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advent week three
strength and hope with faith
Christian World Service | 65th Christmas Appeal
joy
Readings
Isaiah 35:1-10
We light the Candle of Joy
James 5: 7 – 10
Matthew 11:2-11
Call to Worship
Loving God, in this world there are
So many distractions
So much noise
People always in a hurry
Immersed in busy-ness and empty chatter
What we be looking for, Lord?
How do we learn to listen to you, Lord?
Where do we discover your gentle presence?
How do we recognise your call?
How do we follow your way, Lord?
Open our ears to your words for us
Open our eyes to your ways among us
Open our hearts to your love for us.
Come Gracious God, Be present among us
This morning, this Advent and forever.
Amen
Thank you, Loving God, for the good news of the Gospel
A child will be born among us
And he will set us free –
Free from the bondage of poverty
Free from the pain of hunger
Free from the despair of destruction
May our hearts rejoice in his coming,
Coming to all of us.
Open our hearts to the joys of this moment.
We light the Candle of Joy at the Good News of God
among us.
joy
hope
Haiti
Prayer
Following the devastating January 12 Haitian earthquake, Christian
World Service media officer, Greg Jackson, was seconded to Haiti.
This is his story of the healing power of a handshake.
We pray for all the people who have endured so much
suffering from conflict and disaster. We especially pray
for the people of Haiti that they will find the strength
and determination to rebuild the infrastructures of
their country. We pray that no one will be left out in this
massive effort to build a new fair and prosperous nation
our of the ashes of despair and destruction. Empower
our partners in the ACT Alliance to provide the necessary
supplies and assistance that will enable Haitians to regain
hope and joy in their lives.
There are many hidden fractures and fragile fault lines
in the souls of the survivors of the Haiti earthquake. The
churches lie in ruins, but the people still meet to worship
in the rubble. There are more people worshipping
now than before the earthquake. In the face of colossal
destruction faith proves a valuable support.
Through our membership of the Act Alliance (Action by
Churches Together), CWS and our 20 related partners
are working on the ground in Haiti, helping more than
341,000 people. This help has ranged from the basics like
food, water and shelter through to psychosocial healing
for wounded souls.
The psychosocial workers we met told us early on
that the levels of trauma in post earthquake Haiti were
extreme. The impact had proven particularly hard on
the children. Play and song in a safe setting are a way of
providing a level of therapy and release. Other healing
experiences were more unexpected.
“A visit from the outside world helps validate us. You
are showing by the fact that you are here that the world
values us and recognises our pain,’’ we were told. So
when we went to see the psychosocial sessions of play
and song we learnt to shake young hands. Hundreds
of them, reaching out for the contact with respectful
strangers from overseas.
Haiti is a deeply conservative land. For a visiting adult
male your handshake rations will be boys only... the girls
enjoy a “bonjour” and a giggle... a handshake is far too
forward. So we shook hands. Small hands, large hands,
firm hands, softer wondering hands. In the midst of
hands, I was aware that I was but an ambassador of the
generosity of New Zealanders who were far away, and that
I was shaking the hopeful hands of Haitians on
your behalf.
Together we helped hundreds of Haitian youngsters on
the road toward healing and confidence. On their behalf,
“thank you.”
Amen.
Blessing
With the love of God
May we be warmed and welcomed
With the Justice of Jesus
May we be challenged and made whole
With the breath of the Spirit
May we be filled with courage and life.
Amen
(Praying for the Dawn, Wild Goose Publications, 2000:185)
Hymns
AA33
AA47
AA 66
AA98
AA155
WOV56
WOV564
WOV571
WOV669
CH4 336
Eternal Spirit of the living Christ
God is the one whom we seek together
I know someone who watches over me
Not on a snowy night
Where mountains rise
Amazing Grace
Forgive our sins
A New Commandment
Light of the World
Christ is our Light
Christian World Service
www.christmasappeal.org.nz
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