Below are some worship resources which you are welcome to use at no charge. Please just use a copyright acknowledgment "Copyright Lisa Frenz 2004. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission."
I used the following websites for material for this service. If the story had a copyright you will have to get the full text from the original source. You may want to find your own stories to share. If you can't find something on the website anymore you might try contacting ELCA Global Mission at GlobalMissionSupport@elca.org. You might also try calling 800/638-3522 ext. 2700, and speaking with a resource information specialist.
ELCA Global Mission:
http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Global-Mission.aspx
Living Lutheran: Lively engagement in faith and life:
http://www.livinglutheran.com/seeds/creative-ways-to-learn-about-elca-global-mission.html#.UQqZa2cmZ8F
Missionary Webpages:
http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Global-Mission/Engage-in-Global-Mission/Support/Hand-in-Hand-Newsletter.aspx
Global Mission Stories:
http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Stories-of-Faith-in-Action/Hope-and-Promise.aspx
http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Global-Mission/Engage-in-Global-Mission/Resources.aspx
Global Mission Events:
http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Global-Mission/Engage-in-Global-Mission/Global-Events.aspx
Order of Worship
Prelude
Call to Worship:
Story: Young girls' efforts raise funds for Stand With Africa
"We like going to carnivals," said Allison, "and we thought it would be fun to do one." So, Allison, age 9, and her friends Samantha (10) and Kathleen (7), all from a Chicago suburb, planned a carnival of their own. ... With no previous connection with the Lutheran church, these three young women contributed to efforts by the church to alleviate hunger, combat HIV/AIDS, and work for justice in Africa through the Stand With Africa campaign.
From Global Mission Stories. Copyright © 2002 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Division for Global Mission
Stand
A: As you walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve,
C: Accompany us, O Lord.
P: As you watched Jacob walk to meet his brother Esau,
C: Accompany us, O Lord.
A: As you led your people through the desert with a pillar of fire,
C: Accompany us, O Lord.
P: As you inspired Ruth to faithfully follow Naomi,
C: Accompany us, O Lord.
A: As you walked with your disciples, healing and preaching,
C: Accompany us, O Lord.
P: As you joined Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus,
C: Accompany us, O Lord.
A: As you traveled with Paul and Timothy on their missionary journeys,
C: Accompany us, O Lord. Amen.
From: "A Service Celebrating Accompaniment" ELCA Global Missions
Song: Tú diste a Israel/God, with a Mighty Hand
Text: Angel Mattos-Nieves; tr. Martin A. Seltz
Music: UNA NUEVA COMUNIDAD, Jose Ruiz
Copyright Administrator: Augsburg Fortress
Cantor Vs.1 Spanish, All Vs.1-4 English
Tú diste a Israel... hacer tu voluntad.
Free from the chains of sin, ... our Lord renews the whole humanity.
Shake the church today, O God; ... news of Christ revealed in saving love.
Now in a troubled time, we hear ... proclaim the peace of God!
P: Let us pray,
C: God, our Companion on the journey, let us not be so caught up in worldly cares that we forget that you are with us everywhere. Open our eyes that we may meet you in the people squashed against us in the crowded bus, in the weary shoppers elbowing their way towards the counter, in the sightseers sauntering along the pavements, in the beggars squatting in their squalid corners, in the noisy children kicking an old tin can, and in the lonely pensioner peering out of a grimy window. O God, our Companion, let us never forget that you are with us everywhere. Amen.
From: "A Service Celebrating Accompaniment" ELCA Global Missions
Sit
Lesson: Acts 11:1-18
Story: Adopting a Baby in Madagascar
Timidly, a young man knocked on the door at the Lutheran Health Center in Vorehe, Madagascar. He wanted to talk to a doctor, and was taken to Dr. Baozandry Justine (Bow-ZANDRY Jus-TEEN), the director of the health center.
He asked Dr. Justine, "Would you be interested in a baby?" Surprised, Dr. Justine asked what he meant. He said, "A baby girl was born at my sister's home. This was the second baby of my sister and her husband. The first child died soon after birth. They are afraid that this baby might die too, so my family consulted a witch doctor. The witch doctor told us that the baby was born on an evil day and would bring bad things to our family, so therefore the baby must be left to die." He continued, "My family did not want to let the baby die, nor did they want to keep the baby, so they sent me here to ask -- would you take the baby?"
Dr. Justine agreed to go with the young man, trekking more than nine miles over dusty dirt roads to the baby's home. Dr. Justine walked into the house. Like most homes in the area, it had one room with a dirt floor. The people here are very poor, and the children have few clothes to wear. As Dr. Justine's eyes adjusted to the dim light, she heard a baby crying. There she was, lying on the floor without clothes or a blanket. She was thirsty and hungry.
Dr. Justine picked up the baby and held her in her arms. She knew she could find a place for this little child of God. Dr. Justine took the little baby back to the Health Center. There, Dr. Justine and the health workers fed and loved the little baby until she became healthy. The baby now lives with Dr. Justine who has adopted her as her own. She named her Fanomezantsoa (Fan-u-MAY-zan-SUE-a), which means "wonderful gift."
From ELCA Global Mission, Global Fun
Song: Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
Text: Albert F. Bayly, 1901-1984, alt., Copyright Administrator: Oxford University Press (New York)
Music: BEACH SPRING, The Sacred Harp, Philadelphia, 1844
Lord, whose love in humble service... ev'ry gift which you impart.
Still your children wander homeless;... your power to our world to make it whole.
As we worship, grant us vision,... your abundant life to share.
Lesson: Revelation 21:1-6
Story: Helping Street Children in Brazil
My name is Ronaldo, and I'm 10 years old. I live in Vila São José, Brazil, which is 15 miles from the center of São Paulo, Brazil's largest city. Every morning I go to the Children's Reconciliation Center. The center is like going to school, but we spend all day there. I love it there so much!
My family and my neighbors barely have enough money for food and rent, and we can't afford to attend the public schools. Before attending the center, I spent each day roaming the streets of my neighborhood, with nothing much to do. Now that I go to the center, I can make a better life for myself and live my dreams.
I get three meals every day at the reconciliation center. Every day we do fun projects. One day we learned all about hippos so that we could make little models of them. I like to go to the library and read books, and to paint, and to play with the other kids.
There are kids here from 7 years old through 16. In another part of town is a program for smaller kids.
I also like chapel, and learning about Jesus at the center. I know that Jesus loves me and that all things are possible through him. I like the teachers because they care about me. And there are lots of grown-ups from the neighborhood who help out here.
My friends and I learn capoeira, which is a traditional Brazilian sport. We also do music and theater. The older kids take classes in woodworking, sewing and other things so that they can get good jobs. Some kids study to go to college-prep schools. When I'm older, I can do these things, too.
I want to thank everyone who prays for us and gives money help make this center.
From ELCA Global Mission, Global Fun
Song: The River Will Rise
Tom Conry, Copyright Admin: Oregon Catholic Press
God of all living and our light, are we not precious in your sight?... deep in the night, when the river will rise.
Refrain: And the river will rise, deep and free;... peace will flow like a river, and the river will rise.
Psalm 148 (spoken responsively)
Story: Learning about Jesus in Senegal
Little Mayram was excited. She had heard that her Uncle Hamidou was bringing a Missionary to her village to teach people about Jesus. His name is Cheerno Mark. "Cheerno" means teacher in Mayram’s language, Pulaar.
Mayram lives in northern Senegal. Her dad herds cattle, sheep and goats. They live in a hay-thatched house that shelters them from the blistering sun in the dry season and the downpours of the rainy season. Mayram helps by taking care of dad’s sheep and goats, pounding millet for dinner and going in the donkey cart with her mom to get water from the well.
It was evening when the pickup truck came up the prairie trail toward Mayram’s village. All of her friends gathered around to welcome Uncle Hamidou and Cheerno Mark. Mats were spread out under the thorn tree. Her aunt made tea on their little charcoal stove. As the stars came out, neighbors arrived for the class.
Mayram saw Cheerno Mark light the kerosene lantern and prop his big blackboard up against the donkey cart. He invited them to join him in prayer, lifting his hands to heaven like they always did. But she noticed he finished his prayer in Jesus’ name. That was different.
Then he opened a holy book and read them the story of the birth of Jesus in her own language. Finally, he unrolled a picture of the baby Jesus in a feeding trough, surrounding by herdsmen like her dad. Cheerno Mark said that Jesus was sent by God from heaven to help all the people of the world. Her Uncle Hamidou said that Jesus loved us, each one.
Mayram fell asleep on the mat, her head against her mom’s knee, before the class ended. When she awoke, Uncle Hamidou and Cheerno Mark had already left and she was sad. "Don’t worry," her mom said. "Uncle Hamidou and the Cheerno are coming back again next week. We can hear more about Jesus then."
From ELCA Global Mission, Global Fun
.Song: The River Will Rise
Tom Conry, Copyright Admin: Oregon Catholic Press
Refrain: And the river will rise, deep and free;... then peace will flow like a river, and the river will rise.
Hear, then, the crying of your own,... this world will hear, deep in the night, when the river will rise. Refrain
Lesson: John 13:31-35
Story: Getting to School in Latvia
Mareks
As baby Mareks slept peacefully, the doctor said that he would never wake up and that he would never walk. He said it would be best to put Mareks in an institution — a place where he would be cared for, but shut out of a real life.
But his parents didn’t give up on Mareks. They worked hard with him and he became a bright boy. When it came time for Mareks to go to school, there was no place for him to go. In Latvia, children with disabilities were not included in any activities. They didn’t play with other children and they didn’t even go to school. They were shut out of society and most lived in institutions.
Kristians
Kristians was born with many health problems. Even with several operations, it was difficult for his parents and doctors to know if he would ever be physically or mentally healthy. His parents occasionally sent him to an orphanage, and over time, his stays became longer and longer. His parents had more babies and it became easier for them to forget about little Kristians. Teachers at the orphanage recognized that Kristians was a very bright boy. They wanted to find a school where he could learn with other children his own age.
The Liepaja Christian school
After the fall of Communism in Latvia, some courageous Latvians wanted to make life better for children with disabilities. One of these leaders is the principal of Liepaja Christian School. They began a partnership with Bethphage, a Lutheran organization that specializes in helping people with disabilities. Bethphage helped the teachers at Liepaja Christian School learn how children with disabilities can go to school side-by-side with other children.
Today, 25 children with disabilities attend Liepaja Christian School, including Mareks and Kristians.
From ELCA Global Mission, Fun to Learn
Stand
Song: The River Will Rise
Tom Conry, Copyright Admin: Oregon Catholic Press
Refrain: And the river will rise, deep and free;... then peace will flow like a river, and the river will rise.
Ev'ry mountain, ev'ry plain,... this world will hear, deep in the night, when the river will rise. Refrain (sung twice)
P: Ubuntu: “a person depends on other people to be a human”.
A: I am
C: Because we are. We are
P: Because Christ is. Created in the image of God
C: We are called to relationship with God.
A: Being baptized into Christ
C: We are brought into the community of saints.
P: Being reconciled to Christ
C: We are called to reconciliation with all creation.
A: As the Spirit gives life
C: Let us live life abundantly.
P: I am
C: Because we are. We are
A: Because Christ is.
C: Ubuntu! Do life!
From ELCA Global Missions “A Service to Lift Up the 2003 ELCA Youth Gathering, ‘Do Life@ Ubuntu!’”
Sit
Music for Meditation & Message
Stand
Prayer Song: The Lord Now Sends Us Forth
Text: anonymous from Central America; tr. Gerhard Cartford, Translationn Copyright Administrator: Augsburg Fortress
Music: ENVIADO, anonymous from Central America
The Lord now sends us forth to serve...make of all the earth a better place to live.
The angels are not sent into our world of pain...Help us, O Lord, to do your will today.
Prayers of the Church
The following Global Mission prayer petitions may also be said.
Lord, we pray for your children in Africa who suffer from HIV/AIDS. Be with their caregivers and family members. Protect and strengthen the thousands of children whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS. Encourage churches, communities, and governments to work together in confronting the HIV/AIDS crisis.
We pray for those in Africa who suffer from hunger. Grant them reliable food sources and favorable weather for crops. We pray for all who work in sustainable development, helping the people of Africa provide food for themselves.
And we pray for peace among the people, the tribes, and the nations of Africa. Be with the refugees who time and again must flee war-torn areas. Comfort the families of victims of war. Guide the people from the way of war into your way of peace.
From ELCA Global Mission “A Service to Lift Up Stand With Africa: A Campaign of Hope”
Gracious God, we pray for everyone in Palestine as they continue to rebuild their country. Strengthen them in their efforts and help them find ways to organize their educational, political, and economic system in a way that will promote unity and stability.
God of Wisdom, your insight and guidance fill our lives. Show us new ways to understand your power and presence within us. Thank you for the church in Palestine, Jordan, and Israel and for those who continue to share your message. Give guidance to Bishop Younan and other Palestinian leaders. Help them preach and minister to the members of the church, that they might understand and share the Holy Gospel in order to strengthen your ministry in Palestine, Joran, and Israel.
God of compassion, we give thanks for your children all across the earth and for the opportunities we have to develop more personal relationships with our global Christian neighbors. We are grateful for the opportunity to reach out with our Palestinian brothers and sisters through prayer and communication, that we might find new meaning in these global connections. Strengthen us in that ministry and help us reach out in a mission of peace.
From ELCA Global Mission “A Service in Support of Companions in Palestine”
C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
Greeting of Peace:
P: As God receives us all in love, let us receive each other in love and share the peace of Christ. Peace be with you.
C: And also with you.
All share Christ’s peace.
Sit
Offering
Stand
Offering Song: We Are an Offering
Text: Dwight Liles
Music: OFFERING, Dwight Liles
Copyright Administrator: Word Music, Inc.
We lift our voices,...we are an offering.
Offering Prayer:
A: Let us pray,
C: God of all, thank you for the life you give me, the goods which you supplied to me, the power to make a difference in this world. Be with me in my daily tasks, my daily joys, my daily sorrows, so that every day, every minute belongs to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Sit
Story: Feeding of the Five Thousand - Cameroon Style
By Charlie Bunk, ELCA Missionary in Cameroon
The year 2002 will be known in our neighboring Mayo-Banyo Division [county] as the year the Fulanis arrived..... One refugee with a very large family, who had lost everything in Nigeria, was presented two sacks of corn. He gave them in turn to his Fulani leader who had arrived with many cows. The leader thanked him and pledged to take the whole family under his care throughout the resettlement period.
All in all, I feel privileged to be placed in this place at this time so I could see this wave of generosity unleashed. Let us pray for God’s guiding hand as these Fulani people seek new homes and pastures in Cameroon.
Postcript: The ELCA Hunger Appeal has donated $10,000 to go to the war refugees. Clothing, medicine, food and cooking utensils will be purchased with this money.
From Global Mission Stories. Copyright © 2002 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Division for Global Mission
Stand
Song: We Come to the Hungry Feast
Text: Ray Makeever
Music: HUNGRY FEAST, Ray Makeever
Copyright Administrator: Augsburg Fortress
We come to the hungry feast hungry for a word of peace... to the hungry feast.
We come to the hungry feast hungry for a world released... to the hungry feast.
We come to the hungry feast hungry that the hunger cease... to the hungry feast.
Eucharist:
P: Lord of all, as you served all people, call us to serve in mission to our neighbors, community, nation and world. Feed us so that we may feed those in need.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Again after supper, he took the cup and after giving thanks, gave it for all to drink, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
Through him, with him and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
Song: We Are Called
Text: David Haas
Music: WE ARE CALLED, David Haas
Copyright Administrator: GIA Publications, Inc.
Come! Live in the Light!...freedom of the city of God.
Refrain: We are called to act with justice...to walk humbly with God.
Come! Open your heart!...blindness will be no more. Refrain
Sing! Sing a new song!...sisters and brothers united in love. Refrain
Sit
Distribution of Communion
Stand
P: Now may the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you always in God’s grace, nourishing you for the work in God’s kingdom.
C: Amen.
Closing Story: Advent–Christmas Newsletter
Dear Friends,
The nacimiento (nativity set) has been set up in the casa de los Rentners, as it has been in many Guatemala homes. The families of La Resurreccion parish in El Tuerto, along with our other congregations, have begun the tradition of Las Posadas, remembering the Holy Family’s search for a home. The traditional words speak to our world:
Innkeepers: Pilgrims:
I don’t care what your name is, My wife is Mary,
just let me sleep! blessed of God,
It’s like I told you, she’s going to be the mother
we’re not open. of the divine Word.
Innkeepers:
Oh, you’re Joseph?
And your wife is Mary?
Enter, pilgrims,
I didn’t recognize you!
Our nativity set was made by a young woman in a very poor village at the bottom of a steep canyon, at the end of a winding road just east of Guatemala City. Cotilde lives in a small, neat house. Like most of the Poco Mam (Mayan) women in this village, she makes pottery for the tourist trade. But no tourists come to this village. Wholesalers come to the village to buy their pottery. They are the ones who make the real money in this transaction.
The Poco Mam people had been forced to fight for the Spanish during the conquest in the early 1500’s (the Spaniards held the women and children hostage and threatened to kill them—under those conditions, the Poco Mam became pretty good warriors). They were relocated to this village, and when the conquest was complete, they were abandoned here, except for the ones who were sent as slaves to the fincas being planted in the area. In 1976 the severe earthquake destroyed much of the village, and those who had a bit of money moved up the hill to Chinautla Nueva. The folks who couldn’t buy land stayed in Chinautla Vieja, down below. At least they are near deposits of clay for their pottery, and they keep a tradition alive—and provide for their families.
I had come from a meeting at the U.S. embassy, and was dressed in my finest as I walked through the dusty streets of Chinautla. The two priests (twin brothers!) who serve the Poco Mam here were delighted to encounter another pastor who serves a church committed to ministry among the poor and forgotten of Guatemala. I and the Lutheran seminarians with me were welcomed like Christian brothers and sisters. And after our visit, they’ll have to make a lot of new pottery.
Their warm welcome was a mirror of that which we had received the day before. After a festive Advent worship at our own congregation, Padre Horacio and I accompanied the Trinity Seminary students and their missions professor to the main service at the cathedral, where we were warmly welcomed during worship by the newly named Cardinal, Rudolfo Quezada Toruño. We received a long, standing ovation from the large crowd. More astonishing was that we were mobbed by well wishers after the service—with hugs, kisses, and kind greetings. Lutherans and Catholics stood together to help bring peace to this tortured country, and that is not forgotten. (At a private meeting two days later Mons. Ouezada decided I was really a well-disguised Guatemalan, because my sense of humor was, like his, pure Guatemalan.)
There have been some disappointments. Vonnie’s illness and heavy rains have kept us from a planned visit to the outlying congregations, where Vonnie was to work on basic sanitation and health issues, together with a Vacation Bible School. There have been successes: the congregation at Tuerto has begun building, and the church at Mirador nears completion. Several new congregations are being welcomed officially. Stephen Deal’s missing files were located (they’d been misplaced during the most recent move of the office)—permitting us to work more efficiently at welcoming visiting delegations. I’m working on a budget with Padre Horacio which contemplates opening more congregations and providing worship space, training for leaders, music and sanitation training. I did my first extended two way translation the other day, and got a vote of confidence from a Peruvian woman, an official of the Organization of American States, who happened to be with us.
Thank you for your prayers and support for the work of this dynamic young church! As we again celebrate the Christ child’s birth, let our hearts and homes be open, and may we recognize the Prince of Peace!
Blessings,
Ron and Vonnie Rentner
ELCA Missionaries to Guatemala From ELCA Missionaries Webpages
Stand
Blessing May God Bless Us/Bwana awabariki TFF 162
Text: Numbers 6:24, adapt.
Music: BWANA AWABARIKI, African
Cantor - Swahili, All - English
ENGLISH
May God bless us and keep us;
may God bless us and keep us;
may God bless us and keep us evermore.
Leader
Revere the Lord,
All
may God bless us and keep us.
SWAHILI
Bwana awabariki,
Bwana awabariki,
Bwana awabariki milele.
Leader
Ukimcha Bwana;
All
Bwana awabariki.
Sit
Community Announcements
Stand
Sending Song: Go, Go My Chosen One
Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III
Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.
Do you see the faces of those whose lives are lost?....I call you in my name!
Refrain: Go, go my chosen one, speak my words... go my chose one.
Do you hear the voices, the cries of the oppressed?... I call you in my name! Refrain
Do you feel the anger, the pains of misery?...I send you in my name! Refrain
A: Go in peace and courage to serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude