We had an exciting World Communion Sunday in joint celebration with our friends at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Berea. We also were able to join in prayer via video with Rev. Kent and delegates from the One Great Hour of Sharing and Week of Compassion Delegation in the Middle East.  We prayed together while they visited the Israeli-occupied Palestinian Territories.  You can follow their journey here.  The prayer is below.

Justice Candle: the YWCA of Palestine

We didn’t get a chance to light our Justice Candle this week, so we wanted to light it online.  This candle is made or a former tear gas container, by the YWCA of Palestine, an amazing organization that empowers young women in leadership in a country that is 58% people under 25 years of age.
The YWCA of Palestine is an ecumenical grassroots movement serving women of all faiths. It’s headed by Mira Rizeq, General Secretary of the YWCA, who gives greetings in the video below.
The YWCA of Palestine is affiliated with the World YWCA, which unites 25 million women and girls in over 100 countries.

The YWCA derives its commitment of service from its Christian faith and the motto is “With Love Serve One Another”  The main aims are to promote women’s full and equal participation at all levels of society through leadership opportunities and training; to work for social and economic justice through development and advocacy programs; and to mobilize women’s collective power for action on issues of vital concern: women’s rights, justice, equality, freedom, the dignity of human beings and integrity of their environment. Programs include vocational training programs; training courses in Computer skills, hairdressing and language; children and youth activities such as summer camps; social and cultural activities; income generating projects; and advocacy work in areas such as human rights.  The YWCA headquarters are in Jerusalem. There are three local associations in Jerusalem, Jericho and Ramallah, and three centers in refugee camps: Aqabat Jabr, Jalazone and Kalandia.
We are deeply grateful for their work and honor them as bearers of Christ’s light.

Prayer for World Communion Sunday

This is the prayer written by Rev. Rachel and led by Rev. Kent and the delegation in worship today.  In the blank space, add your own location! Prayers rise like leaven all around the world today.  May peace prevail.
Each of us, God, comes seeking bread:
A kernel of sustenance for our souls,
A morsel of the reminder of your faithfulness to us
And our pledge of faithfulness to you.
As your creation produces a harvest around us,
Fill us each with the health and heart we need to be your bread and body in the world.
 
Lord in your mercy, raise us like leaven and bless us to your service.

Our families and society often feel broken, crumbled,
scattered across a floor like crumbs.
Remind us, O God, that our wholeness is in you,
That you have made of One Loaf all peoples of the earth.
Connect us all in Berea, in __________,
in Israel and every neighborhood in the world.
Lord in your mercy, raise us like leaven and bless us to your service.
 
Around the world, abundance of bread overflows,
In some places, bakers can’t bake fast enough to meet the demand.
Pita and matzoh, rye and baguettes, tortillas and polenta, sadza and injera,
Sustenance like manna decking tables everywhere.
But the baskets of bread are not passed to all.
Forgive us, God, our complicity in systems that starve,
And bring justice that gathers the pieces, that all may be fed at your table.
 
Lord in your mercy, raise us like leaven and bless us.
 
As we sit around the world, on opposite shores of the Galilee,
Gather us into baskets of abundance and grace.
Pour out the wine of compassion and love,
Overflow in us your goodness and mercy,
That we might dip our bread and body into your life-giving blood,
One in union with you and your beloved world.
 
Lord in your mercy, raise us like leaven and bless us.
Amen.