Prayer
Opening Prayer
We sincerely thank you, O God,
for your powerful gift of hope in the face of seemingly hopeless situations.
We thank you for your peace in the hearts and minds of men and women
in this part of Africa who believe you are the living God,
quick to save in time of danger.
You reign above all, directing the course and destiny of the universe. Amen
(Pilgrim Prayer, 101, adapted)
Responsive Psalm 21
In your strength the king rejoices, O Lord,
and in your help how greatly he exults!
You have given him his heart’s desire,
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
For you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold on his head.
He asked you for life; you gave it to him—
length of days forever and ever.
His glory is great through your help;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
You bestow on him blessings forever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
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: 2 Corinthians 11.16-21, 30-33
I repeat, let no one think that I am a fool; but if you do, then accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. What I am saying in regard to this boastful confidence, I am saying not with the Lord’s authority, but as a fool; since many boast according to human standards, I will also boast. For you gladly put up with fools, being wise yourselves! For you put up with it when someone makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or gives you a slap in the face. To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! […]
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus (blessed be he forever!) knows that I do not lie. In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
The Word of the Lord,
Thanks be to God.
Moment of silent reflection.
Prayers of Intercession
O Powerful God, whose deeds of mercy, compassion and love are apparent in all peoples from generation to generation, we come before you today on behalf of the peoples and churches in Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Giver of life, you have bestowed abundant life to all humanity. We pray that the churches in these places will be instruments which boldly declare your abundant life freely given to all people. We thank you for the many who carry out humanitarian work in those countries and for those who as neighbors welcome the stranger, the displaced one.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of freedom, you have granted the freedom to your people – freedom from oppression, from injustice, and from all those ills of society which cause death to so many. May your people come to know the freedom that is offered through the power of the Gospel.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of all, from all the corners of the world, as from Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda, we hear echoing the cries of those living in grinding poverty, and whose lives have been made even more burdensome because of COVID-19 pandemic. In their poverty, might they come to know you as the God who cares for the poor.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of peace, we pray for a cessation of ethnic animosities and violence between people, for increased understanding between ethnic and religious groups. We pray for an end to rape and practices of genital mutilation of girls and women. We pray for governments, that they respect the will and best interest of their people.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of mercy, we remember those whose cries are the result of their immeasurable suffering. Today we pray especially for the young, who are subjected to unemployment, and the unnumbered multitudes who, even in times of so-called peace, have been mutilated or killed by land mines. Be with them in their suffering and bring healing and relief to them.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
(Pilgrim Prayer, 100, adapted)
The Lord’s Prayer
(each in the language of our hearts)
Benediction
We who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
We who are children of God have been adopted by God.
We in whom the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits, that we are children of God.
We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.
Hallelujah! Amen.
