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
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
“Be still, and know that I am God!”
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
God makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!”
WORD
A reading from Genesis
Joseph’s brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. And they told him, “Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.” He was stunned; he could not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph that he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die.” When Israel set out on his journey with all that he had and came to Beer-sheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph’s own hand shall close your eyes.” (Genesis 45:25-46:4)
Holy Wisdom, Holy Word,
Thanks be to God.
Time for reflection
Song: De noche iremos (Taizé)
Prayers
Intercessory Prayer
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 communion, sustain the pioneering work of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in quest of Christian unity and for protection of the environment.
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,
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.
Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call, through 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!
