Yesterday I took part in the service at St Cuthbert’s in Edinburgh for St Andrew’s day with Friends of St Andrew’s Jerusalem. This is the prayer, including ‘Cry with us’ by Professor Johanna Katanacho of Nazareth Evangelical College.
Cry with Us
This is a season of weeping and mourning, but it is not void of hope.
Our tears are the bridge between brutality and humanity.
Our tears are the salty gates for seeing a different reality.
Our tears are facing soulless nations and a parched mentality.
Our tears are the dam preventing rivers of animosity.
For the sake of the mourning men, cry with us to reflect your amity.
For the sake of the poor children, cry with us demanding sanity.
For the sake of lamenting mothers, refuse violence and stupidity.
Love your enemies and cry with them is the advice of divinity.
Blessing those who curse is the path to genuine spirituality.
Pouring tears of mercy and compassion is true piety.
Pray with tears, for the sake of spreading equity.
Followers of Jesus: crying is now our responsibility.
But don’t cry for your friends only; but also for your Enemy.
Andrew was there when John pointed out the Lamb of God
He stayed with Jesus and learned from him.
Lord, we pray for all who point to you and all who seek you
Your kingdom come
Your will be done.
Andrew was there when Jesus had compassion on the hungry masses.
He brought what they had – little though it was- to be miraculously multiplied.
Lord, we pray for all who hunger and thirst, for food and for justice, and for those who bring what they have to be blessed and shared.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done.
Andrew was there, on the road with Jesus, witness to the pressing crowd and to Jesus’ compassion.
Even when he was frightened and did not understand, he stayed with Jesus.
Lord, we pray for all who persevere in face of overwhelming injustice and seeming international indifference to press for peace with justice.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done.
Andrew was there in a small boat on Lake Tiberias tossed by the wind and waves.
He heard Jesus speak words of peace and felt the storm die down.
Lord, we pray for all who take to small boats either to make a living or to seek a better life, and we pray for all who seek to make shalom, peace, following Jesus’ example.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done.
Andrew was there, as the disciples marvelled at the shining grandeur of the temple in Jerusalem
And Jesus predicted the tribulations to come.
He heard Jesus promise the help of the Holy Spirit in the face of trial and persecution and tribulation.
Lord, we pray for all who do not put their own safety first, but stand up for what is right, and care compassionately and share good news.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done.
Andrew was there as Jesus was arrested and taken away. He was there in Jerusalem as Jesus died. He was there on the lakeside when his brother Peter was forgiven for his faithlessness and tasked with leading the embryo church.
Lord we pray for all who are there, who are witnesses, who are steadfast, and who, like Andrew are willing to do their part.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done.
We pray for all associated with St Andrew’s Jerusalem and Tiberias, for members of the congregation, for staff at the guest house and hotel and those involved in Tabeetha School, and for our partners who spend themselves in seeking peace. We remember especially John McCulloch and his family at this time of transition.
And we pray for ourselves, that in the face of awful horrors all around the world and at home we may remain vigilant and open-eyed and compassionate, able to hold fast to what is good and noble and true because we have seen Jesus and have promised to follow, and we pray that we would rely on God alone to strengthen us and renew our zeal.
In the name of God, the maker and lover of all,
Of Jesus, our friend and saviour
And the Holy Spirit, promised power of God present with us now and always.
Amen
Stepping out of the boat... 