Among its many prophetic actions this past summer, General Convention recognized the extreme effect of the current global economic crisis on the world’s poorest people.  In 2009 we exceeded— for the first time— over 1 billion people trying to exist on less than $1.25 a day. As the crisis continued during 2009 an additional 55-90 million more people have dropped below the extreme poverty line.

One of the ways General Convention responded to this alarming and unacceptable reality was to unanimously pass resolution D018 which invites “dioceses and parishes in the Episcopal Church to focus the season of Lent 2010 as a time of penitential reflection on the brokenness of the global economic order and its reformation in light of the Gospel. . .”

EGR is encouraging every person, parish and diocese in the Episcopal Church to observe D018, devoting Lenten prayer and study to our broken economic order and focusing our hearts and minds on its renewal.

To this end, EGR has gathered resources for use by individuals and congregations. By clicking this link (http://e4gr.wordpress.com/lent-2010-considering-d018/) you will find  a host of recommended curricula, books, video clips, copies of General Convention resolutions, and a copy of a Pastoral Letter from the House of Bishops which calls the church to economic justice and renewal in this time of crisis.

Last week’s earthquake in Haiti and the human, spiritual, physical, and economic destruction that followed in its wake reminds us that people of faith do not have any time to waste in attending to the devastation of extreme poverty, justice for the poor, and renewed economic order.  Won’t you join us?

Or you can visit our website at www.e4gr.org shortly, and all of the information will be there as well!

Reading Mark 4: 35-41

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them: “Let us go across to the other side.”…. They took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in  the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. Jesus said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

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.

By: Bishop Jeffrey Rowthorn, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation
January 15, 2010
(available for download here in word Praying for Haiti and pdf Praying for Haiti)

When you use in your event or liturgy, please use the same text as above for the credit.