Document
OPENING
Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!
Praise the Lord!
For great is God’s steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!
PSALMODY
Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of honour and majesty is God’s work,
and God’s righteousness endures forever.
God has gained renown by wonderful deeds;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
You, O God provide food for those who fear you;
You are ever mindful of your covenant.
You have shown your people the power of your works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of your hands are faithful and just;
all your precepts are trustworthy.
They are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
You sent redemption to your people;
You have commanded your covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is your name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
God’s praise endures forever.
Song: Misericordias Domini (Forever will I sing the mercy of the Lord)
WORD
A reading from Revelation
Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.
(Revelation 2:17)
Holy Wisdom, Holy Word,
Thanks be to God.
Time for reflection
Prayers
Intercessory Prayer
Let us pray…
God of life, you call us to be praise in the midst of the world and to welcome one another as a gift of your grace. May your loving gaze, which rests upon each person, open us to receive each other just as we are.
Listen to our cry.
God of all people, you knit us together in one human family. We entrust to you the peoples and churches in Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey. Praise be you for the 2,000-year presence and witness of the church in this area. Praise be you for the Church Fathers and Mothers who came from this region, for the many Christian martyrs, and for the seven ecumenical councils that convened here.
Listen to our cry.
God of compassion, heal the memories and wounds inflicted by early 20th century genocides of Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian communities.
Listen to our cry.
God of peace, open ways of peace through the current tensions in these lands, enhance respect for all minority groups and their claims, sustain all who work for justice and reconciliation.
Listen to our cry.
God of mercy, aid and comfort all those around the world suffering from natural disasters, the victims earthquakes especially in Indonesia. We remember also the victims of the airline disaster there.
Listen to our cry.
God of care, as many countries continue in lockdown, bring healing to all the sick. We entrust to you all those infected with COVID and all those suffering from the many ways COVID has impacted life, emotionally, psychologically, physically, spiritually.
Listen to our cry.
God of life, hold in your gentle embrace all who will die this day.
Listen to our cry.
Compassionate God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and continually reveal your Son as our Savior. Bring wholeness to all that is broken and speak truth to us in our confusion, that all creation will see and know your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
AMEN.
The Lord’s Prayer (in our different languages)
Blessing
For all that God can do within us, for all that God can do without us,
Thanks be to God!
For all in whom Christ lived before us, for all in whom Christ lives beside us,
Thanks be to God!
For all the Spirit wants to bring us, for where the Spirit wants to send us,
Thanks be to God!
The blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with us, now and forever.
Amen.
Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
