| An Africa Service
Introduction to Service
Option 1
Ubuntu means “humanity” and comes from the Nguni group
of languages spoken in sub-Saharan Africa. Archbishop Desmond Tutu
developed a theology around ubuntu. He took a Zhosa expression,
which, translated roughly, means “a person depends on other
people to be a human” or “I am because we are.”
We can apply ubuntu to our faith when we think of God’s relationship
with us. We are because God is, and we know from scripture that
our true identity as humans comes through absolute dependence on
God and neighbor. If our humanity is dependent on one another, we
are called to usher in right relationships between people in our
world and between nations. Some of the ways that these right relationships
are broken is through unjust policies like the process of international
debt that strips nations from their dignity, deepening poverty and
spreading disease. Relationships are also broken through the existence
of global apartheid, the acceptance of genocide in our midst and
the apathy towards the HIV/AIDS crisis. We can restore right relationships,
restoring ubuntu, when we cancel debt, end HIV/AIDS and stop genocide
when it occurs in Africa.
Option 2
In Hebrew there is a word that means the mending of our lives and
the world, the healing of the relationships which sustain life together.
This word is “Tikkun.” We live in a broken world where
there is pain, suffering, war, death and the rapid spread of disease.
We yearn to mend our world, which will sustain our lives, and to
do this we recognize that our liberation is tied to the liberation
of our neighbors, and our security is tied to the health and well-being
of all. It is in this spirit that we will celebrate an end to global
apartheid and uncover a scriptural map to right relationships, to
mending the earth and our lives.
Gathering Song
See Music Suggestions.
Kyrie/Litany
Leader: I am
People: because we are. We are
Leader: because God is. Created in the image of
God
People: We are called to relationship with God
Leader: Being reconciled to God
People: we are called to reconciliation with all
creation.
Leader: As the Spirit gives life
People: let us live life abundantly
Leader: I am
People: because we are. We are
Leader: because God is.
All: Ubuntu! Do life!
Prayers of the Day
Option 1
We cry out against all that kills life;
hunger, poverty, unemployment, sickness, repression, individualism,
injustice.
We want to announce the fullness of life;
Work, education, health, housing, bread for all.
We want communion, a world renewed.
We hope against hope.
With the God of history we want to make all things new. Amen.
Option 2
God, let us never forget that you are with us always.
Help us to remember that you shine through your people,
And that if we need to see your face,
All we must do is look into the eyes of another.
May we see you
In our next-door neighbor
And in the face of an African farmer
In the people squashed against us in the crowded bus,
And in the face of those that whip by in their expensive cars
In the weary shoppers elbowing their way towards the counter
And in the face of a child starving
In the doctor who treats people in a local clinic
And in the face of a young girl dying of AIDS
In the playful children kicking dust
And in the face of their mothers watching on.
O God, our Companion,
Let us never forget that you are with us everywhere.
Confession and Forgiveness prayers
Compassionate One, we are overwhelmed by the needs of your people
and by their suffering. We confess we could lessen the harm that
comes to them by sharing their hardships and working to end the
injustices our systems and lifestyles help to support. Have mercy
on us, we pray. Touch our hearts. Help us to stand with your suffering
children and to advocate their need to those who do not recognize
their suffering. Open our eyes anew that we might know them as brothers
and sisters and be glad for the richness they bring us. Amen.
Prayers
O, Mighty God, may your justice roll down like waters, washing
clean the sins of old and ushering in your kingdom, where the dignity
of all is preserved, where people create systems that renew life
and bring a balance of power and resources to the world. May you
guide our leaders to usher in an end to global apartheid, restoring
the earth and human relationships into just equilibrium and may
you guide those that seek justice that they may be true to your
word and foster right relationships.
Benediction
God, send us forth with your blessing that we might do your work
in accordance with your will. May we be an active member of the
Africa Action Religious Action Network, a people of God who call
for justice and peace, and who make right relationships. May we
not shy away from taking the action that will save lives and make
change. Be with us as we stand with our neighbors around the world
calling for a new world, where all of your children are valued.
With you, God, we will make all things new.
Lectionary for Africa Service
Catholic and Protestant Denominations
Season after Pentecost (May-Nov)
June 2005 = Year A; Year A Nov 2004-Nov 2005
June 2006 = Year B; Year B Nov 2005-Nov 2006
Africa Services can be celebrated at any time. The most popular
among Religious Action Network leaders has been around June 16th,
the Day of the African Child, and South African National Youth Day.
This special day can be celebrated on the Sundays June 11th and
18th in 2006. (The only drawback for holding your Africa Service
in June is that many people go on vacation at that time.)
Revised Common Lectionary
These readings are used by most Catholic and mainline Protestant
denominations. The Revised Common Lectionary can be found at: http://divinity.lib.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/
June 11, 2006
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17
June 18, 2006
I Sam 15:34-16:13
or
Ezekiel 17:22-24
Psalm 20
or
Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15
II Cor 5:6-10; 14-17
or
II Cor 5:6-17
Mark 4:26-34
For the full text that will be used in specific denominations on
these days and others, and for suggested hymns, go to the appropriate
website below.
American Baptist: http://members.aol.com/ashes2fire/mss/lection.htm
Catholic: http://www.usccb.org/nab/
Episcopal: http://www.io.com/~kellywp/
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America: http://www.elca.org/dcm/worship/church_year/lectionary.html
Methodist: http://www.gbod.org/worship/lectionary/default.asp
Presbyterian Church USA: http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi
(scroll on top right to correct day)
United Church of Christ: http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/index.html
|
Religious Action Network
