Daniel Philip: Contemporary Versions of the Affirnmation of Faith and the Lord's Prayer

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God, our mother and father, creator of the universe, who formed everything from chaos to order.
We believe in Jesus Christ, a carpenter of Nazareth, friend of the oppressed, who is the Lord and Liberator, who wants not to be idolized but to be followed. He was executed by the hypocrites and the unjust society. God of life raised him from the chains of death and gave us hope.

We believe in the Holy Spirit who motivates and encourages us to challenge the traditional power structures. We affirm the Holy Catholic Church, which is responsible to continue the liberative activity of God. We look forward to a world of justice, peace and integrity. We believe in the hope for a new earth, brought about by th renewal of the whole creation where all will have in its fullness. Amen.

A prayer using Lord's Prayer as a Model

Our God, who is ever present in the struggles, pains and suffering of the people, your name be exalted. Your reign of love and freedom come. Your will to do justice and righteousness be done in the here and now. as it will be in your reign. Give us this day the courage to stand for rights, and to demand for an equal share of your wealth. Forgive us, our silence in the face of injustice, for burying our dreams, complying with the 'status quo.' and give us the will to become agents of social change. Lead us not into an attitude of complicity, but deliver us from all the dangers of becoming docile. For to you, belongs the power to judge and the power to liberate, fro ever and ever. Amen.

Excerpts from Binu's Worship Order

Excerpts from Binu Thomas's Worship Order July 16, 2008

Call to Worship


Life is broken, life dies
Life is reborn, life continues,We do not look back to the past But to the new futures that arise each day with the the new rising of the sun
With the fresh dews on the grass
And the sunshine of new possibilities
Let these see symbolize the new possibilities (seeds brought forward)
Of life that open before us
Come let us explore the possibilities of of life in God's presence
God is the giver of new life; we come to God's presence


Prayer of Confession

I cannot, OUR
If my faith has no room for other people and their needs
I cannot say, FATHER and MOTHER
If I do not demonstrate this relationship in my daily living
I cannot say, HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME
If I, who am called by God's name, am not holy
I cannot say, YOUR KINGDOM COME
Unless I lead your people to the fullness of life
I cannot say, YOUR WILL BE DONE
If I do trust in my own ways
I cannot say, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
Unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's ministry now
I cannot say, GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
If I ignore the genuine needs of my neighbour
I cannot say, Forgive US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS
If I continue to harbour a grudge against any one
I cannot say, LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
If I continue to remain in a situation here I am likely to be tempted
I cannot say, DELIVER US FROM EVIL
If I am not prepared to stand for the right
I cannot say, YOURS IS THE KINGDOM
If I fear what my neighbours and friends say or do
I cannot say, YOURS IS THE GLORY
If I am seeking my own glory first
I cannot say, YOURS IS THE POWER
If I support the unjust and life-negating power systems around me
I cannot say, FOREVER
If a I am too anxious about each day's affairs
I cannot say, AMEN
Unless I can be honest.

Benediction

The way is too long, let us go together
The way is difficult , let us help each other
The way is joyful, let us share it
The way is Christ's for he is the way
Let us follow
The way is open before us
Let us go with the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ
And the Communion of the Holy Spirit.

Lords Prayer in Hebrew/ Aramaic

Lords Prayer in Hebrew/ Aramaic

Matthew gives the Prayer in rather crude Greek, behind which one can sense the original Hebrew, the original Aramaic, Matthew 6.9-15: [AVINU SHEBA-SHAMAYYIM/ Our Father Who art in the heavens/ YITKADASH SHEMAYCHA/ Let Thy Name be sanctified (hallowed) / TAVO MALKUTAYCHA/ May Thy Kingdom come/ YE-ASSEH RETZONCHA/ Let Your Will take place/ K'MO BA-SHAMAYYIM KAIN BA-ARETZ/ as it is in the heavens, so also upon the earth/ ET LECHEM HUKAYNU TEN-LONU HA-YOM/ Give us today the bread for this day/ U-SLACH LONU ET HOVOTHEYNU/ Forgive us our sins (debts)/ KA-ASHER SOLACHNU GAM ANACHNU L'HA-YAVAYNU/ As we also have forgiven our debtors/ VIH-AL TIVI-AYNU LI-Y'DAY NISA-YON/ And lead us not into the hands of temptation/ KEE IM HAL-TZAYNU MIN HARAH/ And deliver us from evil from http://www.spiritheart.org/chapel/lordpryr.htm#hurtak_hebrew

tag: gurukulam

Kiss of Peace

Kiss of Peace

Let there be Love, shared among us
Let there be Love, in our eyes
May now your Love, sweep this nation
Cause us O Lord, to arise

Give us a fresh understanding
Of Motherly Love, that is Rpreal
Let there be Love, shared among us
Let there be Love

(peace/joy)

composed by Dave Bilbrough,1979
Biography

Affirmation of Faith and the Lord's prayer from Dn. Babu Abraham's Evaluation Service

The Affirmation of Faith: "We believe in One God, the author of life and creator of the universe, who is not in some distant place but in our midst. We believe in the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who came into the world to seek the lost, to redeem the whole creation and to free us from all forms of oppression. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, who leads us all to truth, renewing us and enabling us to grow in the likeness of Christ.
We affirm that the Church and its entire members have a mission for today: to proclaim the good news and to work with those who struggle to for justice and freedom in our communities.
We affirm the dignity of all who live in the world, the basic right of every human being to develop as a child of God, for whom Christ has given Himself in love. Amen."

Lord's Prayer: "God our parent, who is everywhere
Your name will be Holy
Your rule comes
Your plan be executed on earth
Provide our sustenance Forgive our wrongs and injustices
Inspire a forgiving Spirit in us
Help us to overcome our self-righteousness
And liberate us from all evils
Yours is the rule, the power and the glory forever and ever, Amen.