Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and the Mainland of China

Intercessions

We give thanks for:

• the long and complex histories of these lands, with their many artefacts, cultures and traditions that have developed over millennia
• those who established missions and churches in the past, and the determination of Christians in the region to contextualize the church here and now
• those who boldly live out their faith, challenging injustices even when they fear persecution
• the economic growth and development that have lifted many out of poverty
• the steps taken in the region to counter huge environmental challenges.

We pray for:

• communities left behind and further marginalized by rising economic growth, especially women and farmworkers in rural areas
• peace, understanding, and cooperation between these places and the global community
• a growth in prophetic witness of the local churches in society
• mutual recognition of the God-given human dignity of all people in the region
• spiritual meaning and freedom from captivity to economic growth and consumerism.

Prayers

As they face this day, O God,
find those who are lost,
separated from those they love,
crossing unknown borders,
without a country or home,
not knowing where to turn:
Find them, God, who always seek for the lost,
and cover them safely as a hen covers her chickens.

As they face this day, O God,
stand among the ones in refugee camps around the world,
in the hunger and despair,
in the crowds and the emptiness,
in the wet and the thirstiness:
Be their hope and their strength
in the crying out for justice
and open the ears of the world to hear their cries.

As they face this day, O God,
may those who live with us,
uprooted from their homelands,
find a new home
where their history is respected,
their gifts and graces celebrated
and their fear departed from them.
May we be their home,
may we be the ones who open our hearts in welcome.

As we face this day, O God,
sing to us your song of encouragement,
paint for us your bright pictures of a new world
where people need not flee from wars and oppression,
where no one lacks a country or a home,
and where we are all part of your new creation.
For we long to be your people, in spirit and in truth.
We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ,
who knew the life of a refugee.

(© Christian Conference of Asia, Hong Kong SAR, China. WIC pp.219-20)