Image
prayer card illustrated with a woman drinking from a chalice: O God,  the source of our belonging to one another,  none of us can give anything to our sisters and brothers  if we have not first of all belonged to you;  Give us your Spirit  in the bond of perfect unity  so that the Spirit may transform us  into a new humanity,  free and united in your love,  through our Lord Jesus Christ,  your Son, who is God,  who lives and reigns with you  in the unity of the Holy Spirit,  world without end. Amen.

Prayer

O God,

the source of our belonging to one another,

none of us can give anything to our sisters and brothers

if we have not first of all belonged to you;

Give us your Spirit in the bond of perfect unity

so that the Spirit may transform us into a new humanity, free and united in your love,

through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who is God,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

(Pilgrim Prayer, 136)

♪          Munezero

(Sing out gladly)

Responsive Psalm 145: 10 – 18

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your faithful shall bless you.

They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power,

to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.


The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.

The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.

You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.

The Lord is near to all who call on him,

    to all who call on him in truth.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end, Amen.

Scripture Reading: John 6: 1 – 21                     

1After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”

15 When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

The Word of the Lord,

Thanks be to God.

Time for Silent Reflection

Prayers of Intercession  

Almighty God, in the name of Jesus we come to you with supplications on behalf of the peoples and churches in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. We know that you are Immanuel, God with us and that you love us all. Remind your people each day of your abiding presence.

Hear our prayers, and have mercy.

Compassionate God, we know that you are not happy when your people are in desperate conditions. You see how hostilities have made them refugees in their own land. You see their plight as they go without enough clothes and food since the gardens are not cultivated because people have left them, and now live in camps far away. Bring relief to your people in their plight.

Hear our prayers, and have mercy.

Merciful God, we come praying for your protection as the people of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda toil each day under burning sun or try to wade through days of heavy rain. We pray for the many children who because of these difficulties do not go to school. With your aid might they overcome this situation.

Hear our prayers, and have mercy.

God of peace, we ask for the fighting to stop and that peaceful resolutions be reached that will alleviate the original causes for the violence. O Lord, we pray for the restoration of peace in these countries so that eventually people can go back to their place and cultivate gardens to feed their families.

Hear our prayers, and have mercy.

God incarnate, we know that you bore the sin of the world at Calvary’s cross. We pray that you will listen and intervene quickly, on behalf of your people and especially children and old people, who are dying every day in refugee camps.

Hear our prayers, and have mercy.

We pray for the young people, in particular those who are weakened every day because of the challenges they face. Lord Jesus, who walked the earth, look, we pray on the displaced peoples’ camps and their unhygienic conditions. Give hope where there is none, for we know that you are the Risen Lord; the King of Kings; the Mighty Saviour; the Prince of Peace. We ask of you to come, Jesus, come and bring us peace.

Hear our prayers, and have mercy.

 (Pilgrim Prayer, adapted, 136)

The Lord’s Prayer

(in the language of our heart)

Benediction

May the grace of Christ our Saviour,

and the Father's boundless love,

with the Holy Spirit's favour,

rest upon us from above.

John Newton (1779)