World Day of Prayer

March 3

2017Am I Being Unfair to You?Am I Being Unfair to You?

All: God, our Creator, we dedicate ourselves to building a global community of love, justice, and service. Help us, O God.

Leader: I am a farmer. I am a laborer. We want to know you more fully and fulfill your call to action, so that we may be agents of change.

All: God of Love, Justice, and Service, help us to be the seeds of change and to be your instruments, to realizeyour Kin-dom of Shalom.

Sending Forth: “We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection”

Leader: Jesus, the Bread of Life, sends you out to feed others.

All: We will share our lives with our brothers and sisters.

Leader: The God of Justice sends you to plant the seeds of hope, to harvest the fruits of liberation and love.

All: We will offer our hands to plant, nurture, and harvest them.

Leader: The Holy Spirit sends you to be instruments of fairness and joy.

All: Use us to your will and glory. Amen.

Benediction

Recessional: “Let Justice Roll Like a River”

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All: God, you have told us to help the poor and homeless,

Leader: but we have used the excuse that the help will be misused.

All: Lord, we have run out of simple excuses and now mustface our own sinfulness. We are responsible for not actingon behalf of your people’s cries. We need to respond toyour call for justice. Forgive us, O God, and set us free.Inspire and move us into action. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon (Based on Isa. 51:1, 55:12)

Song: “The Lord’s Prayer”

Listening to the Word of God: Matthew 20:1–16

Meditation/Activity: “Am I being unfair to you?”

Who are the “last” or “least” ones in your community? Would youinvite them to harvest? Where do you see God calling you, or thisgroup, to actions of justice? How might you respond to God’s call?

Solidarity Commitment

The Offering

Offering Song

Prayers of Intercession

Leader: I am a child. I need health care.

All: God of Hope and Reconciliation, move us to care for ourchildren, to alleviate their suffering. Help us, O God.

Leader: I am an Overseas Filipino Worker. I need just laws.

All: God of Justice and Liberation, we dedicate ourselves toeradicating the causes of injustice that threaten humandignity. Help us, O God.

Leader: I am young. I need education. I want to be in school.

All: God, our Teacher and Guide, ensure that all persons have the opportunity to develop their full potential and become all you have created them to be. Help us, O God.

Leader: I am an indigenous person. I want to preserve the legacyof my people and the dignity bestowed on us by God, ourCreator.

Processional and Offering of the Symbols

Opening Song: “Come to the Circle”

Come to the circle and tell your story.Come sing and share the world inside you.Come to the circle; your friends are waitingto listen and share their stories, too.

Welcome/Greetings

Call to Worship

Leader: Oh what a beautiful day to gather in the house of God!

All: We feel the presence of the Lord!

Leader: In the midst of suffering and troubles,

All: we experience the presence of the Holy Spirit!

Leader: In all things, give thanks!

All: Thanks for the perfect gift, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

Voices of Women Seeking Economic Justice

Prayer of Confession

Leader: Our God, the stories of our sisters remind us that we have fallen short of your glory. We have used theexcuse that we are only one voice amid many.

All: You, God, have heard your people’s cry for peace,

Leader: but we have used the excuse that we need a strongmilitary to protect our interests.

All: God, you have heard your people’s cry for protecting the earth,

Leader: while we have used the excuse that science will find a way to save the planet.

All: You have heard your people’s cry for reconciliation,

Leader: but we have used the excuse that we do not know those of other races or cultures.