Liturgy
Haiti, my country,
wounded mother I’ll never see.
My family set me free.
Throw my ashes into the sea.
My cousins never born
haunt the nights of Duvalier.
Nothing stops our spirits.
Guns can’t kill what soldiers can’t see.
In the forest we lie hiding,
unmarked graves where flowers grow.
Hear the soldiers angry yelling,
in the river we will go.
All the stillborns form an army,
soon we will reclaim the earth.
All the tears and all the bodies
bring about our second birth.
Haiti, never free,
don’t be afraid to sound the alarm.
Your children are gone,
In those days their blood was still warm.
Congregational Prayer
Father in Heaven,
We are a people well acquainted with grief,
but you, O Lord are still merciful.
Though the earth give way and mountains be removed,
you are still Lord of all.
Words can not express the depths of my people’s sorrow.
We weep and can not be consoled, but today we choose
to believe that you are still faithful.
We choose to believe that joy still comes in the morning.
Imbue us with courage to face the day
Give us the strength to rise once more.
Extend to us charity and justice, peace and truth,
and allow us to always seek your face.
In the name of your son, Jesus, I pray. Amen
– by Haitian-American, Martha St. Jean
Reflection
How are you contributing with your gifts as a part of the Vox body?
What fruit has your gift produced recently?
How does the usage of your gifts reflect the life and humility of Christ?
Are your gifts more prophetic, priestly or kingly?
Benediction
May we go forth into the world in peace;
being of good courage
and holding fast to what is good.
May we render to no one evil for evil,
instead strengthening the faint-hearted;
supporting the weak
and help the afflicted.
May we honor everyone
and love and serve the Lord,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
May we be his church and his people.
We go forth in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Go in peace and live the church. See you throughout the week.
[Photo by . dale . @ Flickr]