Liturgy

Family Week 2010

Liturgy Celebrating Social Inclusiveness in Family Week 2010

Prepared by Margaret McCarthy

(This could form part of a Eucharistic Celebration or be used as a prayer celebration.)

FW2010-mother-daughterINTRODUCTION

As school communities, we have the opportunity to create inclusive village environments where all children/young people and their families are welcome.

Let us celebrate who we are. We pray for the wisdom to know ourselves and for the courage to reach out with respect and care for others.

OPENING HYMN/SONG

GATHERING PRAYER

God, creator of all, you reach out in love and compassion to each of us. Open our hearts and minds to all who are a part of this school community. Show us how to reach out in friendship to each person. Give us the courage to be welcoming and inclusive of all people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OF RECONCILIATION

LEADER: We pray to God who reached out in acceptance of all people.
Lord have mercy.

  • Lord Jesus, Saviour of the little ones, the disadvantaged, the sick, the lonely and oppressed: Lord, have mercy.
  • Christ Jesus, you make us children of God by showing us how to reach out to others. Christ, have mercy.
  • Lord Jesus, you will come again to bring justice and peace into the world. Lord, have mercy.

FIRST READING: The Micah Call (Micah 6:8)

READER: You have already been told what is right and what Yahweh asks of you. Only this, to live justly, to love kindly and to walk humbly with your God.

RESPONSE: Psalm 67 verses 1-7
May God be gracious to us and bless us.

GOSPEL: Mark 9: 30-37
If anyone wants to be first he must make himself last of all and servant of all. He then took a little child…

or Matthew 28:16-20
Go to all people everywhere, even to the ends of the earth.

HOMILY/ REFLECTION

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL WITH A SYMBOLIC ACTION

(Symbols of Inclusion are brought forward – brainstorm suggestions)

LEADER: We bring forth symbols of our willingness to welcome, respect and show inclusiveness to all people in our community and beyond. Merciful and welcoming God hear us as we pray.

READER: We pray that the leaders of our Church and School community may act with justice, love tenderly and walk humbly with God. Lord hear us.

ALL:     Welcoming God, hear our prayer.
Symbols of leadership eg. Bible, Leaders’ Name badges.

READER: We pray that we will recognise and revere your presence in each person we meet. Lord, hear us.

ALL:     Welcoming God, hear our prayer.
Symbols acknowledging Christ’s presence in others. eg. collage of faces.

READER: We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of  this land and give thanks for the variety of cultures, ages and personalities that form our community. Lord, hear us.

ALL:     Welcoming God, hear our prayer
Symbol of variety of cultures eg. variety of breads that represent food from different cultures, globe, aboriginal  symbol.

READER: We pray for those in our community who may experience exclusion because they are different in some way. Give us the courage to be welcoming to every person. Lord, hear us.

ALL:     Welcoming God, hear our prayer
Symbol of the cross.

READER: We pray for the staff of Centacare Catholic Family Services as they continue to support families in all their diversity.  Give us the generosity to Dare to Care with them. Lord hear us.
ALL:     Welcoming God, hear our prayer
Symbol of Centacare poster, or a donation to support Centacare’s work.

LEADER: Welcoming God, may we have the respect and courage to include and welcome others by our words and actions.
We ask this in the name of Jesus who deliberately reached out to those who were lonely, unloved or different in some way.

ALL: Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

LEADER: Let us listen to the Lord’s Prayer in a few different languages before we pray as one to God who provides for us.
Prepare 2/3 children to pray in their language or according to their tradition.

SIGN OF PEACE

LEADER: Let us bow our heads in quiet prayer for peace in our local and world community. We now give each person near us a sign of peace.

BLESSING

ALL:      May God be gracious to us and bless us,
May God’s face shine on us.
May God bless us as we go to give care and respect to each person we meet.
Amen.

LEADER: Go into your community to bring peace. Have the courage to be kind, the wisdom to appreciate yourself and others, and the joy to celebrate similarities and differences. Go to be inclusive of all people.

CLOSING HYMN

Resources

Music Suggestions

  • Act Justly (Trish Watts & Monica O’Brien – As One Voice Vol 1)
  • A New Heart For A New World (Trish Watts & Monica O’Brien – As One Voice Vol 1)
  • Bring Forth The Kingdom (Marty Haugen - As One Voice Vol 2)
  • God Has Chosen Me (Bernadette Farrell – Gather Australia & As One Voice – Vol1)
  • Love Is The Greatest Gift (Monica Brown – God Delights In You)
  • Peace Prayer (John Foley – Gather Australia)
  • People of Peace (Carey Landry – Companions on the Journey)
  • Prayer for Peace (David Haas – As One Voice for Kids)
  • The Harvest of Justice (David Haas – As One Voice Vol 2)

Liturgy Planning Images - updated - Hymns & Songs
He Lives In You -Contemporary Song, from The Lion King, Youth, The Spirit .... To Change - Contemporary Song, John Mayer, Youth, Harmony Day