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Universal Day of Prayer for Students (UDPS) 2005
This page contains the full text of the 2005 Universal Day of Prayer for Students liturgy and information on how to prepare for this particular liturgy.
UDPS 2005: Preparation information
This 2005 UDPS liturgy has been prepared by the Reverend Dan Gonzalez of MEC por la Equidad, Mexico, on behalf of the Latin America and Caribbean Region. It is in memory of the victims of the Tsunami that hit South East Asia on December 26th 2004.
To prepare for this liturgy please:
| 1. | Read the liturgy through and adapt it for use in your situation |
| 2. | Organise the venue, preferably in your university or college or in a church supportive of SCM |
| 3. | Find someone (student/ senior friend/ clergy) to prepare a reflection (preferably on Revelations 14:13) |
| 4. | Decide if you will have a celebration of the Eucharist or an agape in this liturgy, if so please organise this |
| 5. | Select the songs (one in praise of God the Creator, one in praise of God the Son and one in praise of God the Holy Spirit) and music for before and after the liturgy |
| 6. | Find someone to lead the music |
| 7. | Find someone to lead the liturgy |
| 8. | Organise the incense and charcoal/ fire, it may be more appropriate for your situation to use incense sticks/joss sticks |
| 9. | Organise baskets to collect offerings in |
| 10. | Invite students and senior friends to share this liturgy |
After the liturgy gather the offerings and please send a cheque for tsunami-affected SCMs to the:
WSCF Inter-Regional Office, 5 route des Morillons, PO Box 2100, CH 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
The offerings will be forwarded to the affected movements.
Universal Day of Prayer for Students 2005: Liturgy
In memoriam of the victims of the
Tsunami in South East Asia
Invocation
Leader: In the name of God our Creator, Jesus our Brother in solidarity, and the Holy Spirit our comforting Mother.
All: Amen
Song of Praise to God the Creator
Litany for the forgiveness of sins
L: We implore your forgiveness Father, for we have behaved foolishly.
A: Father we ask for your forgiveness
L: We implore your forgiveness for what we have done and for what we have not done.
A: Father we ask for your forgiveness
L: We implore your forgiveness since our actions have not been just and merciful as you are just and merciful.
A: Father we ask for your forgiveness
L: We implore your forgiveness because we have not learnt to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.
A: Father we ask for your forgiveness
L: We implore your forgiveness for we have not suffered with those who suffer and have not cried with those who cry.
A: Father we ask for your forgiveness
L: We implore your forgiveness for we have not loved and taken care of Creation, but we have devastated it, and in doing violence to it we have done violence to ourselves.
A: Father we ask for your forgiveness
L: We implore your forgiveness for there's much need following the tsunami in Asia and we have not been light in the midst of darkness.
A: Father we ask for your forgiveness
L: We implore your forgiveness, Good Father, for we have not been able to ask for forgiveness. Only you are faithful and just and able to forgive our sins.
A: We adore you Good Father. Amen
Assurance of forgiveness
L: And when God smelled the sweet odour; God said in God's heart, 'I will never again curse the ground because of humankind… nor will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done. As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease.' (Genesis 8: 21-22)
A: Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Amen
(Psalm. 51:14-17)
Song of Praise to God the Son
Prayers of Intercession
(The Leader places some grains of incense on some charcoal or small fire)
L: When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sang a new song: 'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation.'
(Revelation 5:8-9)
A: Jesus of Nazareth, our Brother, you know the pain of those who are suffering. You carry the cross of the crucified, you accompany the suffering of those who were left desolate in Asia: all fathers and mothers left without sons and daughters, daughters and sons left without mothers and fathers, peasants left without land, land left without peasants, fisherfolk left without the possibility to return to the sea, a sea that swallowed the fisherfolk, people left far from their countries, countries that were left expecting the return of their people.
L: Jesus, listen to our cry, for we cry to you for the children left without homes, homes left without children, students left without schools, schools left without students. We pray to you for all Creation that cries with us and expects a sign from the sons and daughters of God.
A: Amen.
(Everyone is invited to offer prayers silently or spoken for those affected by the tsunami. As they offer their prayer they are invited to come forward and place some incense on the charcoal/ fire)
L: And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now die in the Lord.' 'Yes', says the Spirit, 'they will rest from their labours, for their works follow them.'
(Revelation 14:13)
Reflection
(We recommend a reflection based on Revelations 14:13)
Creed
L: We believe in God, the Father almighty
A: Creator of heaven and earth
Creator of peoples and cultures
Creator of languages and races
L: We believe in Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord
A: God made flesh in a human being for all human beings
God made flesh in a moment for all ages
God made flesh in a culture for all cultures
God made flesh in love and grace for all creation
L: We believe in the Holy Spirit
A: through which God incarnated in Jesus Christ
Is present in our people and in our culture
For which God the Creator of all that exists
Empowers us to be new creatures
Who with infinite gifts makes us one people
The body of Jesus Christ
L: We believe in the Church
A: Universal as a sign of the coming Kingdom
More faithful as more colourful she appears
Where all colours paint one landscape
Where all languages sing one praise
L: We believe in the coming Kingdom, joyful day,
A: Where all the colours of creation
Will be united in a rainbow of harmony
When all the peoples on Earth
Will be united in a banquet of joy
When all languages in the universe
Will be united in a choir of praise
L: And because we believe, we commit ourselves
A: To believe for those who do not believe
To love for those who do not love
To dream for those who do not dream
Until what we expect becomes a reality.
Amen
(Hispanic Creed by Justo González)
(This is an appropriate moment for a celebration of the Eucharist or an Agape.)
Prayer of Commitment
L: Holy Spirit, our comforting Mother, gather us under the warmth of your wings. We long to experience new life. Raise us from dust and desolation, strengthen our faith and help us walk in the world with a lively hope. Give us the joy to celebrate knowing that we are not alone, let us repair the damage we have done to our sister Creation so she may not demonstrate her pain with more pain. Help us dream and work for a new heaven and a new earth.
A: Amen.
Song of Praise to God the Holy Spirit
(During this song offerings are collected for Student Christian Movements whose members are affected by the 2004-2005 Tsunami)
Concluding Prayers
L: God our Creator, Jesus our Brother in solidarity, and Holy Spirit our comforting Mother accept these offerings of solidarity for our sisters and brothers affected by the tsunami. To the dead give rest, to the living give hope and strength. To us give compassion and the resolution to work for your justice and peace for all people.
A: Amen
L: We pray for your blessings God on students throughout the world; that they may use their studies, their minds, their hearts and wills for the common good.
A: Amen
L: We pray for your blessings on the work of Student Christian Movements in schools, colleges and universities in this and every country, that they may witness to your gospel.
A: Amen
L: We pray for your blessings on the World Student Christian Federation; its officers, staff, senior friends and students; may it be a messenger of peace, hope, justice and unity for the church and for the world.
A: Amen
Blessing
L: The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
(Numbers. 6:24-26)
A: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us; that God's way may be known upon earth, God's saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. Amen
(Psalm 67:1-3)
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