Called to Life: A Liturgy of the Word Checklist of items and personnel required for this Liturgy Items coloured fabric and boxes for a focus space an A3 laminated photo of a malaria parasite (see below) a potted plant (small plant) a potted plant (large bushy plant) a laminated photo of an ambulance a container of dirty water a container of clean water a bundle of firewood a baby doll a candle book holder to support laminated photo matches lectern data projector screen computer and sound amplification a copy of this liturgy for the computer operator Personnel Student 1: Student 2: Student to place the small plant: Student to place firewood bundle: Student to place baby doll: Student to place malaria parasite: Student to place dirty water: Voice of Evas: First Reader Acts 4:23-27: Voice of Sr Eulie: First Gospel Martha: Mary: Lazarus: 4 people crowd: Reflection Leader 1: Reflection Leader 2: Student to place the bushy plant: Student to place the clean water: Student to place the picture of the ambulance: Prayers of Intercession: One: Two: Three: Four: Five: Computer operator: Voice of Harriet: Voice of Sr Mary:
Called to Life: A Liturgy of the Word Gathering Student 1: Welcome to our liturgy of the word. Let us begin with an acknowledgement of country. Together we say: Slide 2 WE WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE IN THE COUNTRY OF THE PEOPLE. WE PAY RESPECT TO THEIR ELDERS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE MEMORIES OF THEIR ANCESTORS AND CELEBRATE THEIR CONTINUING CULTURE. Student 2: Slide 3 The theme for our liturgy today is: CALLED TO LIFE The focus of World Mission Month for 2017 is the Church s outreach to the children of Uganda, providing health care to children subject to life threatening diseases. To focus our minds on the issues associated with Uganda, let us view Catholic Mission s video for this year s Mission Month Life to the Full. (video embedded into PowerPoint is played) Slide 4 Let us prepare our focus space. Slide 5 Student 1: Uganda is a country of great natural beauty, unique wildlife and untapped resources. Yet Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world. We place a potted plant that has yet to reach maturity. Student 2: In Uganda girls often drop out of school to help with the domestic chores of preparing food and clothing, fetching water and fuel, and caring for their families. We place a bundle of firewood. Student 1: In rural Uganda expectant mothers are at risk because they do not have access to health care services. Lack of transport is a key issue for the survival rate of mothers and their newborn babies. We place a baby doll. Student 2: Malaria is a life-threatening blood disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bite of a mosquito. In Uganda 43 people die every day from malaria. We place a photo of the malaria parasite. Student 1: Typhoid is an infection that is caused by drinking contaminated water. If typhoid is caught early, it can be successfully treated with antibiotics; if it is not treated, typhoid can be fatal. We place a container of dirty water. Student 2: I have come that they may have life, life in all its fullness, says Jesus in the Gospel of St John. We place a lighted candle. Please join in singing our beginning song. Slides 6 10 Select an appropriate gathering song known by your community or make use of the song provided on the PowerPoint: In the Living God.
Gathering continued... In The Living God In the living God we live and move and have our being. We gather today to remember and celebrate the work of our Church as it strives to improve the lives of children throughout the world. In the living God, all beauty, truth and grace revealed. And we who gather here long to taste and see the goodness To be nourished and fulfilled in the living God. God is in this place. We hear God s word. We see god s face. God is in this place; in a welcome smile, in a warm embrace. And we who gather here are open to the presence Of God s own life and love. God is in this place. Celebrate, come celebrate in the life of the Father and the Son. Celebrate, come celebrate; in the Spirit we are one. O gracious God, you gift us with our Mother Earth. O gracious God, in you all creatures have their birth. And on the altar of the world, as one with all creation, We lift our hearts to you O gracious God. And on the altar of the world, as one with all creation, We lift our hearts to you O gracious God. O gracious God. O gracious God. O Gracious God. Richard Cootes. Richard Cootes Music. All rights reserved. Used with permission. One License. Licence No. We gather as followers of Christ called to be bearers of life in the world. We gather as a community ready to be nourished by God s word. We gather... ALL:...in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen.
Penitential Rite Voice of Harriet: Voice of Sister Mary: (The following is read as Harriet s photo is displayed on the PowerPoint.) Slide 12 (The following is read as Sr Mary s photo is displayed on the PowerPoint.) Slide 14 My name is Harriet. My name is Sister Mary. I am thirteen years old. I run the Health Centre called St Luke s. My family lives in rural Uganda. Many expectant mothers come here for treatment and to have their babies. At the end of last year I became very sick. I began vomiting and felt dizzy. I was sweating and feverish. But when there is an emergency we have no transport to bring them to our centre. My father became so worried. We desperately need an ambulance. I climbed unto the back of his motorbike and together we rode through the night to the health centre. It was a race against time. At the clinic I was treated for malaria and typhoid. If we hadn t made it in good time I would have died. When I finish school I want to become a trained nurse. Slide 13 Lord, Jesus you are light for all, You guide us on our way. Lord, have mercy. ALL: Lord, have mercy. Slide 15 Lord, Jesus you are hope for all, You take away our sins. Christ, have mercy. ALL: Christ, have mercy.
Penitential Rite continued... Voice of Evas: (The following is read as Evas photo is displayed on the PowerPoint.) Slide 16 My name is Evas. I am twenty-three years old. Last year I was expecting a baby. When I went into labour I had to travel by motorbike to the health centre. It took two hours on a rough road. But the journey was too much for me. I lost my baby boy. Slide 17 Lord, Jesus you are strength for all, Your word is truth and light. Lord, have mercy. ALL: Lord, have mercy.
Liturgy of the Word Responsorial Psalm Let us listen to God s Word. Slide 18 Slide 21-24 (optional) First The Lord Hears The Cry of the Poor Slide 19 (Acts 4:32-37) A reading from the Acts of the Apostles The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for their own use anything that they had, as everything they owned was held in common. (sung) The Lord hears the cry of the poor O my soul, praise his holy name The Lord hears the cry of the poor Those whose spirit is crushed he will save Those whose spirit is crushed he will save The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with real power, and they were all given great respect. The Lord is compassion and love Slow to anger, rich in mercy The Lord is compassion and love O Come let us rejoice. None of their members was ever in want, as all who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from them, to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any members who might be in need. The Lord is our help and our shield Our refuge, our salvation The Lord is our help and our shield How good is the Lord to all. The Word of the Lord. ALL: Thanks be to God. Richard Cootes. Richard Cootes Music. All rights reserved. Used with permission. One License. Licence
Gospel: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead John 11:3-7.17.20-27.33-45 paraphrased Slide 25 (the Gospel is written here for a dramatic presentation) A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John. The sisters Martha and Mary sent this message to Jesus. On arriving, Jesus found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days already. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Martha: Lord, the man you love is ill. If you had been here, my brother would not have died. Martha: On receiving this message, Jesus said: Jesus said: This sickness will not end in death but in God s glory; and through it the Son of God will be glorified. I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will never die. Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, yet when he learned that Lazarus was ill he stayed where he was for two more days before saying to the disciples: Jesus said in great distress, with a sigh that came straight from the heart: Where have you put him? Let us go to Judea. Still sighing Jesus reached the tomb; it was a cave with a stone to close the opening. Jesus said: Take the stone away! Martha said to him: Martha: Lord by now he will smell. This is the fourth day.
Gospel: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead continued... Jesus replied: Lazarus, here! Come out! Have I not told you that if you believe in me you will see the glory of God? So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and said: Father I thank you for hearing my prayer. I know indeed that you always hear me, but I speak for the sake of all these who stand around me, so that they may believe it was you who sent me. When he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice: The dead man came out, his feet and hands bound with bands of stuff and a cloth round his face. Jesus said to them: Unbind him, let him go free. Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what he did believed in him. The Gospel of the Lord ALL: Praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ.
Reflection Reflection Leader 1 Our readings today reveal to us that God s purpose for each of us is fullness of life. We have heard how the disciples shared their possessions with the needy. We have heard in the responsorial psalm that God s will is that the poor be saved. And in our Gospel reading Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Life in all its fullness is God s desire for us. Reflection Leader 2 Slide 26 But what does it mean to be fully alive, and how can we share in the mission of Jesus in bringing others to fullness of life. Firstly, to be fully alive means to be cognitively alive. Slide 27 That s a big word but it simply means to: click space bar think, to learn, to solve problems, to read and research, to discover what is true. It is extremely important that all children receive an education. Reflection Leader 1 Slide 28 Last year our Catholic schools were able to contribute to the cognitive development of children in Cambodia by providing funds for a mobile tuk tuk (took took). These mobile classrooms that travel through the narrow streets of poorer districts have been a great success in bringing education to children who would otherwise have not received it. Let us replace the small potted plant on our focus space with a more robust, mature plant. Reflection Leader 2 Slide 29 To be fully alive means to be physically alive. To be able to: crawl, run jump play, swim and crawl; to be sheltered, fed and clothed; and to be healthy. This year our schools will be able to contribute to the good health of the children of Uganda. Slide 30 Our donations will help to buy an ambulance and a children s ward for St Luke s Health Centre. Let us replace the dirty water on our focus space with clean water. And let us replace the picture of the typhoid bacteria with a picture of an ambulance.
Reflection continued... Prayers of Intercession Leader 1: Let us now sing a song that calls us to life in Christ. Slides 31 37 Let us now pray for the needs of all God s children. Arise! Awake From Your Sleep Arise! Awake from your sleep. Arise! Come out of your tomb. Arise! Step into the light Come sing a new song. Come walk in the love. Come live in the life of the Lord. Once we were clothed in darkness. Now we are children of light. In our goodness and truth and integrity We are one in the Body of Christ. The things that we do in the darkness Are the things that bring us to shame. But now we are one in Christ Jesus Let us dance in the light of day. Now there s a path lies before us And the way is illumined and bright Let s open our hearts to the music And dance to the rhythm of life. Richard Cootes Slide 39 1. We pray for the Church in Uganda. May it continue to provide for the health care needs of mothers and children. Lord of life, hear us. ALL: Lord of life hear our prayer. Slide 40 2. For the many millions of children in our world who do not receive a full education, that we can make a difference to their lives. Lord of life, hear us. ALL: Lord of life hear our prayer. Slide 41 3. We pray for refugees. May the policies of our government respect the rights and dignity of those seeking asylum Lord of life, hear us. ALL: Lord of life hear our prayer. Slide 42 4. For all missionaries. May they be strengthened in their work. Lord of life, hear us. ALL: Lord of life hear our prayer. Slide 43 5. For our own school community, that we may always share in the mission of Jesus in bringing fullness of life to all God s children. Lord of life, hear us. ALL: Lord of life hear our prayer.
Prayers of Intercession Dismissal continued... Slide 44 Moved by the words of Jesus who said, I have come that they may have life, life in all its fullness, let us go from this place to love and serve the Lord. Let us pray together the words that Jesus taught us. 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. Amen Final Song (Sing an appropriate recessional song or make use of the song embedded in the PowerPoint: We Go Forth) We Go Forth Slides 46 48 One in love we go forth in the service of the Lord. One in love. One in love. To comfort and console, to nourish and restore, We go forth, we go forth one in love. In our joy we go forth as Christ Jesus in our world. In our joy. In our joy. That all may come to know the saving love of God We go forth, we go forth in our joy. I have come, I have come, that all may have life, Life in its richness, says the Lord. Now one mission of love, one dream we share: Fullness of life for all. One in love we go forth in the service of the Lord. One in love. One in love. To comfort and console, to nourish and restore, We go forth, we go forth one in love. We go forth, we go forth one in love. Richard Cootes. Richard Cootes Music. All rights reserved. Used with permission.one License. Licence