ORDER OF THE ECUMENICAL WORSHIP SERVICE

Transcription

1 ORDER OF THE ECUMENICAL WORSHIP SERVICE L: Leader A: Assembly R: Reader I. Gathering Welcome to all who are present and an introduction of any guests Opening Hymn Opening Invocation L. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. A: Amen. Opening Sentences L. From all Christians in Jerusalem to the faithful of [name your community], in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace! (1 Thess 1:1) A. Thanks be to God. Greetings L. Compassionate and loving God, you created us in your likeness. A. For this we praise and thank you. L. We gather in your name, to beseech you to restore the unity of all those who confess your Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of all. A. O God, hear us and have compassion on us all. L. Help us in our weakness and strengthen us with your Holy Spirit. A. Send forth your Spirit and make us one. L. Let us pray to the Lord: L. Gracious God, you have promised through your prophets that Jerusalem will be home to many peoples, mother to many nations.

2 Hear our prayers that Jerusalem, the city of your visitation, may be for all a place to dwell with you and to encounter one another in peace. L. Merciful God, may your life-giving Spirit move in every human heart, that the barriers that divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease, and that, with divisions healed, your people might live in justice and peace. L. Loving God, hear our prayers for your holy city, Jerusalem. End her suffering and make her whole. Make her a city of peace, and a light to all peoples. Foster harmony in the holy city among all her inhabitants. L. Open now our ears and hearts to hear your Word proclaimed and aid us to live it more faithfully in all that we do and say, to the glory of your name and the spreading of your kingdom, most Holy Trinity. A. Amen. Liturgy of the Word L. Wisdom. Let us be attentive! Old Testament: Isaiah 58:6-10 or Psalm 96:1-13 [or a hymn based on Psalm 96] [Project an image of shackles at the reading of the Isaiah passage, or lift heavy chains during this reading.] Psalm 96 Refrain (sung or spoken by all):

3 O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in holy splendour; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, The Lord is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth. Epistle: Acts 2:42-47 [As this reading is proclaimed, symbols can be used, including for teaching, a Bible for fellowship, a circle of friends standing together and holding hands for breaking of bread, a loaf of bread for prayer, a banner with praying hands could be raised, or incense burned]

4 Alleluia (sung) (or other song / hymn) Gospel : Matthew 5:21-26 Homily / Sermon [Reflective music or special music could be played at this time.] PRAYERS OF PENITENCE we pray to the Lord. Recalling that the believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, we confess to you our failure in such devotion. we pray to the Lord. Recalling that awe came upon them and they saw many wonders and signs, we confess a lack of vision that prevents us from seeing the glory of your work in our midst. we pray to the Lord. Recalling that all who believed held things in common and supported those in need, we confess to you and one another that we hold onto possessions at the expense of the poor. we pray to the Lord - Recalling that the believers

5 spent much time in prayer and breaking bread at home with glad and generous hearts, we confess our poverty in prayer and our failure of love and generosity. [At this final response, the Assembly or choir could sing: Kyrie Eleison] ASSURANCE OF GOD S FORGIVENESS L: 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, then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. A: As we wait for the coming of the Lord, we are also assured that in Christ we are forgiven, renewed and made whole again. THE PEACE L. Christ is our peace. He has reconciled us to God in one body on the cross; we meet in Christ s name and share Christ s peace. The peace of the Lord be always with you. A: And also with you. Those assembled are invited to share signs of peace with one another: for example, saying to one another, The peace of Christ be with you. THE CREED [Apostles Creed, or Romans 10:8 13] Song / Hymn OFFERING: [Donations could be made to the Canadian Council of Churches to offset costs for preparing the Week of Prayer materials or to a local cause that the planning committee chooses.] LITANY OF CHRISTIAN UNITY L: In Christ, God reconciled the world to himself and entrusted the message of reconciliation to us. Let us commit ourselves to being ambassadors

6 for Christ s reconciliation (cf. 2 Cor 5:19f). R: When we open the Bible together, no matter our Christian tradition, when we pray together in spite of our different sensibilities, R: When we strive for open dialogue among Jews, Christians and Muslims, we tear down walls of hatred. When we seek to build good relations with Christians from various denominations, we tear down the wall of indifference, and R: When we work for justice and solidarity, when we move from fear to confidence, R: When, with Christians of the Holy Land, we are true witnesses to the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, his ministry in Galilee and his death and resurrection in Jerusalem, R: When we are attentive to the needs of bereaved families, of the poor, the hopeless and all who suffer in the name of our Lord, R: The closer we draw near to the cross of Christ, the closer we come to each other. Unite us in overcoming human suffering caused by war, disease and prejudice, so that R: Christ came not to tear down but to build up the unity of the human family. When our churches witness to a future of building closer ties to each other in the service of the Gospel in the world, R: We are thankful we share so much in common: the Word of God, the teaching of the Apostles, prayer and one baptism. Yet we recognize we cannot share in the one Eucharist, so we long for your Spirit to lead us to full communion, and then

7 R: In the Holy Land, many suffer from great injustice and violence. We yearn for peace and justice for all in the sure and certain hope that in your kingdom, Prayers of Petition [either silently, or led by one of the leaders present] THE LORD S PRAYER [each in his or her own language; or each line of the prayer spoken by various readers in different languages that are represented in your community; or sung] Song/Hymn UNISON CLOSING PRAYER A: God of reconciliation, We have heard the challenge from the Churches in Jerusalem: To commit ourselves anew to pray for the unity of the Church, To overcome the things that keep us apart, and to work for your justice. By your Spirit, may it be so, that when the new Jerusalem descends from heaven, and all crying and mourning is over, we may truly rejoice with Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. BLESSING L: May the blessing of the God of peace and justice be with us; May the blessing of the Son, Who weeps the tears of the world s suffering, be with us; And may the blessing of the Spirit, Who inspires us to reconciliation and hope, be with us; From now into eternity. A: Amen. SENDING Sharing a meal with all those who took part in the service would be a sign of reconciliation. The communion table could hold a basket containing a large number of dinner rolls of various kinds, representing our diversity and unity. As people go to their meal, each is invited to choose a roll from the common basket.