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LITURGY FOR WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
Latin American Anabaptist Women
Theologians
MAY 2012
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Objetives of this gathering:
·
To promote the Women Theologians Movement.
·
To unite in prayer and intercede for our sisters and
brothers from Belize and Bolivia, and Latin American people who live in the
United States.
·
To reflect about transformation as a process of faith.
Have ready:
·
Welcome
sign at the entrance to enhance the liturgy. The sign could have the Women
Theologians’ logo and the title “Transformation as a continual act of faith,” some
photos and /or flags of each country.
·
Vase with
three flowers. One flower is for each
country. This should be placed in the
center of the meeting room.
·
Flowers
for those who will lead in prayer and for each one who participates. They
should be colored to signify life. The
fragrance of the flowers symbolizes our prayers offered to the Lord. As there is life in flowers, God gives life
in caring for the faith communities we serve.
The flowers also represent the cultural diversity that strengthens us
and unites us. (Flowers could be artificial, given the economic situation in
which we live.)
·
Song (in
attachment)
·
A cross if
desired.
·
Symbols
from each region to give a local touch to the table.
·
Brief
power point presentation of each country and their prayer requests.
Opening
1. Welcome:
·
Tell the story of the reasons we have this meeting and emphasize that
this is the third meeting of its kind.
It was started by Latin American women theologians, and this time we are
praying for Belize, Bolivia and Latin American churches in the United States.
·
Opening song (attachment).
2.
Read the Bible passage: 1 Cor. 15:51-58.
(References used during the study: 2 Cor 3.18, Ro. 12:2.)
“Listen,
I will tell you a mystery! We will not
all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we will be changed. First
this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put
on immortality.
When
this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on
immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: ‘Death has been
swallowed up in victory. Where, O death
is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and
the power of sin is the law. But thanks
be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast,
immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in
the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (NRSV
2001)
3. Background of text
Why are we studying this theme? In this last part of Paul’s letter to the
Corinthians, he begins to fight a worrisome teaching that some Christians in
the Corinthian church support. They
allege that there is no resurrection of the dead. Paul takes seriously their mocking questions
and shows how the complete bodily change takes place, both of the living and
the dead in the moment of Christ’s return.
At the end he gives exhortation that shows the confidence he has that
his own work has not been in vain and that the Corinthians will be able to
return to firm ground.
World history of people has been marked by a series
of questions about life and death, resurrection and change in human
beings. What is there after this life?
What is awaiting us? What will happen to
our bodies? Every religion continues
answering these questions from their own beliefs and affirmations of
faith.
In
verse 51, Paul highlights the importance of “a mystery” that will be revealed
immediately. It may be a truth that
until now has been hidden. The surprise
that he has for the Corinthians is that not only the dead need to be changed, the
living also need to experience change without dying. It is a change that allows them to bear the
image of God.
Some
people believe the world will end in 2012.
This is based on the predictions of the Mayan people, but the predictions
of which they speak refer to the end of an era and of the transformation of the
world. In some Christian circles of a number of Latin American countries this
prediction and their understanding of it is causing agitation, unrest and
commotion among the people. Some say it
is right and others say it is wrong. It
is true that through the ages prophets have appeared with have precise dates on
which the world will end and have created discontent in those who have paid
attention to those predictions. It is also true that speculation over such
things can be troubling without doing justice to anyone. But what does this
text that speaks to us on this World Day of Prayer call us to?
Change is
the action and effect of transforming. (To alter the form of something or someone, To change something into
another thing.) The term comes from the Latin word transformatĭo.
It can be
said that change, therefore, is a step from one condition to another. A person can change herself physically through
diets, cosmetic surgery, ways of dressing, etc., or in a spiritual or
symbolical sense when she decides to live at a slower pace, pay less attention
to material things or makes changes such as these. A metaphor of this can be metamorphosis. The change from being a caterpillar in one
phase of the life cycle and a butterfly in another phase can broaden the idea
of transformation. Another metaphor that
helps us understand change is the legend of the eagle. (This idea can be expanded
by reading the attachment.)
Ø
Therefore
the call or invitation in the text really is for the living. It is the possibility of transformation in
life without the need of dying since that is beyond our reach and
understanding. Life is within our
reach. Our thoughts need to be changed
as Paul says in Romans 12:2. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the
will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
The thing
to do is to change or transform our way of thinking, so that this leads to a
new way of acting and of influencing others in our context. It is through transformation and being open
that God’s will can be understood. It is possible to stick to the rules,
practices, and unwritten laws that continue to support oppression and
restrictions of human beings and not allow them freedom. May we be able to accompany and care about
our neighbor - walking with those that
struggle against and suffer from discrimination, with those who are excluded
due to gender, sex, race or religion,
standing by the migrants and the poor in the North as well as in the
South, standing by women who experience different kinds of violence, etc.
In a few
words, can you say, “What did we learn from reflecting on this?”
GUIDE 1. Latin American churches in the United States (Share
important information from the PowerPoint or whatever is chosen.)
HISPANIC PEOPLE LIVING IN
THE UNITED STATES
The Census of the
year 2000 shows that since 1990 the Hispanic population has grown
significantly. There was a growth from
twenty-two million to thirty five and two-tenths million. The total population
of Hispanics in the United States can be divided into two categories: 1) those
born in the United States that are Hispanic descendants or are of an Hispanic
cultural heritage, and 2) Hispanics born outside of the United States that
might or might not be U.S. citizens. While the size of both these Hispanic
groups increased during the last decade, there was an uncommonly high growth in
numbers of the Hispanic group born outside the United States.
Prayer
requests: (Each person or guide previously chosen to be in charge of intercessory
prayer goes to the center of the room to place her flower in the vase and from
that location offers a prayer.)
·
We pray for a miracle, a just migrant reform for those that are
undocumented in this country.
·
For a cease of deportation of undocumented people who have no criminal
record.
·
For the families that are being separated.
·
For boys and girls born in the United States that remain in the hands of
social services because their parents have been deported.
·
For the extreme poverty of Hispanics in this country.
·
For racial discrimination and abuse of Hispanic workers at their work
places.
·
For a migrant law that allows undocumented youth access to higher
education or the same academic training as those that are not immigrants.
·
For a stop to domestic violence that increases every day among Hispanic
people and that has reached our Christian congregations.
·
That our Hispanic pastors provide an opportunity for women in the
congregations to carry out their calling.
·
For the rate of unemployment that also affects the churches.
·
For the lack of housing for Hispanic families.
·
For the high rate of divorce in Hispanic families in the churches.
·
For single mothers and fathers raising their children.
·
For health care services for immigrants.
·
For a cancelation of laws being established favoring homosexuality and
lesbianism.
·
For the cancelation of ordinances and laws that don’t allow Christian
churches to rent rooms in public school buildings for worship services to
praise God.
GUIDE: “We approach
your throne of grace with confidence patiently awaiting your gracious answer to
our petitions. In the same way the sower
awaits an abundant harvest from the soil.
As we wait, we find strength in our hearts through the hope of your
second coming.
CONGREGATION: “Yes,
Amen, Lord Jesús. “
Sing the
first verse of the suggested song (attachment)
GUIDE 2. Bolivia (Share important information about
the country.)
The official name is Estado
Plurinacional de Bolivia (State Consisting of Several Nationalities of
Bolivia). It is a country located in the
Central Eastern part of South America.
It borders Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru. It is one of the countries of the world with
the greatest biodiversity. Some of its
beauties are Lake Titicaca, which it shares with Peru. It has the highest navigable lake in the
world. Bolivia had a population of
approximately ten and a half million in 2010.
It is a multiethnic, multicultural country that is rich in a mixture of
traditions and folklore of its racially mixed, indigenous people from the altiplano (high plains) and Guarani
speakers in hot tropical valleys.
Prayer requests: (Each person or guide previously chosen to be in
charge of intercessory prayer goes to the center of the room to place her
flower in the vase and from that location offers a prayer.).
·
That there may be more interest among
the women in this project of the women theologians.
·
For more women leaders within the
churches.
·
For our Bolivian women that are
victims of violence in general, and that as a church we may do something about
it.
·
That the current monthly meetings of
all the women would continue and that
the group would be strengthened.
·
For our churches and especially for
the pastors’ wives, that they may be a suitable help in our churches each day.
GUIDE: “We approach your throne of grace with
confidence patiently awaiting your
gracious answer to our petitions in the
same way the sower awaits an abundant harvest from the earth. As we wait, we find strength in our hearts
through the hope of your second coming.”
CONGREGATION: Yes, Amen, Lord Jesus. “
Sing the
next two verses of the suggested song.
GUIDE 3. Belize (Share important information about
the country,)
Belize is located in the extreme Northeast
of Central America. Its border joins Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west,
and Honduras to the south across the gulf.
Its capital is Belmopan. Belize
City is the ancient capital. It is the
main urban area and also the main seaport of the country.
The dominant
languages are Spanish and Belizean creole.
Belize is the only country in Central America in which the official
language is English. The population in
2011 was 322,000. While 60% of Belize is
covered by jungle, recent studies show that that 20% of the land is in
cultivation and human settlement.
Savannahs, shrub land and wet land make up the rest of the land. Belize is an important part of the Mesoamerica
biological corridor and has great biodiversity in the ocean as well as on the
land. It is rich and abundant in flowers and fauna. Belize is proactive in the protection of
biodiversity and natural resources.
Prayer requests: (Each person or guide previously chosen to be in
charge of intercessory prayer goes to the center of the room to place her
flower in the vase and from that location offers a prayer.)
·
For abandoned
women.
·
For broken
homes.
·
That more
women leaders would have a place to serve in their churches.
·
For the
outbreak of violence in the country.
·
For the
physical and psychological violence that families and women experience.
GUIDE: “We approach your throne of grace
with confidence patiently awaiting your gracious answer to our petitions in the
same way the sower awaits an abundant harvest from the earth. As we wait, we find strength in our hearts
through the hope of your second coming.
CONGREGATION:
“ Yes, Amén, Lord Jesús. “.
GUIDE 4. This person calls attention to the vase in
which there is a variety of flowers. There is variety in our prayers. We ask the Lord to receive different prayers
for faith communities in Bolivia, Belize and Hispanic people in the United
States. ,
Sing both
verses of the suggested song.
Song: Since all the verses of the suggested song.
Give a
blessing and farewell words.
SUGGESTED
SONG
For the
troubles and the sufferings of the world,
God we call
upon your mercy,
The whole
creation’s laboring in pain!
We pray for
peace,
The blessed
peace that comes from making justice,
To cover and
embrace us,
Have mercy
Lord!
Lend an ear
to the rising cry for help
From
oppressed and hopeless people.
Come! Hasten your salvation, healing love!
We pray for
power,
The power
that will sustain your people’s witness:
Until your
Kingdom come, Kyrie eleison!
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We thank the following people for their work
in creating this liturgy:
·
Alix
Lozano for the composition of the reflection, and Milka for suggestions for it.
·
Ofelia
Garcia for the suggestion of resources for developing the liturgy.
·
Olga
Piedrasanta for information about the countries, corrections and suggestions.
·
Rebeca
Gonzalez for the promotional logo, integration of the materials and follow
up.
Those who
contributed information about each country and gave prayer requests:
·
Tania Meléndez, Coordinador of the USA Hispanic
Mennonite Women’s Conference - Taniasamir7@aim.com
·
Elizabeth Masavi, Sinai Bolivian Mennonite
Church elizabeth_masavi_13@hotmail.com
·
Ramón
Castellanos, Belice Mennonite Church
ramoncastellanos27@yahoo.com
IMPORTANT NOTE:
After you have carried out the liturgy in May,
we ask you to send summaries and testimonies of this time to Ester Bornes to
be put in the blog. This way everyone may receive enrichment.
e-mail : esterbornes@hotmail.com
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