International Women’s Day

Monday, 8th March, 2010

L: “The origin of a child is a mother, a woman… She shows a man what loving, caring and sharing is all about.” said Sushmita Sen, India’s first Miss Universe, in the final round of the contest. An answer which was greeted with tremendous applause and which probably, led her to win the crown.

Indeed a woman’s essence lies in her innate ability to care, love and sacrifice for the other. She plays an all-enveloping character of a mother, daughter, wife and sister as a friend, nurturer, guide and partner from time to time.

Emotional and vulnerable, sometimes erratic, sometimes serene, she displays a wonderful range of emotions from being patient to being extremely courageous in times of crisis.

In spite of continuing exploitation and injustice against women both in the domestic and work sector today, several milestones have been achieved in terms of education, freedom of choice and liberty, equality etc.

With growing literacy and financial independence women feel more empowered today to assert their right to a life of dignity and self worth.

The International Women's Day celebrated on 8th March is a universal day for all women around the world. It endows them with a sense of honour, dignity and self respect for being the person that they are.

This day marks a celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political achievements made by women over the years.

Prayer of Thanksgiving L: Our creator God, maker of heaven and

earth, everyday, which is made by you, we take delight in all people of the earth and in all of your creation. We give you thanks for your tender and protective touch of each person in our country. For the cultural wealth visible in our greater rhythmic variety, innumerable natural richness, and our colourful and physical expressiveness.

All of us are a sign of your generous tenderness. For your tender touch which strengthens and sustains our sense of family, our capacity to laugh even in the midst’s of sorrow, the smile of our children despite the violence, the constant struggle of women regardless of adversity and discrimination.

All: We give thanks to our God

Special song by Mary Chang

Short reflection on 2 Samuel 13:1-22

Let us all rise and sing, “Make me an instrument of your

peace”

Lord make us instruments of your peaceWhere there is hatred let your love

increaseLord make us instruments of your peaceWalls of pride and prejudice shall ceaseWhen we are your instruments of peace.

Where there is hatred we will show his love

Where there is injury we will never judgeWhere there is strife we will speak his

peaceTo the people crying for releaseWe will be his instruments of peace.

Lord make us instruments of your peaceWhere there is hatred let your love

increaseLord make us instruments of your peaceWalls of pride and prejudice shall ceaseWhen we are your instruments of peace.

Where there is blindness, we will pray for sight

Where there is darkness we will shine his light

Where there is sadness we will bear his grief

To the millions crying for releaseWe will be his instruments of peace.

Lord make us instruments of your peaceWhere there is hatred let your love

increaseLord make us instruments of your peaceWalls of pride and prejudice shall ceaseWhen we are your instruments of peace.

Prayer L: Let us pray for the battered and

abused women, weep for the broken and oppressed and for the women who are being used, women who do not count the cost, when dreams have to be forfeited, and opportunities are lost. Let us also pray for the girl in her mother’s womb, for the gemstone in the rough, who from the cradle to the tomb will never be quite good enough.

Let us pray for women whose confidence is ruined, whose identities are taken away, and whose dignity has been destroyed. When hope is shattered and the future bleak, we pray Lord that you will be their source of courage and strength.

Lord, we also pray that you will enable the leaders of our church to discern your will and purpose for the world. Open their eyes to see the interlocking of oppression and discrimination among different churches.

We pray for the repentance of your church, to turn away from the sin of selfishness, greed, intolerance, insensitivity and arrogance. Infuse your love into our hearts to see one another as a fellow being created equally in the image of God.

Let us pray

L: Sustainer God, You invite us to be constantly renewed in our relationship towards you and our fellow beings. The fire of your love warms our hearts and enables us to relate with each other as members of one family.

You are hurt when we fail to look upon the other as our brother and sister. Enable us to return to you and to our neighbours, with penitent hearts, ready for mutual enrichment of lives. May your gift of forgiveness bring healing and wholeness in our families, Church and society.

All: God of life, your grace is sufficient for us. Accept our thanks we pray

All: Lord touch our eyes that we may seeTouch our ears that we may hearTouch our mouths that we may transmit your messageTouch our hands that we may be willing to giveTouch our lives, so that your holy spirit may penetrate themTouch our hearts and let us feel your love

Benediction May the God of peace be with us and

grant us His peace at all times, peace beyond our understanding that purifies hearts, minds and body, until his reign comes.

Amen