Worship Order for Gender Relation

The United Theological College, Bangalore
Order of Worship, 21st June 2007
Theme: Holding Gender in Balance

(Let us silently prepare ourselves for worship)

Call to worship:
Friends, welcome to this time of worship. We all are one in God as God has made us in God’s likeness; therefore let us worship God together with our hearts and minds open to respond to the challenges of gender discrimination in the society.

Opening Prayer:
Lord our God we thank you for granting us a new day in our lives. Today as we worship you and hear about the indifferences towards gender in our society, inspire us through the power of your son Jesus Christ to be sensitive towards these discriminations. Grant us the power through your Holy Spirit to restore gender equality in the society, through our deeds, words and thought, in Jesus name we pray Amen


Praise and Thanksgiving (All standing)
L: Lord our God we praise you
All: For the different personalities that you have given us.
L: Lord our God we praise you
All: For the intelligence and strength you have given us.
L: Lord our God we thank you
All: For your son Jesus Christ who valued women in his ministry
L: Lord our God We thank youAll: For granting us wisdom through the works of Jesus Christ, who broke barriers against women and showed their worth in society, honoring them as human beings, persons and children of God.


Affirmation of faith (in Unison- Standing)
We believe in God, the source of all creation, who created both man and woman equally, both bearing God’s own image. We believe in Jesus Christ, who raised the station of women, showed love and respect for them in various aspects of life, and demonstrated their equality and self worth through his actions. We believe in the Holy Spirit who empowers us, enables us, and inspires us to break subordinating structures of society. We believe in the Holy Catholic Church which is called to carry out acts of liberation, which instigates us to put into practice the love shown by Jesus Christ for the oppressed in the community and become agents of new humanity. Amen

Scripture Reading: Luke 20: 27-36

Sermon: Jesus as a Model for Gender Relations

Confession
L: Lord our God we truly confess that
All: We have remained part of traditions that are not sensitive towards equality of sexes and have not worked towards its transformation.
L: Lord Our God we truly confess that
All: Either we have remained silent or have not been spirited in raising our voice against gender discrimination in the society.
L: Lord our God we truly confess that
All: We have often failed to understand the liberating message of your word for women
L: Lord our God we truly confess that
All: We have not shown the love that you showed toward women through Jesus Christ, thus failing to affirm the dignity and self worth of women.



Absolution
God is compassionate, if we have truthfully confessed; let us be assured of God’s forgiveness. May God help us to be responsible beings on earth, and strengthen us to follow the pathway of Jesus Christ to challenge the existing subordinating structures of the society. Amen

Special Song
Lord we come unto your feet for worship; we keep in front of you all those things that divide us. You have created us equal so let equality for others be visible in our lives. Through the power of the Holy Spirit inspire us to walk on the path of Life. Save us through Christ and grant us salvation in the present life.

Aie Khuda Tere Chrno Main Ham
Aaradhana Karthe Hai Ham
Jo Batathi Hai Baatain Hamain
Tere Sanmuk Laate Hai Ham
Aradhana Aradhana Aradhana Aaradhana - 2

1) Prem Pyar Aur Sammmantha Se
Ham Sab Mai Thu Hi Dikhey
Tere hi Roop Mai Ham Dale
Yeh Hi Dua Ham Karain
Aaradhana Aaradhana Aradhana Aradhana- 2

2) Atmaa Ke Vardhan Se Hamain
Jivan Ki Raah Par Chalaa
Dwara Masih Ke Bacha Hamain
Jivan Main Mukti Dilla
Aaradhana Aaradhana Aradhana Aradhana - 2

Intercession
L: God of Love, we pray for all our fellow human beings and for our life on earth. Make us an indispensable part of human project in which no one remains isolated, suffering and uncared.
All: Let us love one another, because love is from God, everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (I John 4:7)
L: Compassionate God, we pray for our churches, enable the churches to respond and do whatever is in their power so that the profound renewal of gender equality will happen.
All: There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of us are one in Christ Jesus. (Gal: 3:28)
L: We pray to you O God of just relationships; help us to be true in our relationships with one another. Transform us, our institutions to envision a new humanity that is liberated through the motivation of the Holy Spirit.
All: To set the mind on flesh is death, but to set mind on Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)



Closing prayer
Lord our God the feminist challenge to us is a radical one, it posits in front of us questions that are existential, ethical and intellectual. Through the power of the Holy Spirit help us to respond to these challenges through the thorough inner transformation of our teaching and practice, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Lord’s Prayer in unison
Our God in Heaven, Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

Benediction
As we depart from this place, may the strengthening grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Visible love of God and the inspiring fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us and help us all in setting a right standard of relationships among gender. Amen