We begin by acknowledging that as we gather on the land politically designated as New York City, we are worshipping on the homeland of the Lenape.
We honour the people who have come before us, and recommit ourselves in the journey towards reconciliation.
We remember the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls all over the world, and we pray for the end of this gender-based violence.
Open our mouths to challenge the systems that enable violence.
Open our hands to lift up the wounded.
Open our hearts to fuel the fire of a world where justice is not optional.
Creator, mend our circle, restore us to the good ways, to the good mind.
We raise our thankful hearts to you, and ask this in your name, the name of your Son the peacemaker, and the name of the sacred Spirit.
.
Music - led by Larissa - action song :)
Let us come together
Praise the name of Jesus
All you people of the earth
Come and see!
Joy is like the sunshine
Raining down upon us
Joy is like a golden crown
Let us come together
Praise the name of Jesus
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Confession - led by Twila
Creator God, who formed the earth in beauty and wisdom,
we confess our destruction of your world.
We have taken more than we need and wasted without thought.
Women and girls bear the weight of drought and flood,
of lost homes and lost harvests,
of care work multiplied by crisis and hunger.
Yet we have not listened to their voices,
nor acted with urgency to bring justice.
God of mercy, teach us to walk more gently,
to resist destruction and seek renewal,
to honour the voices of women and all who fight for justice.
Transform our sorrow into action,
our guilt into courage,
that we may be repairers of the broken
and sowers of hope.
Amen.
Scripture: Colossians 1. 15-20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created,
READ IN SPANISH BY MANDY
things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.
READ IN HEBREW BY LIZZI
He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church;
READ IN ENGLISH BY LARISSA
he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
READ IN ARABIC BY TROY
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things,
READ IN ZULU BY LULAMA
whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
READ IN FRENCH BY MARTHA
Reflecting - Lulama
Liturgy/Litany Prayers - led by Lynnaia and Troy - alternating
Creating and creative God, you have shown to us the beauty of order and the benefit of equality. Help us to model our practice of governance in ways that reflect your example of peaceful and beneficial co-existence.
God of all creation, hear our prayer.
Holy God, you fill our hearts with the wonder of your divine presence; remind us to see your gift in every person, in every creature, in every structure and void. Remind us of the privilege to be your church in the cathedral of your cosmos.
God of all creation, hear our prayer.
The earth is yours, Lord, and all that is in it. Hear our lament for the grief we have caused to your master-work; inspire us to holier and healthier practices to sustain the life that you have loved into being.
God of all creation, hear our prayer.
Ever-present God, you are with us wherever we are. Breathe your peace into our communities, and every community; that all may delight in your grace and dwell in your safety. May every community truly be a home to all.
God of all creation, hear our prayer.
Abundant giver, you have blessed us with the opportunity to thrive in our many eco-systems. Remind us of those who struggle, and who experience any need or discomfort. (pause) Help us to see your generosity anew and to seek ways to care for all that you love; human and non-human.
God of all creation, hear our prayer.
Gracious God; you have given us more than we could ask or imagine. Open our hearts and minds to your blessings and mercies, that we may be truly thankful and offer ourselves to your glory: uplifting especially today the women who have formed us, the earth that has nourished us, the Spirit that has empowered us.
God of all creation, hear our prayer.
Amen.
Lord’s Prayer (NZ paraphrase) - introduced and led by Martha
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.
Blessing - led by Mandy
Go now, with hearts open to the beauty of creation,
With hands ready to tend and heal.
With voices raised for justice and renewal.
May the God who called the world into being,
Bless you with wonder and wisdom.
May Christ, who walked this world in love
Guide your steps in care and compassion.
May the Spirit, who breathes life into all things
Fill you with courage and hope.
Go in peace to love and serve -
The earth, one another, and our creator.
Amen.
SENDING PRAYER: - led by LM and Lizzi
Loving God, we celebrate the many gifts that have been present in our time together at CSW. We delight in the variety of perspectives, the richness of experiences, and the depth of engagement that we have shared in this CSW. We are thankful for these many voices; we are aware of the voices not heard; we pledge to listen to the weakest of voices in our midst.
As many of us prepare to head to our homes, and carry the friends, colleagues, and advocates with us, we realise that we have been transformed by our time here, and we celebrate those ministries that dwell in our hearts. We commit to continue embracing this transformation for the benefit of all – and so we dedicate our time to You:
We dedicate our time and our work;
We dedicate our passions and our potential;
We dedicate our successes and our failures;
We dedicate our abilities and limitations;
We dedicate our differences and our similarities;
We dedicate our past and our future;
We dedicate our journeys;
We dedicate our hope
As we exercise with justice and dwell in your joy.
Closing Song: led by Lulama - Green Anglicans :)
Up above my head, I feel the spirit of the Lord x2
Here and everywhere we feel the spirit of the Lord x2
Do you believe? Yes I believe!
Here in USA, we feel the spirit of the Lord x2
Even back at home, they feel the spirit of the Lord x2
