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Ecumenical Worship Service
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2009
"L" refers to leader(s) of worship, "R" to Readers and "A" to the whole assembly.
Opening
A gong, in accordance with Korean custom, is sounded three times
Gathering of God's People: Welcome and Introduction to the theme
L1: Dear friends in Christ, as we gather here in this place we acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and pay respect to them for their care of it over thousands of years. We give thanks to God for the creation of this great southland of the Holy Spirit and for the work of grace throughout the ages.
We remember today the journey which we and our churches have made towards the unity for which Jesus prayed. We give thanks for the steps which our churches in Australia have taken to share in prayer together, to covenant together nationally and locally, and to share in caring for our world. As members of the one body, we recognise that we are called to be the one church and need to travel on.
L2: The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the
communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all
A: And also with you
Opening song or hymn: with Procession of worship leaders
Leader:
Kadja Heemang-e dju-nim-kke (Korean)
Come near to God, let us come near to God, who is merciful towards us
and the source of our hope and longing.
Penitential rite
L1: This year's worship has been proposed by Christians in Korea, one people divided into two countries.
L2: We will hear the prophet Ezekiel who had a vision of God uniting two separate pieces of wood.
L1: We gather as Christians from divided communities, praying for forgiveness for the scandal of our disunity and our inability to be ambassadors of reconciliation in the world.
L2: We gather as Australians, looking to the Lord to bring us together as one, and make us ambassadors of reconciliation.
L1 & 2: What paths of personal and ecclesial conversion must we take to arrive at full communion in Christ?
(Silence)
L1: Let us kneel or be seated, to discern God's reconciliation
L1: Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice.
A: Lord, come to our help, Christ come to our help, Lord, come to our help
L2: May your ears be attentive to my prayer.
A: Lord, come to our help, Christ come to our help, Lord, come to our help
L1: If you should remember our sins, O Lord, who would survive.
A: Lord, come to our help, Christ come to our help, Lord, come to our help
L2: But in you, Lord, there is forgiveness, that you may be revered.
A: Lord, come to our help, Christ come to our help, Lord, come to our help
L1: I await the Lord with all my soul, and I long for his word.
A: Lord, come to our help, Christ come to our help, Lord, come to our help
L2: Ezekiel speaks this word of the Lord: I will deliver them from all their iniquities and will cleanse them. Then they shall be my people and I shall be their God. They shall be one in my hand. God, you are our only hope.
Celebration of the Word of God
Ezekiel 37:15-27 that they may become one in your hand
Romans 8:18-25 the creation itself will be set free
A Song/Hymn/Psalm may be sung
John 17:6-11 so that they may be one, as we are one
The Sermon
(after which a period of silence may be kept)
Prayers of Intercession
L: With faith we pray to God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit
A: "Lord, hear our prayer" (said or sung)
R1: Let us pray for our local Christian communities, our churches and ecumenical groups; for those here present, and those who are absent from our assembly today. R2: Gracious God, forgive us when we are indifferent to each other, and bring your healing to the wounds and divisions that keep us apart.
R1: Let us pray for a deeper appreciation of our common baptism into the one body of Christ.
R2: Loving God, sustain each of us and our communities as we continue on the path towards the unity you desire for all your disciples.
A: Lord, hear our prayer
R1: Let us pray for our spiritual leaders and church authorities:
R2: May the Spirit continue to enlighten them and grant them the grace to work in harmony, joy and love.
R1: Let us pray for all civil authorities.
R2: Compassionate God, grant that they may work towards justice and peace, and give them the wisdom to attend to the needs of all, especially the most vulnerable.
A: Lord, hear our prayer
R1 : Let us pray for all the nations and communities who live with deep divisions and internal conflicts, remembering especially the people of Korea, north and south
R2: Despite political divisions and separation, may their search for unity bear fruit,
R1: Let us pray for our own nation, as we look towards a future of peace and unity.
R2: God of new creation, heal our divisions, and make us a sign of hope for all who seek reconciliation.
R1: Let us pray in thanksgiving for those who, inspired by God have held an important place in our lives of faith, and for all who have reflected Christ's forgiveness, compassion and love.
R2: God of all times and places, may their gifts and generosity inspire our own desire to give and to serve with our lives.
A: Lord, hear our prayer
R1: Let us pray for all those who bring the gospel to bear on the great ethical challenges of our times.
R2: God of new life, may we each learn to play our part in mitigating the global and ecological disasters which bring human suffering and threaten your creation.
R1: Let us pray for all Christian churches and ask for your help,
R2: Lord, one day may we be able to gather around the table and share the fellowship of holy communion.
A: Lord, hear our prayer
Our Father
L: Each in his or her own language, let us pray together in the words Jesus gave us:
A: Our Father...
L: As a sign of our commitment to seek reconciliation, let us now offer one another a sign of peace. (during which the Korean song 'Come now, O God of Peace' (O-So-So) or other song of peace may be sung)
Symbolic action
Confession of faith in the Risen Christ, the reconciler of all things
L: Let us join together in professing our common faith in Christ:
A: May we joyfully give thanks to the Father who has enabled us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 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 of 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. (Col 1 : 12-20)
Song or hymn
(during or after which a collection may be taken)
Sending out of God's People
R: For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 38)
L1: We leave this place of prayer to return to the particular circumstances of our own lives. Let us go forth strong in our faith and our hope, for God our Father has made all things new in Jesus Christ. He sends us to witness to his love and to play a role in the new creation.
L2: May God, who knows our joy, our anger and our pain, guide us always, and may we be courageous, stay faithful and live worthy of the Christian faith.( concluding prayer written by Bishop Arthur Malcolm:)
L1: Lord God, bring us together as one, reconciled with you and reconciled with each other.
You made us in your likeness, you gave us your Son, Jesus Christ.
He has given us forgiveness from sin.
A: Lord God, bring us together as one, different in culture, but given new life in Jesus Christ, together as your body, your Church, your people.
Lord God, bring us together as one: reconciled, healed, forgiven, sharing you with others as you have called us to do.
In Jesus Christ, let us be together as one. Amen
Blessing
L: We Christians gathered here today, brothers and sisters in faith, you/we who would wish to be a sign of reconciliation through the power of the cross.
We Australians, those who have carried this land's heritage for generation upon generation, and those who come from nations across the earth, hope and pray for the reconciling love of Christ to be known among us:
May the Lord bless you/us and keep you/us
May the Lord make his face shine upon you/us and be gracious to you/us
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you/us and give you/us peace
A: Amen.
Closing song/hymn
Materials produced by the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, adapted for use in Australia by the National Council of Churches in Australia
02 9299 2215;
www.churchestogetherinparyer.org.au