The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Celebration

The Episcopal Church has listed the Rev. Dr. Samuel Shoemaker in "Holy Women, Holy Men;" his life and ministry are to be celebrated January 31 each year. His wife, Helen Shoemaker, is a founder of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer; she used to say "My husband taught me to pray."

Holy God, we thank you for the vision of Samuel Shoemaker, priest, evangelist, and co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous; and we pray that we may follow his example to help others find salvation through knowledge and love of Jesus Christ our Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SAMUEL SHOEMAKER
PRIEST AND EVANGELIST, 1963

Praying for Haiti in the Aftermath of the Earthquake
In grateful memory of Lisa Mbele-Mbong, Port-au-Prince, January 12, 2010

Reading: Mark 4: 35-41

Litany
(after each section of the litany the leader says the response in Creole or English and then the people repeat it)

For the faith of the people of Haiti, singing their hymns even as their hearts are breaking:
Beni swa l'Eternel / Blessed be the Eternal One (repeated by all
present)

For their selfless efforts to rescue loved ones and neighbors from the rubble:
Response

For the assurance that the many who have died are not lost for ever but rest in the Lord:
Response

For the God-given capacity to share the sufferings of others and to respond to their needs:
Response

For the nations of the world putting aside their differences to unite in offering assistance:
Response

For doctors and nurses, soldiers and relief workers, bringing help and hope to the needy:
Response

For Episcopal and other relief agencies, gathering contributions and putting them to work:
Response

For the healing and hope offered to all by Jesus Christ the Light of the World:
Response

For "the love of God from which neither life, nor death, nor things present, nor things to come, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us":
Response

Free Prayer (either spoken or silent)

Concluding Prayer

Jesus, Savior in times of storm,
when the waters of the deep are broken up and all the landmarks crumble before our eyes, come to our aid and hold us up.
Support the people of Haiti at this time lest they sink in hopelessness and despair.
Empower those who are responding to their need; uphold the bereaved in their grief; and let your light shine in the present darkness to lead us all to the city securely built on your love; In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

"Our Father..."

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.

Bishop Jeffrey Rowthorn, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation January 15, 2010