Good morning friends...
I was just reading the BBC about how the Sri Lankan government killed more than 430 people over the weekend, 100 of them being civilian children. (You can read about it here.)
I thought it would be good to start this week off with a liturgy written by Christine Sine of Mustard Seed Associates. One where we could start the week off right, in the presence of Jesus as we give Him our week ahead as well as remembering and joining with the prayers of those we are connected to around the world:
We gather as members of God’s eternal family to share life together with our brothers and sisters from around the world. Let us remember that sharing life with brothers and sisters in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, Australia and the many islands of our planet means entering into their joys and sorrows.
God, you offer us wholeness, not alone, but as part of your redeemed community from every tribe and nation and culture.
You ask us to love each other and to be more concerned for the needs of others than for our own. Yet often we focus on our own needs, greedily holding to ourselves what you intend us to share.
God renew our hearts and our minds so that we may in word and deed be your witnesses throughout this world.
(Take a moment of silence)
God who created us is with us
And with our brothers and sisters from every tribe and nation
Christ who saved us is with us
And with our brothers and sisters from every tribe and nation
The Holy Spirit who brings us unity is with us
And with our brothers and sisters from every tribe and nation
Psalm 67
Isaiah 2: 1-4
Eph 4: 1-6, 11-16
Matt 28: 18-20
Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
God be in our heads and in our understanding,
God be in our eyes and in our looking
God be in our mouths and in our speaking
God be in our hearts and in our thinking
God be in our end and in our departing
O Lord our God,
Listen to us in this place
Accept also the prayers of our sisters and brothers in Africa, Asia, Australia, America and Europe.
We are all one in prayer
So may we, as one, rightly carry out your commission to witness and to share life together.
In the church and around the world
Accept all our prayers graciously,
Those in our words, and those in strange languages.
They are offered in Jesus’ name.
Amen
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