WALK OF WITNESS
For the Fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Prayers of the People
(for use on Sunday, September 14 and/or Sunday, September 21, 2008 and/or Sunday, Septembert 28, 2008. The prayers may be led by up to five voices)
Celebrant: On Thursday, September 25 the Anglican Primate and the Lutheran National Bishop will walk/walked through the streets of downtown Ottawa, accompanied by ecumenical partners and others.
Let us join in their Walk of Witness as we pray with them for the fulfillment of the eight Millennium Development Goals:
- To eradicate extreme hunger and poverty;
- To achieve universal primary education;
- To promote gender equality and empower women;
- To reduce child mortality;
- To improve maternal health;
- To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
- To ensure environmental sustainability;
- To develop a global partnership for development.
Let us pray.
Leader 1: We ask that we may witness gladly to God’s loving purpose for the whole human family, made known to us in the Good News proclaimed by the Good Shepherd… [silence]
Leader 1: Jesus said, “I have come that all may have life,
People: And may have it in all its fullness.” (John 10: 10)
Leader 2: We ask that our eyes may be opened to recognize Christ, present among us in the poor and needy of the world who are waiting to be fed… [silence]
Leader 2: Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these,
People: You did it to me.” (Matthew 25: 40)
Leader 3: We ask that we may call expectantly on the Holy Spirit who alone can empower us to make poverty history in our day… [silence]
Leader 3: Jesus said, “I have compassion for the crowd because they have nothing to eat.”
People: The disciples said to him, “Where are we to get bread enough to feed so great a crowd? (Matthew 15: 32 – 33)
Leader 4: We ask that as we are fed at this Eucharist today, we may receive it gratefully as a sign of God’s desire and intent to feed not only us but this whole hungry world. [silence…]
Leader 4: “Jesus took the loaves and the fish; and, after giving thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples.
People: And the disciples gave them to the crowds, and all of them ate and were filled.” (Matthew 15: 36 – 37)
Leader 5: We ask that, with our support and encouragement, our elected leaders may give more generously of all that God has given us as a nation, and that we ourselves may do all that we can to help in the fulfilling of the Millennium Development Goals.
Leader 5: Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
People: And you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
All (singing to the tune Regent Square – Common Praise, No. 143):
“Living Bread come down from heaven,
broken, shared, distributed,
feed us, gathered at this table,
with your grace unlimited,
and as servants then employ us
till this hungry world is fed.
May your Word among us spoken,
may the loving which we dare,
may your Bread among us broken,
may the prayers in which we share
daily make us faithful people,
living signs, Lord, of your care.” Amen.
“Living Word of God Eternal” (vv. 3 and 5), Jeffery Rowthorn
Copyright 1983 Hope Publishing Co.
Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved
