Street Child World Cup - liturgy:
Garth Hewitt says,
"This liturgy focusses on the value of street children by telling the sad story of two of them.
Around 25 years ago my son Tom was working with street children in East London in South Africa - he was linked to a project called 'Isaiah 58'.
He rang Gill and myself in the middle of the night - he was very upset.
One of the children they were trying to get off the street had been killed.
Siseiko Sisulu was 14 years old and he was abused and beaten up.
Tom was called by other street kids - they got him to hospital but it was too late.
They decided to make as big a funeral as they could to stress he was 'somebody'.
When Tom heard I had put Siseiko's name in a song called 'Isaiah 58' he was very pleased because he said 'I don't want him to be forgotten'.
I included the song in this liturgy to remember Siseiko - and also another young lad - Rodrigo Kelton from Fortaleza in North East Brazil.
Rodrigo was a key figure in Team Brazil - he had turned his life around and was looking forward with excitement to playing at this year's Street Child World Cup.
Sadly on his 14th birthday he was shot dead.
So I sing 'Isaiah 58' as a tribute to Siseiko and Rodrigo and all the Street Children who suffer on the streets - and are lost to the streets.
Our prayer is that Street Child World Cup will be one way to assert the value and the significance of every child and to remind everyone that
'No child should have to live on the streets'.
Canadian artist and volunteer Carling has painted a picture of Rodrigo Kelton and we have this up in the Chapel at Lonier as a constant reminder in our liturgies.
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Opening responses
Leader In this moment, we bring ourselves, and our day,
We gather our random thoughts, our scattered lives,
We bring the entirety of ourselves to this place of calm, this sacred space where we pause to find grace and to pray our morning prayers. We ask for comfort
All We ask for peace
Leader We ask for love
All We ask for hope
Leader God of vast sky and boundless ocean,
Whose names cannot be numbered,
Who is other and beyond, whose mystery defeats calculation and tabulation
All We approach the unknown in awe and humility
Leader God who is closer than breathing, interwoven in creation,
Who inhabits our deepest desires,
Who resides in every pulse
All We welcome you as one who knows us and makes yourself known
Leader God who is present in our suffering as well as our celebrations,
Who embraces the anxious, the poor and the broken,
Who raises up the humble and judges the proud
All Forgive our selfishness, warm our hearts, stir our generosity, provoke our anger.
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I Am Somebody
a prayer inspired by the words of Revd W H Borders
I am Somebody
I may be poor
But I am Somebody
I may be young
But I am Somebody
I may be on the street
But I am Somebody
I must be respected,
Protected, never rejected,
I am Somebody
I am a child,
I am Somebody
Generous God, you created us all in your image
and you see the worth in each and every one of your children.
Grant us the wisdom to see the Somebody in everybody
and help us to be somebodies who make a difference.
Amen
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Reading: Isaiah 58
Leader Is not this the fast that I choose:
All To loose the bonds of injustice
To undo the thongs of the yoke,
To let the oppressed go free,
And to break every yoke?
Leader Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into your house;
When you see them naked, to cover them
And not to hid yourself from your own kin?
All Then shall your light break forth like the dawn
And your healing shall spring up quickly;
Leader If you remove the yoke from among you,
The pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
If you offer your food to the hungry
And satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
All You shall be like a watered garden,
Like a spring whose waters never fail
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Song – Isaiah 58 – The story of Siseiko Sisulu
Isaiah 58, Isaiah 58,
You’re not nobody, you’re somebody at Isaiah 58, Isaiah 58
Siseiko Sisulu, they killed him on the street
Fourteen years old but they killed him on the street,
Treated him like nothing, treated him like dirt,
But he was loved and precious to the very heart of God.
Isaiah 58, Isaiah 58,
You’re not nobody, you’re somebody at Isaiah 58, Isaiah 58
When Jesus came to Africa he was a refugee,
But he found food and shelter when he was a refugee;
And I believe he’s grateful, he’s grateful to this day,
“You’re not nobody, you’re somebody,” is what I hear him say.
Isaiah 58, Isaiah 58,
You’re not nobody, you’re somebody at Isaiah 58, Isaiah 58
Share food with the hungry, give shelter to the poor,
Break chains of injustice, that’s a word from the Lord.
Do away with oppression, reach out to those in need,
Then light will rise in darkness, we’ll all begin to see.
Isaiah 58, Isaiah 58,
You’re not nobody, you’re somebody at Isaiah 58, Isaiah 58
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Silence
God of Justice
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
God of all times and places,
Who brings light into the world’s darkness,
We come to you with our prayers:
So that the children may no longer be denied education;
So that the sick may no longer die from curable diseases;
So that the workers may no longer be cheated of justice;
Your kingdom come:
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
So that financial systems may no more burden the poorest;
So that our trade may no more deny a fair wage;
So that debt may no more trap nations in poverty;
Your kingdom come:
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
So that the innocent will walk free from prison;
So that minorities will live without fear;
So that the whole earth will worship in freedom;
Your kingdom come:
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
So that the Palestinian may find a home;
So that the Dalits will be allowed their dignity;
So that racism and oppression may be banished from the earth;
Your kingdom come:
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
So that street children will be valued and cared for
So that all will recognize their humanity
So none are left out of the feast of life
Your kingdom come:
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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Kyrie Eleison and candle lighting
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A prayer for the 2014 Street Child World Cup
By Martin Wroe
Dear God
We give thanks that you made us all somebodies
Not no-bodies;
That you never forget us,
Even when no one remembers us;
That you made us to flourish in company, in love, respect and mutuality.
We give thanks that we have rights
Even when everyone sees us as wrong;
That we have a voice,
Even when we are being silenced;
That if we are denied respect and dignity, so are you
because you made us like yourself.
We say a prayer for all children in our world who find themselves living rough in our cities.
Whose bed is a pavement, who wake to the stench of traffic and hunt for breakfast in everyone
else's leftovers.
Those who fear a round-up by the police more than a teacher asking about homework
Who miss the love of parents, the security of family, the safety of home.
In a moment’s quiet we bring you these children, your children, our children.
We pray for the Street Child World Cup in Brazil in 2014, that the beautiful game will reveal the beauty in all people.
That the world will wake up to the lives of street children everywhere. That their stories will be told, online and offline.
That politicians will realise that the time for change is now.
That young people playing football or making art will
discover the truths about each other… and themselves.
That all of us will realise that none of us is a no-one.
That each of us is a someone.
We give thanks that you made us to live together, and not apart.
To protect one other, not reject each other.
That you give us a voice to join with all whose voices are drowned out. We give thanks for the Street Child World Cup in 2014.
That we will finally recognise your face looking at us, from the faces of those who live on our streets.
That we will no longer see no-bodies, but children who are somebodies.
Amen
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Blessing
All May the love which overcomes all differences
Which heals all wounds,
Which puts to flight all fears
Which reconciles and brings hope,
Be in us and among us
Now and always.
Amen
Leader Go out and live this day to the full with joy in your hearts
All Thanks be to God
