ORDER OF SERVICE Christian Aid Week 13–19 May 2012.

ORDER OFSERVICE

Christian Aid Week13–19 May 2012

Call to worship

Jesus has given us his life;Hallelujah, we will sing of his love.

Jesus has called us his friends;Hallelujah, we will share in his calling.

Jesus has made known God’s will;Hallelujah, we will walk in his way.

Jesus has chosen us to bear fruit;

Hallelujah, we will share our resources.

Jesus is among us in joy;

Hallelujah, we will love one another.

Prayer of confession

God of justice, we thank you for theopportunity to pray and act for change.We thank you that you have made yoursalvation known, and revealed yourrighteousness to the world through your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

(Silence)

We confess our failure in relationship. Wehave hidden your justice and equity in ourgreed and selfishness. We have not lovedone another. We have not remained in yourlove. We all need to change. We ask yourforgiveness.

(Kyrie or Lord have mercy)

Lord, your love and faithfulness reach out to everyone. As those who have known your salvation, set us free to live in justice and equity, and so to reveal your righteousness to the world.Amen, thanks be to God.

Intercessions

God for us, who created a world of opportunities;Grant us the confidence to respond to them.

God with us, who shows us the way to live together in unity;Help us to share our resources andknowledge with people who need them.

God among us, who inspires us to keep ongoing, and turns our small beginnings into big results;Keep us faithful to the possibilitiesbefore us.

God of life, we celebrate all that is good andlife-giving in your creation. We hold beforeyou the country and people of Sierra Leone,a beautiful and fertile land with a wealth ofnatural resources, and a dignified andresilient people.

We so often see only the problems; but the people of Sierra Leone see thepossibilities. Your world can provide foodand a good life for all its people, if we shareresources and skills; For the end of hunger is the beginningof speaking out for change.

We are sometimes overwhelmed at themagnitude of the task. But you ask us forwhat we are able to give – tools and seeds.Together, our small actions and the hardwork of partners in Gbap [pronouncedBap] produce huge changes;For the end of hunger is the beginningof speaking out for change.

We give thanks that simple technology and improved methods are helping the people of Gbap to become more productive and generate income. Help us never to take our food and those who produce it for granted;For the end of hunger is the beginningof speaking out for change.

We give thanks for women like Mary Samuels, finding her confidence, finding her voice, finding a hearing, speaking out for the right to education. We pray for all the people… May we share their courage to do the same;For the end of hunger is the beginning of speaking out for change.

We praise you for your promise ofsalvation, and for a world with enough foreveryone… In hearing the voices thatspeak of hunger, may we too become hungry for change; For the end of hunger is the beginning of speaking out for change.

We give thanks for all the channels through which change can happen… Empower usto speak out as individuals, as churches, as communities; For the end of hunger is the beginning of speaking out for change.

As we celebrate all the events that will takeplace this Christian Aid Week, we givethanks…

We bring our prayers together by sayingthe Lord’s Prayer. We say this in our own language, standing alongside the people of Sierra Leone as they pray in theirs.

The Lord’s Prayer in Krio(as spoken by the people of Sierra Leone)

Papa God we de na evinNa yu wan gren na God,mek all man pre toWi de pre mek yu rul wiMek wetin yu wan, bi na dis wol, leke aw i de bi na evin

Gi wi wetin wi fo it tidehPadin wi fo di bad tin den we wi don du,leke aw wisef de padin den pipul weh dedu wi badMek wi no lef for biliv pan yu enitem wesetan tray wi, no mek setan ebul wi.Na yu de rul de wol, na yu get pawa, en na yu get prez en honor, sote go. Le i be so.

A prayer for Christian Aid Week

People working together,children going to school,women speaking out,tools for transformation,communities thriving and not just surviving,and no more hunger –these are fruits that will last. Jesus who calls us friends,may we love one another and remain in your love.

Pray by textIndividuals may also wish to text a word or a prayer to Christian Aid at 70788. Prayers can be any length, from 1-10 words.

After the service you will receive a text message confirming that your prayer has been received.

This message will contain a link to a page where you can view prayers from people taking part around the country.

All prayers are anonymous and texts will cost your standard network rate.

Commissioning prayer and blessing

Bless the gifts we have offered,bless the work we will do,and bless all who will bear witnessto our collective support for the people of Sierra Leone.Bless all our endeavours and small contributions,and transform them into fruit that endures.

And now may God the Creator, who made the bountiful world, the Redeemer, who bidus love one another, and the Sustainer,who shows us what great things can beachieved, bless us all.Amen.

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13–19 May 2012

caweek.org

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK