We are created in God’s ImageThe month of March is dedicated for the women as we commemorate the struggle of the courageous women who fought for equality, justice, peace and development. They have paved the way for us to continue our journey for women’s emancipation. This year once again we would invite the national movements to participate and celebrate the International Women’s Day (IWD) in the National Movements with various activities. The members of the Regional Women’s Committee of WSCF AP have come up with a liturgical material to observe the event.
L: Sisters and brothers;
We are gathered here to celebrate the presence
of the Divine Wisdom among us;
Let us arise and lift up our hearts;
lift up our eyes and;
lift up our voices
The living and moving spirit of God
has called us together in witness, in struggle and in celebration
let’s open our hearts and minds as we reach out towards each other,
as God reaches out toward us.
ALL: God incarnate come to us now
Empower us to liberate, ourselves
To journey from bondage to freedom
From discrimination to equality
From darkness to light
From falsehood to truth
From death to life
God the energizing spirit
Come bind us together
In solidarity and love
In hope and faith
Prod us into action God
To be energizers in this world
So that your reign encompasses
The whole wide world
L: Come, let us worship the Redeemer God, for we are God’s people called to be God’s fellow workers for the redemption of the whole Creation.
L: Dear sisters and brothers
Consciously and unconsciously we have committed sins
If we say, “we have no sin”,
We are deceiving ourselves,
And the truth has no place in us
If we acknowledge our sins,
God is trustworthy and upright,
God will forgive our sins,
And will cleanse us from all evil.
ALL: Our parent God;
In your image we have been created, male and female;
But we have not always seen ourselves and each other as created in your image;
You blessed us and bestowed us responsibility to be the co creator of your creation;
But we failed to work as partners and have treated one another as less than who you created us to be;
We have allowed discrimination, violence and injustice against women, your creation;
We remained silent and did not speak up for the suffering women who cannot speak for themselves;
We confess that we have sinned against you in thoughts, words and deeds, and have failed to build an inclusive community where everyone can experience life in abundance;
God we seek your forgiveness for what we have done to each other; help us to uphold the women who are invisible, silenced, and forgotten;
Transform us to restore and reconcile our relationships to ourselves to each other and with you so that they reflect your love, peace and justice.
Amen
“Kyrie Eleison” (Lord, have mercy)
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Genesis 1:26, 27 & 31
ALL: I believe in God
who created woman and man
in God’s own image
who created the world
and gave both sexes
the care of the earth.
I believe in Jesus
who discussed theology
with a woman at a well
and first confided in her
his messiahship
who motivated her to go and tell
her great news to the city.
I believe in Jesus who received anointing
from a woman at Simon’s house
who rebuked the men guests who scorned her
I believe in Jesus
who said this woman will be remembered
for what she did -
minister to Jesus.
I believe in Jesus who appeared
first to Mary Magdalene
who sent her with the bursting message
GO AND TELL...
I believe in the wholeness
of the Savior
in whom there is neither
Jew nor Greek
slave nor free
male nor female
for we are all one
in salvation.
I believe in the Holy Spirit
the woman spirit of God
who like a hen
created us
and gave us birth
and covers us
with her wings.
(Excerpt from the book “Jesus and the Freed Woman”
By Rachel Conrad Wahlberg)
(During the intercessory prayers please remember the women in your country experiencing violence and pray for a violence-free environment within our homes, churches and society)
The kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Come, Lord, and open in us the gates of your kingdom.
After listening to the whole truth from the suffering woman, Jesus said unto her, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in PEACE and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5:34)
Share this sign of peace and reconciliation with each other by tying the white ribbon to the person next to you as a symbolic action to say NO to violence against women and a sign to demonstrate our solidarity to end all forms of discrimination against women.
Our Parent God who is within us,
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come,
Your will be done Unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits, And we let go.
You support us in our power,
And we act with courage,
For you are the dwelling place within us,
The empowerment around us,
And the celebration among us, Now and forever. Amen.
(Source: ELCA)
SCM Solidarity Song
The song we sing not for ourselves
For those who are oppressed and chained
Build up a new society;
Let’s share and feel with them
Come SCM’s unite be one,
Pull out injustice from this world,
Live with people, build together,
One day we’ll reach a new just world
The way we work not for ourselves,
For those who are oppressed and poor,
Suffer with them and let us know;
That our struggle will win
The life we owe not for ourselves
Women and men work hand in hand
The unity will triumph;
We share the vision and hope.
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