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OrderofWorship

EcumenicalPrayerServiceontheAshWednesday,10thFebruary2016,17.00HrsLaunchingofLentenCampaignofEcumenicalWaterNetworkofthe

WorldCouncilofChurches:SevenWeeksforWater

Theme:ThirstforJustice:ApilgrimageofjusticeandpeaceinPalestine

LutheranChurchoftheRedeemer,Jerusalem

Introduction:(ByDineshSunatheCoordinator,EcumenicalWaterNetwork)

AccordingtotheChristiantradition,LentisatimetoprepareforthecelebrationofthedeathandresurrectionofChrist.Duringthisperiodmanypeopleengageinfastingandpractisemoderationorself-denialinordertofocusonrepentanceandconsecratingoneselftoGod.WhilewaterhasastrongspiritualsignificanceintheChristiantraditionasagiftofGod,thisscarceresourceisthreatenedanddeniedtomillionsaroundtheworld.TheEcumenicalWaterNetworksince2008hasbeenattemptingtoputtogetherLentenpracticewithconcernforwater.ithasbeenprovidingweeklytheologicalreflectionsandliturgicalresourcesfortheseasonofLentandespeciallyforWorldWaterDayon22March.

ThirstforJusticeIn2016TheWCC’sPilgrimageofJusticeandPeacefocusesontheMiddleEast.SothisyeartheSevenWeeksforWatermakesapilgrimageconcerningthejustuseofwaterintheMiddleEast,particularlyconcerningPalestine.ThewatercrisisintheMiddleEastprovidesacontextforreflectionsontheBibleandtheologicalresourcesforthesesevenweeks.WaterisakeytopicforanydiscussionofjusticeandpeaceintheMiddleEast.ItisalsoakeyBiblicaltheme.Togroundreflectioninreality,variousactivitiesaroundtheSevenWeeksforWaterwilltakeplaceintheMiddleEast,particularlyinPalestine.ThiswillbelaunchedtodayinJerusalemon10February(AshWednesdayaccordingtotheWesterntraditionsofChristianity)

Gathering:TheBishopsandclergieswillenterthechurchinaprocession.Thecongregationisrequestedtostand.Theorganisplayedinthebackground.

WordsofGreetings:BishopMunibYounan,EvangelicalLutheranChurchofJordanandtheHolyLand.

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Calltoworship:

Come,allwhoarethirstysaysJesus,ourLord,come,allwhoareweak,tastethelivingwaterthatIshallgive.Dipyourhandsinthestream,refreshbodyandsoul,drinkfromit,dependonit,forthiswaterwillneverrundry.Come,allwhoarethirstysaysJesus,ourLord.

OpeningPrayer:

Leader:

Wecometoathirstyland.Wecomeasthirstypeople.Wecomeseeingapromiseunfulfilledthattherewillbeenoughforeveryone.

Sowepray:

QuicksilverandquestioningGod,Whoareyou?Youinviteustodiscoveryouthroughthespringsofscripture,thesurewitnessofyourfaithfulpeople,ourthirstforjusticeandpeace,andtheconversationoffriends.Aswegazeinaweonthebeautyofyourcreation,andgivethanksforyourcareandcherishingofhumanlife,maywejointhecompanyofyourpilgrimpeople,sturdyasrockinourcommitmentanddeterminationtoensurethatlife-givingwatermaybefreelyavailableforallAll:Amen

(Source:SevenWeeksforWater,2016byClareAmos,WorldCouncilofChurches)

Song:Aágua

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ThirstingforJustice:RealitiesofPalestine

Voice-1“IntheWestBank,manyPalestinianshaveneithersufficientsafewaterfordrinkingandotherdomesticuses,norenoughwaterforagriculturaluses.Themostvulnerablecommunitieshaveavailableaslittleas20litresofwaterperday,justone-fifthoftheminimumrequiredtomeettheirdailyneeds.Andtheypayanoutrageousamount,uptotwo-thirdsoftheirincome,forthesmallamountofwatertheyareabletobuy.”

(excerptfromtheEWN-WCCStatementonwatercrisisinPalestine)

Voice-2Thefirstreasonforthecurrentwatercrisisstemsfromthefactthat,althoughIsraelisandPalestinianssharethesamemountainaquiferresource,80%ofthewaterispumpedtoIsraeliswhilePalestinianshaveaccesstojust20percent.

(excerptfromEWN’sSevenWeeksforWater2016reflectionbyBishopMunibYounan)

Voice-3“InGaza,thesituationisevendirer:95%ofgroundwaterisrenderedunusablebytheintrusionofseawaterduetodiversionofrechargewatersandexcessivepumping.…….insixyears,theaquiferwillbebeyondrepair.………Inmanyrespects,thePalestinianpeoplearedeniedtheirinternationallyrecognizedhumanrighttosufficientsafe,accessible,andaffordablewaterandadequateappropriatesanitation.”

(excerptfromtheEWN-WCCStatementonwatercrisisinPalestine)

Leader:HolyGod,authorofcreation,wegiveyouthanksforthegiftofwater.IncreaseourthirstforyourpresenceduringthisLentenseason.Openoureyestoseewheretheflowingwatersofjusticehavebeenblockedbyhumansin.Openourmouthstospeakupforthosewhothirstforanequalmeasureofthegiftsofcreation.Openourheartstosharethewateroflifewithall.WeaskthisthroughourLordJesusChrist,wholivesandreignswithyouandtheHolySpirit,oneGod,nowandforever.

All:Amen.

(Source:SevenWeeksforWater,2016byBishopDrMunibYounan,EvangelicalLutheranChurchinJordanandtheHolyLand)

ScriptureReading:IIsaiah58:1-12Shoutout,donotholdback!Liftupyourvoicelikeatrumpet!Announcetomypeopletheirrebellion,tothehouseofJacobtheirsins.Yetdayafterdaytheyseekme anddelighttoknowmyways,asiftheywereanationthatpracticedrighteousnessanddid

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notforsaketheordinanceoftheirGod;theyaskofmerighteousjudgments,theydelighttodrawneartoGod."Whydowefast,butyoudonotsee?Whyhumbleourselves,butyoudonotnotice?"Look,youserveyourowninterestonyourfastday,andoppressallyourworkers.Look,youfastonlytoquarrelandtofightandtostrikewithawickedfist.Suchfastingasyoudotodaywillnotmakeyourvoiceheardonhigh.IssuchthefastthatIchoose,adaytohumbleoneself?Isittobowdowntheheadlikeabulrush,andtolieinsackclothandashes?Willyoucallthisafast,adayacceptabletotheLORD?IsnotthisthefastthatIchoose:toloosethebondsofinjustice,toundothethongsoftheyoke,tolettheoppressedgofree,andtobreakeveryyoke?Isitnottoshareyourbreadwiththehungry,andbringthehomelesspoorintoyourhouse;whenyouseethenaked,tocoverthem,andnottohideyourselffromyourownkin?Thenyourlightshallbreakforthlikethedawn,andyourhealingshallspringupquickly;yourvindicator*shallgobeforeyou,thegloryoftheLORDshallbeyourrearguard.Thenyoushallcall,andtheLORDwillanswer;youshallcryforhelp,andhewillsay,HereIam.Ifyouremovetheyokefromamongyou,thepointingofthefinger,thespeakingofevil,ifyouofferyourfoodtothehungryandsatisfytheneedsoftheafflicted,thenyourlightshallriseinthedarknessandyourgloombelikethenoonday.TheLORDwillguideyoucontinually,andsatisfyyourneedsinparchedplaces,andmakeyourbonesstrong;andyoushallbelikeawateredgarden,likeaspringofwater,whosewatersneverfail.Yourancientruinsshallberebuilt; youshallraiseupthefoundationsofmanygenerations;youshallbecalledtherepairerofthebreach,therestorerofstreetstolivein.

Song:Psalm 107 (selected)

ScriptureReading:IIRevelation22:1-2

Thentheangelshowedmetheriverofthewateroflife,brightascrystal,flowingfromthethroneofGodandoftheLambthroughthemiddleofthestreetofthecity.Oneithersideoftheriveristhetreeoflifewithitstwelvekindsoffruit,producingitsfruiteachmonth;andtheleavesofthetreeareforthehealingofthenations.

Sermon:ByRev.DrOlavFykseTveit,GeneralSecretary,WorldCouncilofChurches(WCC)

Song Allaahuquwatunlana/Thereisariver

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CalltoConfession

Leader:Dearsistersandbrothers,onedayweallhavetoleavethisplanet,leavingbehindallourignorantandconsumptivelifestyle.Asthescripturesays,wearecreatedfromthedust,andtodustwewillreturn.InthisLentenseason,letusreturntotheLordwithfasting,notonlyforourspiritualgain,butalsofastingforjusticeforallpeopleandGod’screation.Voice1:Theglobaltemperatureisrisingandthesealevelsarerisingtootoengulfislands,coastalbeltswithitsfloraandfauna.Millionsarelikelytobeclimaterefugees.Letuschangeourlifestyletomakeitmoreecofriendly.All:Declareafast.Leader:(whileimposingashesontheforeheadofthereader)Rememberthatyouaredust,andtodustyoushallreturn.Voice2:Alitreofwateriswastedforeachlitreofwaterthatisbottledandittakesthreetimesasmuchwatertocreateaplasticwaterbottlethanitdoestofillit.Letuschangeourlifestyletoconservewater.All:Declareafast.Leader: (whileimposingashesontheforeheadofthereader)Rememberthatyouaredust,andtodustyoushallreturn.

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Voice3:Over63billionplasticbottlesaredumpedinlandfills,oceans,andlandscapeseachyear.Ittakes450yearsforasingleplasticwaterbottletodecompose.LetuschangeourlifestyletonurturethelifeandwellbeingofGod’screation.AllDeclareafast.Leader:(whileimposingashesontheforeheadofthereader)Rememberthatyouaredust,andtodustyoushallreturn.

Leader:

LetusnowconfessoursinandseektheinfinitemercyofGod.EternalGod,inwhomweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing,whosefaceishiddenfromusbyoursins,andwhosemercyweforgetintheblindnessofourhearts:cleanseusfromallouroffenses,anddeliverusfromproudthoughtsandvaindesires,thatwithreverentandhumbleheartswemaydrawneartoyou,confessingourfaults,confidinginyourgrace,andfindinginyouourrefugeandstrength;throughJesusChristyourSon.

All:Amen (BookofCommonWorship,Louisville:Westminster/JohnKnowPress,1993)

ImpositionofAshes

Pastor:AlmightyGod,youcreatedusoutofthedustoftheground.Maytheseashesremindusthatwearedustandshallreturntodust.MaytheyalsoremindusofthecrossofChristbywhichwearegiveneverlastinglife;throughJesusChrist,ourLord.

All:Amen.

(Thosewhowishtoreceiveashesmaycomeforwardoneatatime.)[Theministerimposesashesontheforeheadwiththesignofthecross—areminderofthecrossplacedontheforeheadatthetimeofBaptism—withthewords,“Rememberthatyouaredust,andtodustyoushallreturn.”Thecongregationremainssilent.]

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Prayer(aftertheimpositionoftheashes)

Leader GraciousGod,outofyourloveandmercy

youbreathedintodustthebreathoflife,creatingustoserveyouandourneighbours.

All Inthisseasonofrepentance,restoretousthejoyofoursalvationandstrengthenustofaceourmortality,thatwemayreachwithconfidenceforyourmercy,inJesusChrist,ourLord.InspiredbyyourSpirit,empowerustostriveforjusticeandpeace,birthinglifeinfullnessforall.Amen.

SongLetjusticeflowdown

Leader Lentisajourneyofdeepeningreflectionandrenewal, anopportunitytomakenewcommitmentsinfaith. Letusnowaffirmourcommitmenttoactjustly, improvingthelivesofmanypeople, whodonothavecleanwater.

Voice1.Morethan760millionpeopledonothaveimprovedaccesstosafedrinkingwater.

All:ActNow!

Voice2:Morethan2.5billionpeopledonothaveadequatesanitationfacilities.

All:ActNow!

Voice3:Morethan4000childrendieeverydayduetoaspreventableadiseaseasdiarrhea,whichisprimarilyduetounsafedrinkingwater.

All:ActNow!AndtothisendweseekyourblessingsalmightyGod.

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LaunchingofLentenCampaignofEcumenicalWaterNetworkofWCC

Bythefollowingdignitaries:

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1. Prof.AntjeJackelén,ArchbishopofSweden2. Rev.DrOlavFykseTveit,GeneralSecretary,WCC3. MrsHindKhoury,SecretaryGeneral,KairosPalestine4. Prof.Rev.FernandoEnns,Moderator,PilgrimageofJusticeandPeace5. BishopDrMunibYounan,PresidentofMECCandLutheranWorldFederation

Introduction:

Action:

L1:MaytheSevenWeeksforWaterbeaninstrumenttoraiseawarenessonissuesrelatedwatersothatthereisuniversalaccesstowaterwithdignity.

Pourwaterintothebowlfromthejug

L2:ThroughtheSevenWeeksforWater,maythisLentencampaignbeanopportunityforustohighlighttheplightofPalestinianswhoare“thirstingforjustice”astheyaredeprivedoftheirhumanrighttowater.

Pourwaterintothebowlfromthejug

L3:MaytheSevenWeeksforWatercontributetoa“PilgrimageofWaterJustice”inalltheaffectedregionsaroundtheworld,particularlyinPalestine.

workoftheEcumenicalWaterNetworkoftheWorldCouncilofChurchescontinuetobringthepropheticvoiceofthechurchesintothediscourseofhumanrighttowater.

Pourwaterintothebowlfromthejug

L4:Maythe1.8billionpeoplearoundtheworldwhohavetodrinkcontaminatedwater,getaccesstosafedrinkingwater.MaythisLentencampaigngeneratechurchesresponsetomakethatgoalareality.

Pourwaterintothebowlfromthejug

L5:(whilespeakingmakingthesignofacrossoverthebowlofwater)InthenameofGodtheFather,GodtheSonandGodtheHolySpirit,OnbehalfoftheWorldCouncilofChurches,IdeclaretheLentenCampaign,SevenWeeksforWater,Open!

All:Amen

SongForeveryoneborn

IntercessoryPrayers:

Lord’sPrayer(inourmanylanguages)OurFatherinheaven,hallowedbeyourname,yourkingdomcome,yourwillbedone,on

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earthasinheaven.Giveustodayourdailybread.Forgiveusoursinsasweforgivethosewhosinagainstus.Saveusfromthetimeoftrialanddeliverusfromevil.Forthekingdom,thepower,andthegloryareyours,nowandforever.Amen.

PassingthePeace:

Leader:ThepeaceoftheLordbealwayswithyou.

All:Andalsowithyou

Leader:Letussharethatpeacewithoneanother

Song:SalaamAleikum

Benediction:

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Announcements:

(ThisorderofworshipispreparedbytheEcumenicalWaterNetworkofWorldCouncilofChurches.)

Sources:1.http://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Lent.htm#ixzz3ydymJKFOUnderCreativeCommonsLicense:Attribution2.TerryMcArthur,EvangelicalLutheranChurchofGeneva