World Council of Churches

Executive Committee Meeting

Thursday 20, May 2021


16h30

 

Words of Welcome

 

Opening Prayer

Almighty God,

who through your prophets foretold a day when swords will be beaten into plowshares,

and who in Jesus Christ made peace through the blood of the cross,

pour out your Spirit on all people everywhere so that we may be delivered from hate,

hostility, and self-seeking, and find our peace in your will.

In your mercy, make us instruments of your peace, that your name may be hallowed,

your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

(from Liturgy and Psalms (Reformed Church in America, 1968), for the Nations of the World)

 

Responsive Psalm 122

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.

Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.”

For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.”

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end, Amen.

 

Gospel Reading: John 14: 25 – 27

25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

The Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God.

 

Pastoral Greeting

 

Prayers of Intercession

As the screams of war rise up out of the Middle East,

Let the voice of the waters be heard over the waters as we respond.

As the cries of the loss of innocent lives echo through the air,

Let the voice of the Lord thunder and resonate with comfort as we reach out with support.

As families are broken, displaced and homes destroyed,

Let the voice of the Lord give strength to his people as we encourage them to press on.

As bodies are maimed, young and old are people traumatized and live in fear,

Let the voice of the Lord shake the people of this world as we collectively pray for peace in the Holy Land.

(Psalm 29, adapted)

 

Our Father (in Aramaic)

 

Benediction

Christ is our peace; in his flesh he has broken down the dividing wall of hostility,

that he might create one new humanity in place of the two.

He came and proclaimed peace to those who were far off and peace to those who were near.

Through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Amen

(Ephesians 2:14, 18, adapted)