91����

Belhar Confession 91���� Service #7

As Christ’s body in this world, we follow the example of our suffering Savior. The church accepts suffering:

• through identification with those who are suffering,
• in compassion with those who are hurting,
• for righteousness sake when authorities and human laws contradict our obedience to Christ.

Suggested Scriptures

References in Other Confessional Documents

Possible Songs

All those notated with an asterisk will be found in “” (LUYH), to be published in 2013 by Faith Alive Christian Resources.

*, LUYH
     [Psalm 57: paired with MIKTAM]
*, LUYH
     [with Psalm 109; paired with GORTON]
*, SNC 205
     [paired with HEALER]
*, GSW 43
*, LUYH
     [paired with ERHALT UNS, HERR]
*, SNC 69
     [paired with YE BANKS AND BRAES]
*, SNC 193
     [paired with SOMOS DEL SENOR]
*, LUYH
     [paired with YOU ARE MINE]

Liturgy Resources

Prayers

Lord Jesus Christ,
we come to you sharing the suffering that you endured.
Grant us patience during this time,
that as we and [name]
live with pain, disappointment, and frustration,
we may realize that suffering is a part of life,
a part of life that you know intimately.
Touch [name] in his/her time of trial,
hold him/her tenderly in your loving arms,
and let him/her know you care.
Renew us in our spirits,
even when our bodies are not being renewed,
that we might be ever prepared to dwell in your eternal home,
through our faith in you, Lord Jesus,
who died and are alive for evermore. Amen.
Taken from The 91���� Sourcebook, © Faith Alive Christian Resources, 4.5.11

God of life, God of comfort:
alone,
afraid,
in fear,
in loss,
we cry out:
“Why, O Lord, why?”
“How long, O Lord, how long?”
We cling to you in hope
even as we grasp for hope.
So grasp us in your loving embrace
through Jesus Christ,
who endured the cross for our sake. Amen.
Taken from The 91���� Sourcebook, © Faith Alive Christian Resources, 4.5.27

Lord Jesus, King of the Church,
you know from your experience the pain and suffering
that ministry in this fallen world can involve.
You came to your own people
and your own people did not accept you.
You knew misunderstanding, hatred and rejection while ministering.
You felt the ultimate rejection of humankind at the cross.
You warned your disciples that if the world hated you,
it would also hate them.
And you have told us that we also must share in your sufferings,
that we too might be rejected when we serve in your name.

And so we ask, gracious Lord,
for passion to stand for what is right and true,
for courage to remain firm when the going is tough,
for the ability to love when we are not loved back,
for protection when evil plots threaten us,
for words from your Spirit when we must answer,
for wisdom to consider suffering for righteousness a worthy cause,
and for mercy to sustain us when our strength is gone.

Hear us our Lord,
and be near to us,
until the final day of victory when you return. Amen.

Affirmation

We believe in the triune God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
who gathers, protects and cares for the church through Word and Spirit.

This, God has done since the beginning of the World
and will do to the end.

We believe that in obedience to Jesus Christ, its only head,
the church is called to confess and to do all these things,
even though the authorities and human laws might forbid them
and punishment and suffering be the consequence.    

Jesus is Lord.

To the one and only God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be the honor and the glory forever and ever.

Amen.
Belhar Confession, article 1 and 5

Glossary

Confessions and Testimonies:

(Note: When we use the term “Other Confessional Documents” we are using the term “confessional” broadly to include those which have been formally adopted as a Confession of Faith by a denomination, but also those which more loosely are considered a Testimony or Declaration of Faith by a denomination.)

Belhar –
BC –
HC –
OWBTG –
OSOH –
WC –
WCRC –
WLC –
WSC –

Hymnals/Resources:

ELW –
CSW –
GSW –
LUYH –
PFAS –
PsH –
SNC –
SNT –
TWS –

General Hymns:

*, GSW 44
*, LUYH
     [paired with TWO OAKS]
*, LUYH
     [paired with SLANE]
*, LUYH
     [paired with ARGENTINA]
*, SNC 172
     [paired with LUX PRIMA]
*, LUYH
     [paired with CEM RHONDDA]
, ELW 710
     [paired with THAXTED]

     [JOYOUS LIGHT Morningstar MSM-50-7800 SATB and Congregation]
*, LUYH 2.2.1
     [paired with CONFESSION]
*, SNC 50
The Church of Christ, in Every Age, ELW 729
     [paired with WAREHAM]
*, PsH 502
     [paired with AURELIA]
, David Alexander 
     [sung to O WALY WALY, Unity, Reconciliation and Justice: Apppendix C, p.87]