Prayer
Opening Prayer
We come to you, God, in this time of prayer,
as the enslaved Hagar and her son,
who wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba desert.
As you heard the voice of her son, Ishmael, and sent your angel,
we also want to hear your angel’s voice saying to us do not to be afraid.
We come to you on the certitude that you are God
who opens our eyes to see the saving well of water in the desert.
Glory to you, O God! Glory to you! Amen.
Song: O Povo de Deus (The People of God)
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2: 11 - 22
11 So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body[c] through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
Prayers of Intercession & Thanksgiving
Gracious and loving God,
we pray for Christians and for people of goodwill:
To stand for the rights of all human beings regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, national origin, colour and gender.
Our hearts rejoice in thanksgiving for them, as we are all God’s Creation and innately worthy of respect and dignity.
We pray for Christians and for people of goodwill:
To have the courage, imagination, and energy to act to overcome institutionalized racism that greatly affect the lives of indigenous and African descent peoples in Latin America and in other regions of the world.
Our hearts rejoice in thanksgiving for all peoples who follow Christ Jesus on preaching the Good News, and pursue justice for the poor, foreigners, marginalized and dispossessed.
We pray for Christians and for people of goodwill:
To have courage, imagination, and energy to act to overcome institutionalized racism, racial violence and xenophobia, evils that greatly affect the lives of indigenous, African descendants and African peoples in Brazil and in other Latin American countries.
Our hearts rejoice in thanksgiving because as followers of Christ we will continue to pursue to foreshadow a renewed human community that manifest our unity in you, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Blessing
For the unity of humankind and the whole creation
we seek your blessings,
O Trinitarian God, Creator of All Things! Amen.