Welcome to Worship!

We are glad you joined us today.

Service Theme:  Sharing Food with the Hungry 

 Isaiah 58: 6-12

6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Preparation - Andrew Morley, World Vision

 

Child Interviews - Andrew Morley, Genoveva, and Emmanuela

 

Call To Worship - 

Leader: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 

Congregation: And also with you. 

Leader: The risen Christ is with us.

Congregation: Praise the Lord!

Leader:  Triune God, we gather in Jesus name. We respond with obedience to your guidance and promises to us in the book of Isaiah, Chapter 58, verses 6 to 12:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

And the people of God said:

Congregation:   Amen!

 

Silent Prayer & Reflection

We will observe 30 seconds of silent prayer and quiet lament in observance of the extreme challenges facing the world’s most vulnerable children.

 

Worship Through Music - The Brilliance - Does Your Heartbreak

When the walls fell
And the hungry child
Cried out for help

Did you hear the sound?
Did your heart break?
Does your heart break now?

Cannot feel it in my soul
Cannot see you I'm alone
Can the blind have sight, have sight?

When you see us all alone
Can you hear your people Lord?
Can the blind have sight, have sight?

The world is burning as you're standing by
Are you watching, as your children die?
Did your heart break?
Does your heart break now?

Cannot feel it in my soul
Cannot see you I'm alone
Can the blind have sight, have sight?

Does your heart break?

When the heart breaks,
Does your heart 

 

Prayer of Confession - Alistair Dutton, Caritas Internationalis

When we ignore the beauty of creation,

How terrible it is for us.

When trees are torn down and forests become deserts,

How terrible it is for us.

When bees die and mango trees no longer have fruit,

How terrible it is for us.

When we mine the land for its gold and oil yet millions have no food,

How terrible it is for us.

When we know what we should do yet we walk the other way,

How terrible it is for us.

For we bring God’s anger upon ourselves, and we walk into outer darkness.

*Pause for a moment of Silence*

God of all creation, hear the confession of our hearts.

Send your spirit to renew the whole creation

As we proclaim the everlasting love of your Son.

Amen

Source: Spiritual Life Resources of the 10th WCC Assembly in Busan, South Korea

 

Prayer for Children and Families - Rev. Protopresbyter Dr. Nicolas Kazarian - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Loving God,

As we gather, we come with hearts open and eager to connect with you and with one another. We bring our prayers and reflections, knowing that you hear us and are present with us wherever we are.

Today, we join in solidarity with others around the world, praying and acting against hunger. We recognize that there are many who do not have enough to eat, and we hold them in our thoughts and prayers.

We pray for all the children and families who go to bed hungry each night, for those who struggle to find nourishment and sustenance. May they experience your love and provision, and may their needs be met.

We also pray for the organizations and individuals working tirelessly to alleviate hunger and poverty. Grant them wisdom, resources, and strength as they seek to make a difference in the lives of those who are suffering.

Help us, dear God, to be compassionate and responsive to the needs of others. Inspire us to take action, both big and small, to combat hunger and injustice in our communities and in the world.

As we worship and reflect together today, may our hearts be filled with gratitude for the abundance we have been blessed with.

May we never take for granted the food on our table and the provision in our lives.

Guide us, O Lord, in our actions and choices, that we may be instruments of your love and justice. Teach us to share generously, to be mindful of our neighbours, and to work towards a world where all are fed and cared for.

We offer this prayer in faith and hope, trusting in your goodness and mercy.

Amen.

 

Prayer of Praise - Anglican Communion

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.  Let us give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Heavenly Father,

We praise Your Holy name that You are both our Provider and our Provision.  You give us all that we need for both our physical and spiritual needs.

You are faithful to who you are and to all that you say.  We gratefully acknowledge your faithful provision in our lives.  We remember how you’ve provided for us in the past.

We thank you that you are a God who freely gives us hope.  You are fully capable of meeting our needs, the needs of your children and the needs of your creation.  Even now in our waiting, we celebrate, praise and thank you for your love, for your mercy, for your sovereignty.

It’s in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that we pray.

Amen.

 

Worship Through Music - The Brilliance - See The Love 

Everyday

We go to war again

We assume we know so much more then them

Before we hear what they have to say

Headline breaks

We start to hate again

Calling them names again

We give our peace away

I hope they see it

Cause I wanna see it

I hope we believe it

I wanna see

I wanna see the love

All around you

All around you

I wanna know

I wanna know

That love

Is all around you

It's all around you

Shout!

Day by day

Hope fades away and then

We know

That there is pain within

We cannot medicate

Learn to feel

Learn to begin again

Open our eyes again

To see our brother's pain

I hope they see it

Cause I wanna see it

I hope we believe it

I wanna see

I wanna see the love

All around you

All around you

I wanna know

I wanna know

That love

Is all around you

All around you

See how it lights you up

It lights you up

See how it lights you up

It lights you up

See how it lights you up

It lights you up

I wanna see

I wanna see the love

All around you

All around you

I wanna know

I wanna know

That love

Is all around you

It's all around you

 

Morning has broken like the first morning

Blackbird has spoken like the first bird

Praise for the singing, praise for the morning

Praise for them springing fresh from the world

 

Prayer for Action - Rev. James Bhagwan, World Council of Churches

Lord God

We come together today and acknowledge that you are our Creator, Sustainer and Judge.

Help us to live in your world, your way and please forgive us when we all short of your best.

Forgive us when we have not shared what we have for fear of not having enough.

Forgive us for not relying on you for our daily bread.

Forgive us when we have not loved our neighbour.

Help us, Lord God to commit to a right and better relationship with food. In the bounty of your good creation, we know that there is enough for all. 

Today, in your grace and love, we commit to the following ten principles to guide us:

We shall give thanks for the food we eat.

We shall eat food grown as close as possible to where we live.

We shall strive for all people to have knowledge about and access to affordable food, nutritious food.

We shall eat mindfully and in moderation. 

We shall not waste food.

We shall be grateful to those who grow and prepare food for our tables.

We shall support fair wages for farmworkers, farmers and food workers. 

We shall reduce the environmental damage of land, water and air from food production and the food system.

We shall protect the biodiversity of seeds, soils, ecosystems and the cultures of food producers.

We shall rejoice and share the sacred gift of food with all.

Help us Lord God to share what we have knowing that there is more enough to go around.

Help us Lord God to rely on you for our daily bread each new day.

Help us Lord God to know that loving our neighbour is part of loving you - our good Father in heaven who knows how to give good gifts to His children. 

Help us, Lord God to invite your perfect love to overshadow us and cast away all our fears

We say again, in the bounty of your good creation, we know that there is enough for all. 

In the name of Jesus we pray,

Amen

 

Benediction - Simon Chambers, ACT Alliance

Go forth and share food with the hungry.

Go forth and provide the wanderer a shelter.

God will guide you always

and you will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit

be with you all.

Amen

 

Thank you for coming.