Liturgy of Anger and Tears

For ideas on how to use this liturgy, click here

Gathering A gentle chant to help people to stillness
Possible Song: We cannot measure how you heal (Wild Goose Worship Group)
 
Opening Responses
 
Leader  The world is awash with an ocean of tears
ALL TEARS DAMMED BY EXTREMITY OF PAIN
TEARS TOO HOT – TOO ANGRY TO BE SHED –
FOR FEAR THEY WOULD NOT STOP WHEN BIDDEN
TEARS HIDDEN IN PILLOWS
TEARS SHED IN THE ARMS OF A FRIEND.
 
Leader   Our Church finds itself wracked with pain
ALL THE PAIN OF PEOPLE
WHOM THE CHURCH SHOULD HAVE CHERISHED
AND WHO WERE LEFT FORSAKEN;
THE PAIN OF PRIESTS SEEING THE SUFFERING
INFLICTED BY PEOPLE THEY KNEW AS BROTHERS;
THE PAIN OF THOSE WHOSE TRUST IN THE CHURCH AND ITS MINISTERS
AND RELIGIOUS MEN AND WOMEN HAS BEEN UTTERLY DESTROYED;
THE PAIN OF THOSE FALSELY ACCUSED;
THE PAIN OF THOSE ASHAMED
OF WHAT THEY WERE ONCE SO PROUD TO BE;
THE PAIN OF A CHURCH – FRIGHTENED AND CONFUSED –
SUDDENLY AWAKENED TO AN EVIL WITHIN.
Leader  There are so many victims –
those wounded by the abuse of their innocence,
those who knew and kept silent – and now see the fullness of their complicity in sinfulness,
those who did not know and whose faith is close to breaking at the betrayal of so much they held dear.

We need each other.

We need God.....
ALL YOU, LORD, ARE THE GOOD SHEPHERD,
THE ONE WHO ENFOLDS THE LAMBS IN HIS ARMS –
TENDING THE WOUNDED AND THE STRAY.
YOUR LOVE IS PURE AND POWERFUL –
HEALING THE WOUNDS OF SHEPHERD AND SHEEP
TOUCHING WITH HEALING THE PLACES OF PAIN
OF ANGUISH –
OF DOUBT AND DESPAIR –
OF LOSS AND ABANDONMENT.
WE COME TO YOU –
FOR WHO ELSE CAN WE GO TO?
Leader Let us keep silence -
to be enfolded in God's presence -
to listen to God's Word
 
Scripture Reading - suggestions include Job: 10 (selections from),
 
Sung Response   Suggestion: Ps 136(137) By the waters of Babylon/ Ps 50/ Ps 129  
 
The Challenge
 
(Note: Reader 2 is at the back – speaking from the people. A hand-held microphone may be useful.)
Reader 1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Reader 2 But, God, you were not.
Where was your refuge?
Where was your strength?
Where was your presence
in the lives of those so badly hurt?
Where were you?
ALL WHERE WERE YOU?
 
Reader 1 When you pass through rivers they will not overwhelm you
When you pass through fire you will not be burned.
Reader 2  But, God, so many were overwhelmed –
so many burning with shame – hatred and fear.
And we too –
we are overwhelmed and burning with shame.
ALL WE ARE OVERWHELMED AND BURNING WITH SHAME.
 
Reader 1 When we pass through the darkest valley
no evil shall we fear –
for you are with us
Reader 2  There were many dark places where we looked for you
and you did not come –
the evil was very great
but we did not find you with us.
ALL WE DID NOT FIND YOU WITH US.
 
Reader 1 Are your words empty, God?
ALL God, our God, why did you forsake us?
Why were you so far from helping us?
Why so deaf to the words of our suffering?
 
Reader 3  The Word was made flesh and lived amongst us…
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…
 
ALL  God so loved the world that he gave his only Son –
Reader  to be betrayed
to be abandoned
to be denied
 
ALL God so loved the world that he gave his only Son –
Reader to be scourged
to be slapped
to be beaten
 
ALL  God so loved the world that he gave his only Son –
Reader to be spat at
to be crowned with thorns
to be publicly humiliated.
 
ALL God so loved the world that he gave his only Son –
Reader   to be stripped in public
to be pierced by nails and pinned to a cross
to be pierced with a lance.
 
ALL God so loved the world that he gave his only Son –
Reader  to be given vinegar for water
to be mocked and derided
to be despised and rejected.
 
ALL God so loved the world that he gave his only Son –
Reader to die…
 
Pause – maybe with quiet music
 

Litany of Repentance - with sung response if possible)

  
Readers They turned light into darkness, love into hate: Kyrie eleison 
  They used power to oppress God’s little ones:  Kyrie eleison
  They saw fear and suffering in the eyes of children
               and allowed their hearts to be hardened to ignore it: 		 Kyrie eleison
  They heard weeping and pleading but closed their ears:        Kyrie eleison
  They killed the spirit of innocence and purity: Kyrie eleison
  They heaped false guilt on their victims:     Kyrie eleison
 
Pause - continuation of sung Kyrie
 		  
  They could not see what was going on:      Kyrie eleison
  They could see all too clearly, but did nothing about it:     Kyrie eleison
  They put the reputation of the Church before the anguish of victims:  Kyrie eleison
  They sought to protect the Church, rather than the vulnerable:   Kyrie eleison
  They did not listen when they were told, over and over again:  Kyrie eleison
  They pretended nothing was wrong: 
 		 Kyrie eleison
Pause - continuation of sung Kyrie
 		  
  They thought they were the only ones:    Kyrie eleison
  They thought they were worthless:  Kyrie eleison
  They thought they were to blame:  Kyrie eleison
  They rejected help and compassion:      Kyrie eleison
  They were afraid to risk being loved:  
 		 Kyrie eleison
Pause - continuation of sung Kyrie
 		  
  They decided that all priests and religious were abusers      Kyrie eleison
  They disbelieved those who tried to change the culture  Kyrie eleison
  They denied the need to safeguard the vulnerable    Kyrie eleison
  They listened to lies and did not stand up for truth Kyrie eleison
  They gave way to despair        Kyrie eleison
  They believed God had forsaken the Church    Kyrie eleison
  They rejected the sacrifice of Jesus   Kyrie eleison
  They were indifferent to the work of the Holy Spirit    
 		 Kyrie eleison
Kyrie leads into Silence   
 		  
Confession and Seeking Forgiveness
 		  
Leader God your people stand before you acknowledging grave sin:
your truth challenges falsehoods,
your light challenges works of darkness.
Only you, our God, can heal your people,
only in you is our salvation.

Into your hands, God of mercies, we commend ourselves
and all who are overwhelmed by the enormity of all that is being revealed.
 		  
Sung Response (optional):  I need you to listen (Marty Haugen)
 		  
Reflection, Ritual and symbol

Music Suggestions:  Iona: We will lay our burden down
                                   There is a Longing in our Hearts
 

  
Sign and words of commitment  
 Leader  Though we are shaken and dismayed by the revelations of recent months,
we know too that God works through human weakness –
and with his grace, we will emerge a humbler and purer people.
It is in this hope that we have the confidence to turn one to another and commit ourselves to bringing the light of Christ into a darkened world.		  
Everyone is invited to turn to their neighbour and clasp their hands  
  Peace be with you – and with all who suffer.  
If indoors:      
Leader We have before us the symbols of so much suffering – placed appropriately at the foot of one who suffered anguish of body, mind and spirit before commending himself to the Father.

Our faith is that by entering that ultimate darkness, Jesus broke the power of sin and, in his Resurrection a new and eternal light dawned over the world.

We are called to be children of that Light – to believe in it even – especially – when all seems dark and confused – to witness to our faith in it and inspire others to hope and to believe in the future.

It is in this hope that we have the confidence to commit ourselves to bringing the light of Christ into a darkened world.
 		  

Leader lights candle, saying words above, and passes it to two others – the light spreads…

When all candles are lit

 

  
Solemn Calling on God’s Blessing  
Leader   Let us bow our heads for God’s blessing -

May the power of God’s healing love
sweep through our Church – our nation – our world –
an inexhaustible fountain of goodness, kindness and mercy
freely given for the life of the whole human race.		  
ALL  AMEN
 		  
Leader May the Light of Christ enlighten the eyes of our minds
our hearts and our souls –
so that we may be faithful bearers of that Light into our world.		  
ALL AMEN
 		  
Leader  May the Spirit of God fill us with wisdom and courage
so that we do not turn away from suffering –   
but play our part in the great work of redeeming it –       
offering ourselves – and those who come after us – 
a new vision of hope and reason for living.		  
ALL  AMEN
 		  
Leader  And so may God bless us,  
ALL  the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  
Leader  And on this day and on all days  
ALL  MAY GOD HOLD US AND ALL WE HAVE PRAYED FOR
IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
AMEN.
 		  
Closing Song:  Lord, make me a means of your peace  
     
People could keep candles lit as they leave the church.  

© 2003, 2010, Wellspring & Paul Inwood

      | Back to Liturgies in Solidarity | Liturgy Home Page | Wellspring |