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Prayer card illustrated with the hands of an African woman folded in prayer: Lord God,  we give you thanks for sending your only Son to give us life.  In the midst of wealth we are crushed by poverty,  and while we are offered Christ-life in all its fullness,  we are surrounded by disease, death and destruction. We are tempted to despair, and yet keep hoping, knowing that you care...

Opening Prayer

Lord God,

we give you thanks for sending your only Son to give us life.

In the midst of wealth we are crushed by poverty,

and while we are offered Christ-life in all its fullness,

we are surrounded by disease, death and destruction.

We are tempted to despair, and yet keep hoping, knowing that you care.

At times we weep silent tears, and cry out with deep emotion.

We come to you, our only hope and refuge.

Thank you for the gift of laughter, even when the going is tough.

With you, O Lord, we may be troubled but not destroyed. Amen

 (Pilgrim Prayer, 112)

          Jesu, tawa pano

Responsive Psalm 20

The Lord answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you!

May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion.



May he remember all your offerings, and regard with favour your burnt sacrifices. Selah

May he grant you your heart's desire, and fulfil all your plans.



May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners.

May the Lord fulfil all your petitions.

Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand.



Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,

but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.

They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright.



Give victory to the king, O Lord;

Answer us when we call.

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.

Scripture Reading

Mark 4: 26 – 34

26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”

30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

The Word of the Lord,

Thanks be to God.

Reflection

Rev. Dr Kennedy Gondongwe (Principal of the United Theological College, Zimbabwe)

Moment of silent reflection

          Reamo leboga

Prayers of Intercession

Ms Vimbai Nyemba (ZCC Advisory Board Chairperson) & Rev. Gabriel Tsuaneng (General Secretary of Botswana Christian Council)

The Lord’s Prayer

(each in the language of our hearts)

Benediction

Go with the God of compassion.

Go with Emmanuel, the God with us.

Go with the Comforter, the spirit of power and fire.

Go forth to liberate creation from oppression.

Go forth to heal and comfort God’s people.

Amen.

(Pilgrim Prayer, 112)