Prayers for Christian Aid Week TOGETHER WE RE STRONGER THAN THE STORMS. Kingdom prayer Holy God, In your Kingdom the strong need the weak, the rich are transformed by the poor, the fortunate are welcomed by the homeless. Your Kingdom is built by those who expect their God to come. A prayer for the building of God s Kingdom Give us, Lord God, a vision of your Kingdom as your love desires it: a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry, a world where life is shared, and enjoyed by all, a world where all races, nations and cultures live in tolerance and respect, a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love. Give us the inspiration and courage to build your Kingdom here and now. A prayer for displaced people Lord of the journey, we ask for your protection for all who have fled their homes. Grant them strength on their journeys, that they may find places of compassion at which to rest. Ease their fear as they throw in their lot with strangers. God of all the world, keep alive their vision of returning to a secure and welcoming home. Christian Aid/Peter Graystone Pocket Prayers for Peace and Justice The prayer for Thy Kingdom Come Almighty God, your ascended Son has sent us into the world to preach the good news of your Kingdom: inspire us with your Spirit and fill our hearts with the fire of your love, so that all who hear your Word may be drawn to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Commissioning prayer You might want to use this to commission your Christian Aid Week collectors. Loving God, today we join thousands of others by stepping out in mission for the world s poorest people. As Jesus prayed to you before sending out the disciples, we pray now that our words, actions and deeds will bring your Kingdom closer. We pray for the Spirit to fill us with yearning, and the courage to live out your love for the world a love so strong that you gave your only Son. As Jesus entrusted his disciples with his mission to the world, we pray that we, who have felt your love s transforming power, will bear witness to that love. God, your people are homeless. God, send us. God, your people are hungry. God, send us. God, your people are oppressed. God, send us. God, your people are ignored. God, send us. God, your people are afraid. God, strengthen us as we go. We pray that, as we reach out to our sisters and brothers around the world, justice and hope will flourish in our own community. 1
Prayer points Pray for all those like Marcelin and his daughters who live in fear of the next disaster, and who are vulnerable to the storms. Pray for our partners working in Haiti. Pray for their preparation for disasters, which saves lives. Pray for their immediate response of shelter and food to those who need it most. Pray for their commitment to piecing lives back together by building new homes and giving out seeds and farming tools. Pray that we and our government will make climate change, which hits our neighbours like Marcelin hardest, a priority. Pray that we will act swiftly to protect the weakest from the devastation it brings. Pray that the UN listens and responds to our call to uphold and protect the rights of all people on the move especially those who remain within their own country. Give thanks for the thousands of churches and people who will step out in mission this week. Give thanks for their witness of love for every person, made unique and equally loved by God. Pray for people you know (family, friends or maybe someone you know in your own community) to come to know the transforming love of Jesus. Building God s Kingdom As a Christian organisation, we believe the world can and must be changed to reflect God s Kingdom here on earth. Many people in our world today are hungry, thirsty, or without shelter. We stand alongside our neighbours people of all faiths and none to share our hope for a fairer world. Each May, we invite you to join with us during Christian Aid Week to give, act, and pray and help end poverty. This year, Christian Aid Week falls within Thy Kingdom Come, an ecumenical global prayer movement throughout the 11 days between Ascension Day and Pentecost. Thy Kingdom Come invites Christians to pray for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit so that we become effective witnesses to Jesus love in the world. Prayer stations There is one prayer station for each prayer theme of Thy Kingdom Come you can leave these in an open space during the 11 days, or use them in gathered prayer time. Make sure you #PledgeToPray at thykingdomcome. global Each page below has instructions, a short list of what you will need, and text for a prayer station. Print pages 3-13 single-sided, and place the boxed text at each prayer station. You ll also need bowls of toy bricks for each station as well as some background music to help people feel comfortable. The stations will work best in the order suggested make sure that #ThyKingdomCome is the final station that people visit. If you re using the prayer stations in a gathering, leave out the #PrayFor and #Help stations. Instead, finish your time by coming together to build a symbolic Home of Hope. To do this, simply download enough bricks of hope for everyone at caweek.org/resources Eng and Wales registered charity no. 1105851 Company no. 5171525 Scot charity no. SC039150 Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 Company no. NI059154 and ROI charity no. 20014162 Company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance. Christian Aid January 2018. J43513 2
#ToJesus Pick up a Bible and open it at Acts 2. Read verses 36 to 47. Sometimes reading from a Bible translation we aren t familiar with can reveal things we hadn t noticed before. Do any words or phrases catch your attention? Read the same passage from another Bible do you notice anything new? Did you notice verse 39? Peter says: For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him. Quietly pray for your family and neighbours, near and far. Kingdom prayer Holy God, In your Kingdom the strong need the weak, the rich are transformed by the poor, the fortunate are welcomed by the homeless. Your Kingdom is built by those who expect their God to come. #ToJesus A selection of Bibles. A table with a couple of comfy chairs. To focus on one passage in the gospel, while allowing unfamiliar translations to open our eyes to things we hadn t noticed before. Try and find a variety of translations, including a selection of children s Bibles. You may like to bookmark the page to make it easier for people to find. If you can t find a variety of translations, you could print the passage out from an online Bible. 3
#Praise As individuals, communities, and the whole of creation, we praise God s goodness and greatness. Read Psalm 145. Add a word that comes to you, either from the psalm or one of your own, to the scrabble board. Your word might join to another, just like a game of scrabble. Your praise, and the praise of others, combines in communal praise to God. next prayer station. #Praise A scrabble set. A selection of Bibles. To praise God as individuals and as a community. Say thanks for God s goodness and our hope in the everlasting Kingdom. 4
#Thanks Vilia and her family lived in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake hit in 2010. Her home was destroyed, and her mother was killed. Vilia went back to her hometown in the south of Haiti with her husband and seven children. But life was a struggle, and they had nowhere safe to stay. Christian Aid s partner KORAL realised how dire Vilia s situation was, and reached out to help her. We built her a new home, one safe and strong enough to stand up to natural disasters. On that terrifying night in 2016 when Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti, Vilia s house was the only one in her area sturdy enough to survive. One by one, her neighbours fled to her house and she welcomed them in. 54 people sheltered safely from the hurricane in Vilia s house she potentially saved 54 lives that night. She said: I formed a chain of solidarity so we could eat together and share together until they went back to their own homes, or found a shelter. Vilia is incredibly grateful for the help she s received, and she s used it to help others. Faced with incredibly difficult challenges, Vilia finds her strength in God: I stay connected with God, I pray. I pray every time something like this happens Only God can do anything in these situations. There s nothing that our God cannot do. Take a moment to reflect on the blessings in Vilia s life and in your own. Draw a picture of something that represents one or more of these blessings. #Thanks A large sheet of paper, or an old roll of wallpaper. A selection of coloured pens. To thank God for the blessings in Vilia s life and our own lives. Place the text below next to a large sheet of paper. You could draw a large heart on the paper for people to write inside. 5
#Sorry Did you know? Two and a half million Haitians live in extreme poverty. Climate change threatens more than 500,000 Haitians every year. Fewer than half the households in Haiti have access to safe water. Only a quarter of Haitian households have adequate sanitation. Haiti is at huge risk of natural disasters. It s on several faultlines, so earthquakes are common. Climate change is making storms and hurricanes more frequent and more devastating. Erratic rainfall means some communities face extreme drought, while others struggle with flash flooding. Widespread deforestation has made flooding worse and is eroding soil, ruining farmers harvests. Sanitation is poor in Haiti s cities Port-au-Prince is the largest city in the world without a sewer system, so water-borne diseases spread easily. Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said: Who can stop climate change? We can. We have a responsibility to do so that began when God commanded the earliest human inhabitants of the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it. To keep it; not to abuse it, not to destroy it. Reflect on how climate change impacts the people of Haiti. The circle on the paper represents the world: in it, write your own contributions to climate change. Can you make a commitment to God to change one aspect of your lifestyle today? Write that in the circle too. #Sorry A globe, a map or image of the world. A large sheet of paper. A selection of pens. To reflect on the injustices in our world and repent for how we ve contributed to them. To consider how our lifestyle affects our planet, and what effect God wants us to have. Identify Haiti on your map of the world. Draw a large circle on the paper to represent the world, and leave some pens out next to it. 6
#Offer After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Rev Clément Joseph, who runs one of Christian Aid s partner organisations, set up four camps for those made homeless by the earthquake. The camps which Clément s organisation set up in the grounds of churches provided urgently-needed shelter for over 20,000 people. One evening, Clément met Benito, a 24-year-old man from the Dominican Republic, who was sleeping rough. Assuming he had been visiting Haiti when the earthquake hit, Clément asked him how he had managed to survive. To Clément s surprise, Benito told him that he had actually travelled to Haiti to live alongside people displaced by the earthquake. He had wanted to send money to help, but because his family was poor and he didn t work, he had nothing to give. So Benito came to be with the Haitians and to share their suffering. We re part of the church of Jesus Christ. Christians are called to show love to all especially to people who are vulnerable.. Jesus love invites us to open our arms to displaced people: to stand in solidarity with everyone fleeing war, persecution and the devastation of natural disasters. This Christian Aid Week, we re standing up for displaced people. We re opening our arms to people who have lost everything in Haiti, forced to leave their homes after unimaginable natural disasters. We are all called to help the weakest, those who suffer the most in our world. Like Benito, we can all offer our own gifts and resources to stand in solidarity with those in need. The money we raise will transform lives just 210 could pay to train a local builder in Haiti, meaning they can build safe homes for displaced families, giving them a fighting chance to build a better life. Take two slips of paper. On one write what you can offer to do or give this Christian Aid Week. Place this in the bowl (or on the plate) as a symbol of your offering, that combined with the others in the bowl will collectively make a big difference. Now with the other slip write again what you can offer, and pop it in your pocket or purse to remind you later. Or if you prefer, enter it on your to-do list in your diary now. #Offer Small slips of paper. A bowl or offertory plate. A selection of pens. To reflect on what we can offer to people in Haiti, and in doing so offer to God. 7
#PrayFor When Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti, Marcelin lost everything. Now, he s forced to live in a 2x2m concrete block with his family. There are no windows or doors, and the only furniture is a single bed. It s a tiny, claustrophobic space which Marcelin shares with his daughters Ketia (18), Linda (16) and Keshna (15), in constant, sweltering heat. They re not just survivors they re fighters. But they can t take much more. Marcelin s wife left over 10 years ago. Since then he s fought hard to raise his children alone, cooking, cleaning and caring for them. But he can t afford to send all his daughters to school, and he struggles to even provide enough food. Sometimes they go hungry. Marcelin is constantly worried about his daughters. He s anxious that they could be exploited by predatory men in exchange for the food they desperately need. And his daughters worry that his hunger puts him at risk of serious illness. He doesn t eat enough for someone doing such hard labour, and they re scared he could get sick and die. Marcelin calls on God to give him faith and strength to care for his children. But if another hurricane comes through, he expects them all to die. Write a short prayer for Marcelin on your brick of hope. Glue your prayer inside the house on the paper. Read some of the other prayers and include them when you pray for Marcelin. #PrayFor Bricks of hope download and print these from caweek.org/resources A large sheet of paper or an old roll of wallpaper. A selection of pens. Glue sticks. To pray for people like Marcelin who have been forced from their homes. Draw the outline of a house on the large sheet of paper. This will show people where to stick the bricks to build a house. You can either put the paper on a table or fix it to a wall. 8
#Help Did you know there are more than 40 million internally displaced people in the world today? These are people who have been forced to leave their homes, but remain within their own country. When Vilia lost her home in the earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010, she became internally displaced. We don t even know the real number of our sisters and brothers who are internally displaced, because when people are forced to flee by climate change or disaster, they re not always counted. The international community has forgotten millions of our neighbours. But we believe that everyone, no matter who they are, is destined for fullness of life. Poor countries bear the brunt of internal displacement. Displaced people are incredibly vulnerable to poverty and exploitation. Most people who flee their homes find shelter with host families, and don t receive any support in the form of food, water or assistance to earn money. The UN is working towards two new agreements on refugees and migration. It needs to include internally displaced people in these deals. Otherwise, it will be a failure and many of our vulnerable neighbours across the world will continue to be ignored. That s why we re asking the UN and its member states to agree a fair deal for all people like Marcelin and Vilia who have been forced to leave their homes. Will you sign our petition to the Prime Minister? Please sign now, to help ensure no-one is left behind. next prayer station. #Help A copy of the petition which can be found at caweek.org/resources A selection of pens. To ask the UN and its member states to agree a fair deal for all people like Marcelin who have been forced to leave their homes. a safe place to keep the petition so that the data is secure. 9
#Adore Isaiah 40: 26-31 Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. You are known and loved by God. You are not just a dot of light hidden among millions of others. Our God who created every star knows you by name. There are times when you may feel wounded, broken, isolated, and alone. But you are not alone. God is with you, knows all that s going on in your life, and loves you dearly. Pray for people you know who feel broken and need God s presence. Ask that they will not faint or grow weary, but will find new strength through the power of the Holy Spirit to face the day. Now write your initial on a star and place it on the sky, saying (either aloud or in your head) God loves me. Place another star on a card in your purse or wallet, as you stick it say God loves Marcelin. Each time, when you use the card and see the star, be reminded of God s unconditional love for you in all your uniqueness, and for Marcelin in Haiti. #Adore A pack of small silver star stickers. A sheet of black paper or fabric. A Bible. To reflect on God s deep and unconditional love for each and every person on earth. to make sure this station is visited after the #Pray station. 10
#Celebrate When Hurricane Matthew hit, Vilia s house became a place of refuge for her neighbours. People could see Vilia s home was the strongest in the neighbourhood. In the first days after the storm, Vilia slept on two chairs so that she could welcome people. People came with wet clothes, and Vilia gave them what she had that was dry. #Celebrate A box of chocolates. If the prayer stations are used by a group of people, then use a fizzy drink and flute glasses. To celebrate each and every life that is saved, every person freed from poverty, everyone welcomed and loved as a result of people like you who support Christian Aid. If the prayer stations are being used by a group, then you could start with this station together. After the storm, one of her neighbours, a new mother, arrived distraught. The mother was crying, saying that her baby had died. Vilia took the baby, unwrapped it, and when rocking it realised with relief that the child was alive. She found clothes that weren t wet to wrap the baby in. Many people stayed with Vilia for two weeks, and then left to find other shelter, not wanting to outstay their welcome. But Vilia said: If it were up to me, they could stay here as long as they want, and I d find a place to sleep somehow, even if it was on two chairs. I felt happy KORAL gave me a place where I could welcome all these people. Take a chocolate and as you eat it celebrate the work of Christian Aid s partner KORAL. Thank God for the difference Vilia s house made to her and to her neighbours. 11
#Silence Marcelin s house was ripped apart by Hurricane Matthew. Everything in the house was destroyed. I lost all the chairs. I have nothing left, only one small bed that the girls sleep on. I sleep on the floor. I lost my livestock pigs, goats, one black, one red. I lost my harvest, corn, millet, peanuts, okra, and beans. Everything was lost. Every last tree was destroyed, there s nothing left. The chickens, the wind took them away. We had three coconut trees which belonged to my family. After I returned from work, I d go and pick two to drink, but the wind felled them both. You can t find coconuts now. Quietly think about how Marcelin must have felt in the wake of Hurricane Matthew as he saw the ruins of his home. How would he provide shelter and food for himself and his three young daughters? Pray in silence for the millions of people who, like Marcelin, are forced from their homes today. #Silence Nothing. To quietly reflect on how it feels to lose your home. A prayer for people displaced Lord of the journey, we ask for your protection for all who have fled their homes. Grant them strength on their journeys, grant that they may find places of compassion at which to rest. Ease their fear as they throw in their lot with strangers. God of all the world, keep alive their vision of returning to a secure and welcoming home. 12
#ThyKingdomCome Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In teaching his disciples the Lord s Prayer, Jesus prayed for the coming of God s Kingdom and that it will become a reality on earth. From house-to-house collections, sponsored walks and church collections, to Big Brekkies, abseils and quiz nights, Christian Aid Week brings Kingdom builders from all walks of life and Christian traditions together to step out in mission for the world s poorest people. As we respond to the needs of our neighbours like Marcelin and Vilia with love, we don t just build a house with bricks and mortar. We contribute to the building of God s Kingdom here on earth. Take the bricks that you have collected at the prayer stations and place them to be part of the new house. As you place each brick, pray for a person that you know (family, friend, or colleague) that they may know Jesus love in their lives. Now take an extra brick from the dish. As you place it on the house, ask God to reveal to you how you can respond to Jesus prayer for God s will to be done here as it is in heaven. As the bricks are added, you will see the shape of the house forming. Reflect on how your bricks, though small in number, have been crucial to the building of the house. So is your part in building the Kingdom of God on earth. 13 #ThyKingdomCome A base for the toy bricks. A bowl of spare bricks include roof tiles and windows, if you have them. To pray for the coming of God s Kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven. This prayer station needs to be the final station you visit. Set out the foundation bricks for a house on the base for the bricks. It will take a lot of bricks to build the house, so start small you can always build more than one house if you complete one quickly. Eng and Wales registered charity no. 1105851 Company no. 5171525 Scot charity no. SC039150 Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 Company no. NI059154 and ROI charity no. 20014162 Company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance. Christian Aid February 2018. J43513