Prayer
An Invitation to Prayer
The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love
(Psalm 33:5)
Let us pray
Loving God,
may your Spirit which first moved upon the waters,
gather us as a people united in love for all humankind.
All powerful God,
as the winds filled the sails of our forefathers’ vaka[1] when they crossed the mighty Pacific – may you Holy Spirit blow through our hearts and minds to remove all fear and hate.
Grant us compassion that we may love those who are considered our enemies.
May we bring peace to the lives of those around us by seeking forgiveness from those whom we have hurt;
And through this love may we bring healing to your vuvale[2] on earth.
(In God’s Hands)
Song: O le Toto (Only by the blood of Jesus Christ, can we find true peace)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GKbu5jlxIlA
Scripture Reading: John 15: 9-17
9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 I do not call you servants[d] any longer, because the servant[e] does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.
17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Prayers of Intercession
To the Creator of all races and peoples, who loves each of us for our uniqueness, we offer our prayers of petition:
For an end to discrimination in all its forms, we pray…
Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.
That the Church may be a witness and a universal sign of unity among all peoples, we pray...
Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.
That each person may be respected and valued as a child of God, we pray...
Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.
That each of us may acknowledge our part in mistakes and sins of the past pertaining to discrimination and racism, we pray...
Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.
For a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation among peoples who share a history of mutual mistrust, hatred or aggression, we pray...
Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.
That the victims of racial prejudice may forgive those who persecute them, and that their persecutors may have a change of heart, we pray...
Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.
Closing Prayer
Almighty God,
source of our life, Creator of all people of every race, language and culture. Your Spirit dwells in all people.
Open our eyes that we may see each other as brothers and sisters –
children of a loving, caring God.
Open our ears and eyes that we may see the injustice that surrounds us
through acts of racism and unkind words based on ethnicity.
Open our mouths that we may speak out against the evil of racism and xenophobia, especially when our culture tells us to remain silent.
And may our hearts be filled with a burning desire for justice and peace
so that we may work to bring an end to oppression everywhere. Amen.
Blessing & Dismissal
When we try our best but say the wrong things,
may the blessing of the triune God rest on us,
and abide with us, now and for ever. Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord through word and deed
In the name of the Father of all,
His son Jesus Christ who died for all,
And the Holy Spirit who will strengthen all. Amen
[1] Vaka (Polynesian) – canoe, boat
[2] Vuvale (Fijian) – Household, family including visitors and belongings, oikos