A Liturgy

for those affected by the Asian Tsunami


Click the picture to go to the Catholic relief agency for England and Wales

For ideas on using this Liturgy, please click here

Opening Responses
   .
Reader Our world convulses;
  our planet's orbit distorts;
  a moment when the earth stretches
  changes shape;
  a few metres of seabed raised -
  and the ocean responds -
  catastrophically.
ALL AND GOD HAD LOOKED AT THE WORLD HE HAD CREATED
  AND SAID THAT IT WAS GOOD.
 .  
Reader People working -
  people playing -
  people enjoying the beauty of paradise beaches
  seeing paradise disintegrate in an inferno of water.
ALL AND GOD HAD LOOKED ON HIS HUMAN CREATURES
  AND THE WHOLE OF HIS CREATION
  AND SAID THAT IT WAS VERY GOOD.
 .  
Reader But the world has not been good -
  the earth seems to have turned on humanity
  sweeping away rich and poor -
  young and old:
  making no distinction in dealing out death.
ALL HOW CAN WE BELIEVE IN A GOD
  WHO ALLOWS SUCH THINGS TO HAPPEN?
  YET WHY HAVE WE BEEN DRAWN HERE
  IF NOT BECAUSE GOD HAS CALLED US?
  TO COME TOGETHER IN OUR CONFUSION AND SORROW -
  TO TRUST THAT EVEN THOUGH OUR WORLD IS IN AGONY -
  GOD IS AT WORK...
 .  
Reader We come to offer our time and our prayer
ALL TO PRAY FOR PEOPLE FAR AWAY
  BUT BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN OUR SHARED HUMANITY.
 .  
Scripture Readings - click here for suggestions
 .  
Sung Response - click here for suggestions
 .  
Sign, Symbol and Ritual - click here for suggestions
 .  
Closing Responses
 .  
Reader Our world remains in a state of convulsion:
  people in shock -
  homes in ruins -
  livelihoods devastated.
ALL BUT FOR A TIME WE HAVE PRAYED
  COMMENDING THEIR NEED TO GOD -
  TRUSTING THAT OUR LOVE AND PRAYER
  CARRIES BEYOND TIME AND SPACE
  TO REACH OUT TO THOSE IN SO MUCH NEED.
 .  
Reader The battle to combat disease goes on -
  medical staff -
  relief workers -
  all striving to ensure that lives overwhelmed by water
  are not ended by yet more water-borne death.
ALL GOD WORKING THROUGH THE INTELLIGENCE AND SKILLS
  THROUGH THE COMMITMENT AND DETERMINATION OF HUMAN BEINGS.
  THROUGH THEM, THE GOD WHO SEEKS TO HEAL AND TO MAKE WHOLE
  BRINGS COMFORT AND KINDNESS
  IN THE MIDST OF HARSHNESS AND DESOLATION.
 .  
Reader The world reeled - literally
  when an earthquake unleashed disaster on coastlines and islands.
  People reeled as the toll of suffering increased seemingly by the minute.
  The peoples of the world look on and wonder:
  "Where is God in all of this?"
ALL WE GO WITH NO EASY ANSWERS -
  WE OFFER NO GLIB PLATITUDES
  THAT MAKE US FEEL BETTER BUT WHICH DO NOT CHANGE REALITY.
  INSTEAD, WE GO WITH FAITH IN GOD -
  BELIEVING IN A FUTURE AS YET HIDDEN FROM US.
  IN HOPE - IN GOD AND IN OUR FELLOW-HUMAN BEINGS;
  AND IN LOVE - COMMITTED TO SUSTAINING OUR PRAYER
  AND EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THOSE STILL IN NEED.
 .  
Reader And so we ask God's blessing on ourselves
  and those on the other side of the world for whom we have prayed:
ALL THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Reader And until we meet again,
ALL MAY GOD HOLD US AND THEM
  IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
  AMEN.
  © 2004 Wellspring

| Liturgy Ideas | Prayer card | Tsunami Thoughts | Wellsprings core page |