15th May Reflection and Prayers for Christian Aid Week. 
Welcome & lighting of candle
Call to worship
‘On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.’
(Revelation 22:2)
Let us come to the river
and be like trees planted by streams of water,
putting our roots down deep into God’s word,
bearing good fruit that will last
not withering from fatigue,
but stretching out to receive
and be a source of healing.
Amen.
Hymn: All Are Welcome
As we sing, let’s remember those joining us online and Cerys, who wrote the tune.
Notices
Review of the week & prayers
…Good God of creation, we sing praise to you. But even as we raise our voices
we know we have faltered and failed. Walking on paths that turned our hearts inward,
sitting with those who scoffed at the cries of people in poverty, mocking those on the margins, denying the earth in her distress. Too often our leaves have withered
our branches are barren. We have failed to be pruned and the axe is now poised.
Poised to cut down the excesses that crucify all creation, the systems that impoverish all people, the privileges that diminish our faith.
But even now it is not too late. For in the face of judgement
comes the offer of grace and the hope that deadwood can spring to life.
Where we have failed to bear good fruit and share your abundance for the earth
GOD HAVE MERCY
When our actions and intentions have been as chaff for the winds of heaven
GOD HAVE MERCY
Forgive us. Restore us. Inspire us now to delight in your purposes,
to embrace your possibilities, to inhabit your promises,
to flourish as fruit for the world you so love
and bring healing for all the nations.
AMEN.
Hymn: Song of Kingdom Come!
Welcome to Nathan
Scripture Readings
Nathan’s reflection
Offering and Christian Aid video – ‘When I Needed A Neighbour’
Christian Aid Prayers of Intercession
(The responses in this prayer of intercession are taken from Revelation 7:16 )
Creator God,
cultivator of our faith,
thank you for the privilege
of living in this global garden
planted to bear your fruit,
to delight our tongues,
to fill our bellies,
to energise our bodies.
You have given us life
in all its fullness.
You have given us life,
yet millions still hunger.
Take these gifts of money
and use them to help Christian Aid
support communities throughout the world, and
partners who hunger to provide.
But may our support not end here.
May we be the seeds
from which your kingdom* grows.
In our hunger for peace, we pray for
Lebanon as people vote today for hope and change
Palestine, where conflict continues
Ukraine, where we hear of unimaginable suffering
Whilst not forgetting Russia, too
But may our concern for them
not stifle our concern for
Zimbabwe
Afghanistan
Syria
and all those other places to whom our hearts have become hardened through over-familiarity.
THEY WILL HUNGER NO MORE AND THIRST NO MORE
In our hunger for justice, we pray for
Shireen Abu Akleh – the al Jazeera journalist who was killed this week; and
Deborah James, also known as @bowelbabe who, in spite of her own pain, has fought tirelessly to raise awareness and provide hope for others suffering from cancer.
But may our concern for them
not stifle our concern for
Jessica
Janet
and all those known to us
who hunger to provide for those they love in our global community.
THE SUN WILL NOT STRIKE THEM, NOR ANY SCORCHING HEAT
In our hunger, we pray for
Our newly elected local politicians as they grapple with difficult decisions in a time of hardship for many people
But may our concern for them
not stifle our concern for
your little ones,
children who go to bed hungry,
whose parents struggle to provide for them
in times of desperate drought.
GOD WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES
And in our hunger, we pray
that you will fill us
with your hope,
your passion
and your life,
that we may go out from this place
to give, act and pray.
So all who hunger to provide
may be filled to overflowing.
In the name of Christ,
farmer, gardener and cultivator,
AMEN.
Song: God’s Spirit is deep in my heart
Hymn: Cwm Rhondda
Blessing
In the name of God who plants the seed of justice:
Be hungry.
In the name of Christ who hangs on the tree of love:
Be fruitful.
And in the name of the Spirit who inspires
God’s will in our hearts and our lives:
Be celebrated.
You are Christ’s people,
here and throughout the world
now and forever.
Amen.