poor dance together.

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 58:1-12
Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God.
"Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

Aleluia by Simei Monteiro

Gospel Reading Matthew 11:1-6
Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities. When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

Reflecting and Interceding
(After each intercession and “God, hear our prayer” we will sing Kyrie)

Affirmation of Faith

L: Let us affirm our faith

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of the magistrates
nor in the god of the generals or of patriotic oratory.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of gloomy hymns
nor in the god of courtrooms
or of preambles or constitutions
and epilogues to eloquent speeches.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of good fortune of the rich
nor in the god of fear of the wealthy
nor in the god of happiness of those who rob the people.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of false peace
nor in the god of justice which is not of the people
nor in the god of venerable national traditions.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of vacuous sermons
nor in the god of formal greetings
or of loveless marriages.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD made
in the image and likeness of the powerful
nor in the god invented as a sedative
for the misery and suffering of the poor.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD who sleeps within church walls
or lies hidden in church safes.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of the commercialized Christmas
nor in the god of slick advertising.


I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD made out of lies
as fragile as clay pots
nor in the god of the established order
which rests on disorder
and acquiesces in it.

THE GOD I BELIEVE IN was born in a cave.
He was a poor.
He was hounded by a foreign king
and wandered through Palestine.
He made the people his companions
and gave bread to the hungry,
light to those in darkness,
freedom to those who lay in bondage
and peace to those who prayed for justice.

THE GOD I BELIEVE IN
put human beings before law
and love in place of old traditions.
He had no stone on which to lay his head
and mixed with the poor.

His only dealings with learned people
were when they questioned his word.
He appeared before judges
who tried to find him guilty.
He was seen with the police
as a prisoner.
He entered the governor’s palace
to be flogged.

THE GOD I BELIEVE IN
wore a crown of thorns.
His tunic was woven entirely of blood.
He had escorts to clear his way before him to Calvary,
where he died, between thieves,
on the cross.

THE GOD I BELIEVE IN
is no other than
the son of Mary,
Jesus of Nazareth.

Every day he dies
crucified by our selfish acts.
Every day he rises from death
by the power of our love.

Song Momento Novo

Blessing

L. Let us ask for God's blessing

All: May God the Father grant us the grace that changes us.
May God the Son grant us the grace that saves us.
May the Spirit of life grant us the grace that makes us free.
And as we go on our way may we celebrate peace.

An order of worship reflecting on Diaconia and praying for

Morning Prayer in the Ecumenical Centre 27 October 2008

Hospitality and visitation – basic dimensions of diaconal practice

According to the ecumenical prayer cycle we pray this week for the Indian Ocean Islands:
Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles

"In Madagascar, when you feel lost in an unknown situation, the safest place to go is the church. There is always someone to receive you. This is partly a manifestation of Malagasy hospitality, but also it is a real manifestation of a caring church, the living image of God. God through his church always welcomes strangers no matter who they are or where they come from. There is always room for anybody who knocks at the door. The living condition of the church is its deeds towards needy people. We should know by now that actions are more important than words. There are many uprooted people around the world who seek refuge and shelter, with a load of despair and bitterness but full of hope. They feel lost and knock at the door of the church! Welcome them as God welcomes you!"
(Ranto Ranaivoson)

Welcome

Opening responses

Creator of time and space, we come together from different places and contexts
To meet in your presence.

Redeemer of the whole creation, we come with our hope and our sorrow
To be transformed in your presence.

Sustainer of all life, we come to listen to you
To strengthen our communion in your presence.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.

The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures;
and leads me beside still waters;

You restore my soul, O Lord,
and guide me along right pathways for your name's sake.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup is running over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 58:6-12 (read in Malagasy)
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

New Testament reading: Hebrews 13:1-3
Let mutual love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.

Reflection - Kjell Nordstokke

Hymn: Let us build a house were love can dwell

Intercessions from Madagascar
Everlasting God,
who love in justice
and whose justice is fulfilled in love,
we give thanks to you,
in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
for the faithful witness of your churches in the islands of Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles.

We praise you for the lives and works
of those who witness hardship,
in the midst of multi-cultural and multi-religious contexts,
in deep poverty,
always exposed to killer diseases,
yet sharing the good news of your love
through their empowering word
and through work for social and economic justice.

We pray for your continued presence through the Holy Spirit,
to strengthen the ministry of the churches
in the public and political arenas
that the abundant life promised in the Gospel
may become real in the lives of people.

Teach us, Lord Jesus, to live your love in justice
and your justice in love throughout our daily lives.
teach your church to love the Gospel it preaches
and to love those to whom the Gospel is preached.

Prayers continued in silence

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

Blessing

On our hearts and on our houses
the blessing of God.

In our coming and our going,
the peace of God.

In our life and our believing,
the love of God.

At our end and new beginning,
the arms of God to welcome us
and bring us home. Amen.

Hymn

This service was put together by Simone Sinn, Kjell Nordstokke and Antsan'ny Rakotoarisoa.

An order of worship for January 28 - praying with Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Finland and Norway

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre
Monday 28 January 2008
Praying with Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Norway

This service will be led by Rev. Matti Peiponen from Finland and Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory from the US.
The sermon will be given by Dr Bob Edgar, former general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the USA and now president of Common Cause.

Welcome and call to worship

We rise to worship the Triune God
And sing “Praise the God of all creation, God of mercy and compassion” Agape 73

Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path.
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!

Taizé Chant : The Lord is my light, my light and salvation in God I trust, in God I trust

Prayer of repentance
Father, you see all the enmity which grows
because we behave wrongly and unforgivingly.

We create distances where we should create closeness.
We hide behind ideologies and doctrines instead of coming closer to one another.

Thank you for giving us reconciliation
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Thank you for forgiving all those who sin.

Let your church break through all differences and live reconciliation.
Help us to take the first step.
Gerd Grønvald Saue, Norway

Taizé Chant : The Lord is my light, my light and salvation in God I trust, in God I trust.


Gospel reading ~ Matthew 5.1-11
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
'Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely* on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Sing Agape 33 Verse 1 Finnish verse 2 English verse 3 French

Meditation ~ Dr Bob Edgar

Prayers of intercession
(adapted from a prayer by women in Sweden)

We pray for those in the world who have forgotten that all people are made in your image and likeness and are of equal worth in your eyes:

For those who suffer because of racial oppression and social injustice;
For those who struggle for human dignity;
For those who have lost their hope for the future.

Lord, have mercy

We pray for the needy and suffering in the world;
For the hungry and the thirsty;
For the homeless;
For the unemployed and the unemployable;
For the victims of alcoholism;
For the victims of drug addiction;
For the sick, in mind or body;
For the lonely and the elderly.

Lord, have mercy

We pray for all parents,
that they may give their children the love and guidance which will help them to find the right way in life;

For all children without parents;
For young people, that they may find hope for the future;

Lord, have mercy
We pray for people and churches in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. We pray for the ecumenical and spiritual renewal of the peoples and churches in these Nordic countries.

We pray for peace between nations and goodwill among all people;
Lord, hear us!

Lord, have mercy

The Lord’s prayer said by each in their own language.

Blessing
Lord, be before us to guide us,
be behind us to push us,
be beneath us to carry us,
be above us to bless us,
be around us to protect us,
be in us so that in body and soul
we serve you for the glory of your Name.
Bishop Nathan Söderblom, Sweden

Sing ~ O Healing River Agape 64

Prayers of lamentation for Zimbabwe

The following service is a simple service based on Bible verses, simple prayers and times of silence. It works well for midday as the service lasts approximately 15 minutes. A short sung response is included, this is from the ecumenical hymbook Thuma Mina but a Taizé chant could work equally well. Of course these prayers can be adapted for use in other situations, these were originally put together for midday prayers for peace during the war in the Lebannon in 2006.

Prayers of Lamentation for peace, justice and reconciliation in Zimbabwe

Silence

How lonely sits the citythat once was full of people!How like a widow she has become,she that was great among the nations!She that was a princess among the provinceshas become a vassal. (Lamentations 1.1)

Song: Nkosi, nkosi yibanceba Krestu, Krestu yibanceba

Blessed is our God now and for ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more. (Jer 31:15)

Even when I cry out, "Violence!' I am not answered;
I call aloud, but there is no justice. (Job 19:7)

Silence

For these things I weep;my eyes flow with tears;for a comforter is far from me,one to revive my courage;my children are desolate,for the enemy has prevailed. (Lamentations 1.16)

Song: Nkosi, nkosi yibanceba Krestu, Krestu yibanceba

Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and an impious people reviles your name. Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild animals; do not forget the life of your poor forever. Have regard for your covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the haunts of violence. Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. Rise up, O God, plead your cause; remember how the impious scoff at you all day long. (Ps 74:18-22)

Remember this, O Lord,
Remember this, O Lord

Silence

My eyes are spent with weeping;my stomach churns;my bile is poured out on the groundbecause of the destruction of my people,because infants and babes faintin the streets of the city. (Lamentations 2.11)

Song: Nkosi, nkosi yibanceba Krestu, Krestu yibanceba

Remember this, O Lord,
Remember this, O Lord.

Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame.
Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame.

Rise up, O God.
Rise up, O God.

Silence

They cry to their mothers,‘Where is bread and wine?’as they faint like the woundedin the streets of the city,as their life is poured outon their mothers’ bosom. (Lamentations 2.12)

Song: Nkosi, nkosi yibanceba Krestu, Krestu yibanceba

Prayers for the enemy (from the Eastern Orthodox tradition)
O Christ, Our God, who prayed for those who crucified You, and asked us, your servants, to pray for our enemies; forgive those who hate and oppress us and, through Your Grace and love for humanity, change their lives from doing wrong and wickedness to love for their neighbors and life filled with goodness. That none of them may perish because of us but rather they and us together be saved through penitence; we pray You, Lord, hear us and have mercy.

Silence or time for free prayer…

We are longing for the day, when the prophecy of Micah will come true, when "they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Affirmation
The cross is the way of the lost.
The cross is the staff of the lame.

The cross is the guide of the blind.
The cross is the strength of the weak.

The cross is the hope of the hopeless.
The cross is the freedom of the slaves.

The cross is the water of the seeds.
The cross is the consolation of the bonded labourers.

The cross is the source of those who seek water.
The cross is the cloth of the naked.

The cross is the healing of the broken.
The cross is the peace of the church.
(St. Yared, Ethiopia)

You are invited to leave the chapel in silence