Standing TogetherStanding Together

Opening Prayer

We ask for the strength to be God’s challenging presence here and now.

We commit ourselves to actions that herald the love of our God – the God of Justice.

We acknowledge that we are our brother’s and sister’s keepers.

With Christ as our model, we go forward to change the world.

Scripture Isaiah 58:6-11

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loosen the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and God will say: “Here I am.”

If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always;...will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

The word of the Lord.......................... Thanks be to God.

On the Turning Away

Pink Floyd

Album: Momentary Lapse of Reason

On the turning awayfrom the pale and downtrodden

Bri

an B

urn

ett

Scr

uti

ny

Ave

nu

e(1

981)

And the words they say

which we won't understand

Dan

Gh

eno

Ho

mel

ess,

Po

rt A

uth

ori

ty N

ew Y

ork

Don't accept that what's happeningis just a case of others' suffering

Jo

yce

Ulr

ich

,

Ho

me

Sw

ee

t H

om

e

Or you'll find that you're joining inthe turning away

Ph

illip

Bu

ller

Dre

am

Tu

rnin

g A

wa

y

It's a sin that somehowlight is changing to shadow

Jo

na

tha

n R

om

ain

H

om

ele

ss

And casting it's shroud

over all we have known

Vid

ho

Lo

rvill

e

Th

e B

eg

gar

Unaware how the ranks have grown

driven on by a heart of stone

Ju

dg

men

tM

att

Se

sow

We could find that we're all alone

in the dream of the proud

Da

vid

Ko

ntr

a

So

lo

On the wings of the nightas the daytime is stirring

Da

n T

urn

er,

T

he

Ho

mel

ess

Where the speechless unitein a silent accord

Da

mia

n M

ich

ael

s

Using words you will find are

strangeand mesmerized as they light the

flame

Fe

licit

y R

om

a B

ow

ers

, F

lam

e

Feel the new wind of change

on the wings of the night

Jo

yce

Ulr

ich

, W

orl

d T

urn

ed U

ps

ide

Do

wn

Jes

se

Re

no

Die

go

Riv

era

Bie

ne

s C

on

ge

lad

os

No

Way

Ou

tM

att

Se

sow

No more turning awayfrom the weak and the weary

Gre

g A

nka

No more turning away

from the coldness

insideJill

Fre

ss

inie

r

Just a world that we all must

shareit's not enough just to stand

and stare

Jo

e D

ay

Is it only a dream that there'll be

no more turning away?

Pie

tà o

r R

evo

luti

on

by

Nig

ht,

M

ax

Ern

st

Joe Day

Standing TogetherStanding Together as

TeachersChoral Reflection

(from Isaiah 50:4-51:2)

 1. The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher...

All: That I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.

 

2. The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher...

All: Morning by morning God wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. .

 

3. The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher...

All: God has opened my ear, and I am not rebellious, I do not turn backward.

4. The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher...

All: That I might challenge injustice. I do not hide from insult and spitting.

 

5. The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher...

All: That I might be hope for the hopeless, joy to the joyless, and comfort to the afflicted. The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I will not be disgraced.

6. The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher...

All: That I might be a voice of reason in chaos, reconciliation in strife, and unity in the midst of fragmentation. I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.

 

7. The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher...

All: That I might speak justice in the face of oppression, peace in times of war, and light in times of darkness. The God who vindicates me is near.

 

8. The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher...

All: That love, peace, joy and challenge be part of all I do. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Christ LitanyChrist...

....within me.Christ...

...above me.Christ...

...around me.Christ...

...under my feet.Christ...

...in my coming.Christ...

...in my going.

Christ... ...in my speaking.

Christ......in my hearing.

Christ ... in my doing.

 Because of Christ...

...we are not afraid.

Go Light Your WorldKathy Trocolli

There is a candle in every soul

Some brightly burning, some dark and cold

There is a Spirit who brings a fire

Ignites a candle and makes its home

Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn

Hold out your candle, for all to see it

Take your candle and go light your world

Take your candle and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried toLight his own candle some other way

See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to

Still holds a candle without a flame

Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn

Hold out your candle, for all to see it

Take your candle and go light your world

Take your candle and go light your world

We are a family whose hearts are blazingSo let's raise our candles and light up the sky

Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus

Make us a beacon in darkest times

Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor

Hold out your candle, for all to see it

Take your candle and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the hopeless, confused, and torn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle and go light your world

Take your candle and go light your world

We Stand Together

We stand together as a sign of hope for the hopeless

We stand together in solidarity with the dispossessed

We stand together in prayer

We stand together as a blessing for each other

We stand together as living candles of care

We stand together as witnesses to the Gospel of Love

Amen