32. Opening

L1:       Everyone who thirsts come to the waters!
And you that have no money: come, buy and eat!
L2:       The Triune God invites the whole creation to the Feast of Life,
Through Jesus Christ who came “that they may have life,
and may have it in all its fullness.”
C:        Amen.
L1:       All praise be to God.
C:         Alleluia!

33.       Prayer of confession

L:         Spirit of creation,
you hovered over the formless void and separated waters from waters:
Water is your gift to this world, yet so often we have used it unwisely.
We ask your guidance in our stewardship of water.
We pray for all the people of the earth,
that we may realize our place within nature and live in harmony
with all the elements of creation,
signs of your abiding love.
C:        Amen

34.       Word of assurance
L:         Jesus said to the woman at the well,
“Everyone who drinks of this water will become thirsty again.
But those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty again.”
“The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal
life.”
C:        Amen


35. Bible reading - Acts 8:27b-39


36. Prayer

L1:       God of encouragement,
in Noah’s time you offered signs of hope despite the flood,
providing creatures the safety of an ark
and extending an olive branch for the dove to carry home;
your people journeyed from peril to safety amid the sound of mighty waters:
we pray for those who suffer today amid the rising tide of floodwaters,
monsoons, hurricanes, tsunamis and tempests of every kind.

Sung response: Kyrie eleison

L2:       We pray for the suffering,
But also for a generation that has failed to confront global warming
and rapid climate change;
save us, God, from the harsh storms of nature,
but most of all save us from sinful choices.

Sung response: Kyrie eleison

L1:       God of community,
you have brought us to a new life and adopted us as your children
through the waters of baptism:
We pray for spiritual resources to aid us
in reaching out to others, meeting them
so that we may offer a cup of fresh water to the thirsty,
and bearing witness to the word of life for all.

Sung response: Kyrie eleison

L2:       Pray in our prayers, Holy Spirit,
that our own spirits may be revitalized
just as gentle, healing water brings new growth to a parched and barren land.

C: Amen.


37. Sending and Blessing

L:         God says:
I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour my spirit upon your descendants,
and my blessing on your offspring.
They shall spring up like a green tamarisk,
like willows by flowing streams.
C: Amen

(AWPC © 2012 WCC)