Reconciliation Service
Opening Song Create in Me (Marty Haugen)
All sing: Create in me, a clean heart, O God.
Welcome and Introduction
The topic of climate justice as the subject for a Service of Reconciliation is relevant to us today as the causes and remedies bring out values such as courage, imagination, compassion, generosity and commitment. The Trócaire campaign for 2015 features climate change and the all to justice. In addition this issue brings us face to face with human weaknesses such as selfishness, carelessness, laziness, ingratitude, wastefulness, indifference, prejudice and intolerance. In this service we will explore the basic idea of reconciliation with God and our global neighbours.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray,
All say: Compassionate and understanding God, loving creator of all, we ask your help as we take this step on our journey of reconciliation home to you. Open our hearts to your boundless love and mercy. Give us the courage to walk into your loving embrace where we can be restored, refreshed and renewed. We ask this, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Genesis 1:11-13
Reading 1. God said, ‘Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants, and fruit tree bearing fruit with their seed inside, on the earth’. God saw that it was good.
All say: Lord, forgive me and help to change
Genesis 1:20-21
Reading 2 God said, ‘Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let the birds fly above the earth within the vault of heaven’. God saw that it was good.
All say: Lord, forgive me and help to change
Genesis 2:16-17
Reading 3 Then God gave the man this admonition, ‘You may eat indeed of all the trees in the garden. Nevertheless of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you are not to eat, for on that day you eat of it you shall most surely die’.
All say: Lord, forgive me and help to change
Celebrant: Gracious God, you know the secrets of our hearts. Your constant patience with our ungrateful actions in relation to your gift of created life makes us resolve to change our ways and be pro-active in protecting the environment you placed in our care. Give us the courage to change ourselves and the resolution to work with others to make a difference and to avert the disaster of climate change that will affect the most vulnerable in the world today.
Communal Act of Penance
All stand and say: O my God, I thank you for loving me, I am sorry for all my sins, for not loving others and for not loving you. Help me to live like Jesus and try not to sin again. Amen.
Individual Confession and Absolution
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Prayer
All say: Lord, we thank you for the gift of your forgiveness that lightens our step and lifts the burden of guilt from our shoulders.
Lord, we thank you for the gift of your forgiveness that now enables us to open our hearts to others in a spirit of reconciliation.
Lord, we thank you for the gift of your forgiveness that encourages us to walk your path of truth and justice.
Blessing May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live deep within your heart. Amen.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, equality and peace. Amen.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy. Amen.
And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done. Amen.
May Almighty God bless you……
Recessional Song Walk in the Light
All sing: Let’s all join together in communion sweet
Walk, walk in the light.
And love one another till the Saviour we meet,
Walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light, walk in the light,
walk in the light, walk in the light. of love.