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A Liturgy for those affected by the Asian Tsunami |
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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. | |
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