A Liturgy for those affected by the Asian Tsunami |
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Opening Responses | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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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... | |
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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. | |
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Scripture Readings - click here for suggestions | |
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Sung Response - click here for suggestions | |
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Sign, Symbol and Ritual - click here for suggestions | |
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Closing Responses | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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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 |
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