Latest from CCA
Together on a Spiritual Journey
The Quiet Corner: Praying for Moore, Oklahoma
God Is Our Refuge
We pray for the people of Moore, Oklahoma, and share in their grief, as they pick up their lives from the devastated ruins of what is left of their homes, schools, hospitals and their city, after the unbelievable havoc caused by a Tornado rated EF 4, that ripped through at speeds of 160 -200 mph. Residents said that it was like a two-mile-wide land mower blade going over the community, staying on the ground for 40 minutes. The National Weather Service predicts more bad weather as the storm system threatens parts of north-central Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, northern Arkansas and Louisiana, putting 53 million people at risk of severe weather.
We have also heard about the earthquakes that struck off the coast of Chile, off Russia and Japan, and Iran; in Sichuan region in China, and in Myanmar, all happening within the months of April and May this year. Scenes of pain and suffering, of destruction and loss of life are so vividly portrayed by the use of advanced technology. Let us join in prayer for the grace and mercy of the Lord and plead that His hand would stretch out to calm the storms and still the seas; to comfort and give strength to His loved ones:
“God of Life, Creator of heaven and earth and all that is within it, hear our prayer and our cries, our questions and our disbelief. Lord, we are afraid as the tempest grows stronger, as our boat is tossed, as the earth shakes and its foundations crumble. God of mercy and compassion, forgive us our weaknesses, our doubts and fears. Show us the way Lord. Give us the strength to rebuild our lives from nothingness; Anoint us and help us to refashion our lives as you will. Amen”
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
(from Psalm 46)
Breathe on me Breath of God
Best wishes for a Blessed Pentecost
Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure, until with thee I will one will, to do and to endure.
Acts 2:2-4; 16-21
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[c]
The Quiet Corner: A Prayer for Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Philippines
Dear Lord who has made all things bright and beautiful, wise and wonderful,
In your mercy, protect the people of Bangladesh who are caught in fresh clashes that have broken out, killing and injuring people in the capital city. We pray that you will grant the political and religious leaders in the country, wisdom and discretion, courage and vision, and inspire them to engage in dialogue so that the tension there is defused.
We pray for fair and free elections in Pakistan as the nation goes in to vote tomorrow, and for the Philippines General elections to be held on 13 May 2013. May your blessings and grace be with our brothers and sisters in these regions. We pray that they may elect a government that will endeavour for peace, justice and co-operation not only within the nation, but also regionally and globally. We also place in your loving and caring hands all those who are passing through violent and troubled times around the world. Lord you know everything and see everything – the past, present and future. May we personally and organizationally, fit into this blue-print of life, with you to lead us and show us the way. Amen
The Quiet Corner: A Prayer for Malaysia and Pakistan: Elections 2013
A Prayer for Malaysia and Pakistan on the occasion of Elections to be held in May 2013.
Heavenly father,
Great is your faithfulness and mercy, your unchanging love and your endless blessings. We humbly acknowledge your presence in our trials and tribulations. We pray for Malaysia and Pakistan, where general elections will be held this month. We seek your guidance and wisdom for the people of both countries who are exercising their votes and also for the candidates who are contesting. May you bless, teach and guide them, so that whoever is chosen will adopt fair and just governance policies that would ensure fullness of life for all.
We pray that the election process will be fair and free and that the new Governments will strive for peace and justice.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen
The Quiet Corner: A Prayer for Peace and Reunification in North and South Korea
Come now, O Prince of Peace, Make us one body, Come O Lord Jesus, Reconcile your people
This Common Easter Prayer was jointly written by the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) and the
* Korean Christian Federation (KCF).
O Lord, who overcame death and rose to life!
“I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
We praise our risen Lord who,
in the end,
overcame the cross,
left behind the empty tomb,
and rose, clothed in white.
Our risen Lord,
whose tears in Gethsemane made spring flowers bloom,
whose pain on Golgotha brought light to the darkness,
who transformed the anguish outside the tomb to joy,
is the eternal Hope of all humankind.
Now,
we who are weary of the long darkness of division,
we who, bearing the cross, have wandered in this land as in a wilderness,
we who have walked the thorn-infested road until the new dawn,
here,
today,
across every valley through the length of our land,
churches of north and south gathering as one,
Christians of south and north uniting warm hearts,
praise God for Easter’s new morning.
O God,
that we may become living witnesses of the resurrection,
let our hands, bloodied by hammering the nail of hatred
and thrusting the spear of condemnation,
become hands that bind the wounds, hands that reach out in reconciliation.
On the road of suffering,
help us to regain our voices of comfort, our steps of peace.
And, finally,
help us to realize that we can transform the history of death.
Then,
as the cross and resurrection are one,
as the Daedong River in the north and the Han River in the south meet in one sea,
from Halla Mountain in the south to Baekdu Mountain in the north,
from Kaesong in the west to the Keumgang Mountains in the east,
may our incomplete liberation become perfect reunification.
And, further,
may our Lord’s Easter greeting, “Peace be with you,” (John 20:19,21,16)
reach beyond our land to Asia and all the world
and unite us all
in peace, joyful shouts, laughter, the embrace of friendship.
And may the uncertain days of the global village become, rather,
the Third Day of hope.
We pray in the name of the risen Jesus Christ who guides our land to become
one country, a new creation.
Amen
* Korean Christian Federation (KCF)
is a fellowship of North Korean Christians.
The Quiet Corner: A Prayer for Sri Lanka: Weekly Prayers for Asia
God of compassion and love,
We place in your loving hands the beautiful island of Sri Lanka and her people, for your caring touch that heals and comforts. For the last three decades this ‘Pearl in the Indian Ocean’ has been tarnished by internal struggles against ethnic conflict, religious fundamentalism and a war that led to the loss of lives and property, leaving the country impoverished and her people listless and tired.
We pray that your spirit will energize our brothers and sisters; and your wisdom will teach them to live life once again in faith and hope. May your spirit gift them a new compassion and concern for all and may your love transform them so that they embrace and embody the forgiving and reconciling image of Christ.
We pray for the leaders of the Christian, Buddhist and Muslim communities, that they may be blessed with wisdom, and that they will spread the common values of compassion and love, that is taught by all religions.
God of justice, lead us to peace, not the peace that the world gives but your peace that passes all understanding.
In Jesus name we pray
Amen
CCA Member Churches and Council in Sri Lanka
Anglican Church in Sri Lanka
Baptist Sangamaya
Methodist Church in Sri Lanka
Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India
National Council of Churches in Sri Lanka
The Lamb of God
The Lamb Who Died to Save Us
is the
Shepherd Who Lives to Lead Us
Cross with scenes from the Holy Week
A painting by Mr. Rijo Geevarghese
India
