LITANY OF JOY - EW Worship - CSW69 Orientation 08 march 2025

LITURGY OF JOY - for ORIENTATION CLOSING WORSHIP

“The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous” – Proverbs 21:15a (NASB)

The exercise of Justice is joy for the righteous.
Justice is a verb;
THAT GUIDES/LEADS/BRINGS US TO JOY.

God of encouragement, you place in our paths so many opportunities to do your will. Whisper into our hearts the desire to respond to those opportunities with action: to exercise our faith as actions that shine your light in the world.
Justice is a verb;
THAT GUIDES/LEADS/BRINGS US TO JOY.

Quiet our minds and open our hearts, Lord. Silence our doubts, our fears, our insecurities; remove all that we think holds us back. Break open our hearts so thoroughly that we cannot help but take action, for that is our calling.
Justice is a verb;
THAT GUIDES/LEADS/BRINGS US TO JOY.

Open our eyes, that we may see: all those who are struggling under unjust systems and structures. Open our eyes to new ways of exercising our ministries to remove the barriers and burdens that are disproportionately affecting women and girls; and all of creation.
Justice is a verb;
THAT GUIDES/LEADS/BRINGS US TO JOY.

Help us to hear the cries of those experiencing need, to recognise the voices crying out from the margins: from the void of the wilderness to the anonymity of the city. Remind us to seek out the voices that are silenced or absent. Guide us to amplify the whispers that speak truths that need to be heard.
Justice is a verb;
THAT GUIDES/LEADS/BRINGS US TO JOY.

Empower us, Holy Spirit, that we may continue the good works that we are doing for your glory. Equip us with every good thing that we may do your will, for the sake of the justice that you teach us. Bring us together to increase our faith and inspire new ways to respond to the needs of the world, that all may know the peace of your grace.
Justice is a verb;
THAT GUIDES/LEADS/BRINGS US TO JOY.

Stir us up, O Lord, that we may see beyond the horizon of this world. As we uphold one another in our work and our prayer, uphold us in our passions and practices for justice: here at this CSW and beyond. Allow us to help actively usher in the world of love and justice that you have promised.
Justice is a verb;
THAT GUIDES/LEADS/BRINGS US TO JOY.


And as we pray that God will guide/lead/bring us to joy:

May JOY find you, and fill you, and sustain you!
In the quiet moments, and in the cacophony of the world
In the busy moments, and in the still times.
In the peaceful seconds of solitude, and in the abundant blessing of community
In the midst of your work, your holy and life-giving work; and in the repose of your rest.
In the desperation and grief that the newscycle invokes, and in the prevailing hopefulness of faith.
May joy find you!

And when joy finds you:
May you recognise joy as a gift from God;
May you receive the divine offering
May you be inspired by the joy of the Lord
So that your deepest desire is to share the joy that you know.
Especially for a world that is desperate for it.

May God bless us all with overwhelming joy by our work towards God’s justice.