Document
"God, in your grace, transform the world"
As representatives of churches from all the world's regions
gathered in Porto Alegre, Brazil,
meeting in the first decade of the third Christian millenium,
in the first assembly of the World Council of Churches held in Latin America,
we unite in prayer:
God, in your grace, you brought the universe to birth,
and all creation is yours alone.
We turn to you in common prayer, for it is you who unite us:
you are the one God in whom we believe,
you alone empower us for good,
you send us out across the earth in mission and service.
We invite the world to join us in confessing:
We have been unworthy servants. We have abused the gifts you give.
We are both perpetrators and victims of violence.
We are weakened by divisions everywhere.
We have misused and abused the creation.
We have failed to take decisive action against poverty, racism, war and genocide.
In all this, we betray Jesus Christ who came to save us and teach us how to love.
Forgive us, God, and teach us to forgive one another.
God, in your grace, transform the world.
God, hear the cries of all creation,
the cries of the waters, the air and the land.
The cries of those who are exploited, marginalized, abused and victimized,
those who are dispossessed and silenced, their humanity ignored,
those who suffer from any form of disease or from the violence of war and conflict.
God, in your grace, transform the world.
We give thanks for signs of hope that are already present in the world,
in people of all ages and in those who have gone before us in faith;
in the deep and open dialogues that have begun both within our own churches and beyond;
in the search for a mutual understanding and respect among all people and faith traditions;
in all those working together for peace and justice - both in exceptional circumstances and every day.
We thank you for the good news of Jesus Christ, and the assurance of resurrection.
God, in your grace, transform the world.
By the power and guidance of your Spirit, O God, may our prayers never be empty words
but an urgent response to your living Word
in bold, clear, specific acts of solidarity, liberation, healing and compassion.
Help us in our prayers to open our hearts to affirm life and hope, and the evidence of your abiding love.
Transform us in the offering of ourselves so that we may be your partners in transformation
to strive for the visible unity of the one Church of Jesus Christ,
to become neighbours to all,
as we await with eager longing the full revelation of your rule
in the coming of a new heaven and a new earth.
We give you thanks and praise, Eternal God, Holy Trinity,
for in you another world is possible.
God, in your grace, transform the world. In Jesus' name we pray: Amen.
