2014 Together with the Churches of the World

Sunday Prayer Worship for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula

Theme: May We Become One through the Happiness of Liberation- You, also, Go and Do Likewise -

◆ Date: Sunday, August 10th, 2014

National Council of Churches in Korea

Reconciliation and Reunification Committee

2014Sunday Prayer Worship for the Peace and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula Together with the Churches of the World

<Basis>

1. Praying for the liberation and simultaneous reconciliation and healing of the divided Korean peninsula along with the churches of the worldPraying together for the reconciliation and healing of the Korean peninsula being divided right after the liberation in 1945 with the churches of the world.

2. Overcoming the South/North antagonism and conflict by opening and interaction between North and South

3. Fostering an environment for the construction of a peace organization and peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula by concluding a Peace Treaty

4. Cooperation and solidarity of the churches of the world who pray for peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

<Theme Lectionary>

Genesis 4: 1-8 / Luke 10:25-37

<Objective>

“Our country having become one motherland, let’s share the happiness of liberation!”

“Let’s share the happiness of liberation in our reunified motherland!”

1. 69 years ago, the people of this nation were blessed with the happiness of liberation.

Simultaneously for 69 years, the people have continued in pain and sadness through

division. We pray that the day may come when the Korean peninsula realizes peaceful

reunification and the people of the South and North are freely blessed with that

happiness.

2. South and North must overcome the experience of antagonism and conflict through

sustainable exchanges and understanding. South and North must overcome their

differences and recover the state of being one people in nature through active exchange

and cooperation.

3. Since the cease-fire agreement, the Korean peninsula has increased military drills and has

not ceased armed skirmishes. This has led to anxiety in the lives of the citizens of North

and South and they are stained by anguish. Now we must end the current state of the

cease-fire, and instead we must accomplish a permanent peace. For this purpose, it is

imperative that we reach accord on a peace treaty as soon as possible.

4. Peace is a categorical imperative from God that has come down to the church. It is time

for all the churches of the world to summon their courage on behalf of peace and

reunification of the Korean peninsula. The peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula

will lead to the peace of Northeast Asia and the advancement of world peace.

WorshipNotice

1. The WCC Busan Assembly passed a resolution that the churches of the world will

annually observe each Sunday prior to August 15thas a “Sunday of Prayer for the Peaceful

Reunification of the Korean Peninsula.”

2. The Reconciliation and Reunification Committee of the NCCK drafted this ceremony in the

hopes that each church could apply it in reference to their own situation.

3. The Joint Community Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula was

prepared by both the NCCK (South) and the Korean Christian Federation (North) together.

<Order of Worship>

2014 Sunday Prayer Worship for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula

Liturgist_ Presider

Invitation to Worship·········································································································Liturgist

(Please Stand)

Liturgist: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the

fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Congregation: And also with you.

Liturgist: As the Spirit of our Lord has come to this place, let us all become one,

and let us pray that the wave of peace may rise on the Korean

peninsula. Inviting the Lord to this place, Let us come forth with humble

hearts.

Congregation: Amen.

Opening Hymn····························“Come Now, O Prince of Peace”····························All Together

Prayer··································································································································Liturgist

Liturgist: God, who calls us to peace and reunification! May the will of God be

accomplished on this earth, your justice established, and may this

divided Korean peninsula become one!

Congregation: God of the Holy Trinity, please be with us.

Sounding of the Jing (Praying for the presence of the Trinity God- 3 strikes)

(Please be seated)

Confession of Sin·········································································································All Together

God of life and justice, we confess that we were insensitive to our brothers’ pain and suffering.

We have covered our brothers’ pain and suffering with the thin curtain of our systems and

ideologies so that we do not see them, and we have come to live only for the pursuit of the profit

before our eyes. We have come to live lives of suffering and have turned as far away as possible

from the justice of God which we have completely destroyed.

God of peace and reunification, we confess that we blamed the circumstances and the

environment for inclining ourselves to struggle for the peace and reunification of this land. We

have to live so that we consider the arms race and the competition of systems to be natural and

have caused our ears to be blocked to the sound of suffering. We have come to live so that we

are estranged from our wounded neighbors as we sit back and watch them with indifference.

Lord who unites us with the joy of peace, forgive us our sin and grant your compassion to us

who are bowing down to you in order to achieve your will.

Liturgist: God of life, lead us into justice and peace. Amen

Song of Mercy ·················································································································Hymn 631

Proclamation of Forgiveness·····························································································All Together

Liturgist: God listens to your confession that we offer with our heard and lips. Jesus

Christ forgives all of our sins. And Holy Spirit gives us strength to live our new

life.

Congregation: We believe the Good News about Jesus Christ. Amen

Hymn······································Hymn 475 “Humankind, the Work of God”························All Together

The Word

Today’s Prayer··························································································································Leader

Scripture··································································································································Leader

Word of Old Testament···················“Genesis 4:1-8”

1. Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have

produced a man with the help of the Lord.”

2. Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of

the ground.

3. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,

4. and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the

Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,

5. but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his

countenance fell.

6. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?

7. If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the

door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

8. Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And when they were in the

field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

(Please stand)

Word of Gospel······························“Luke 10:25-37”

25. Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit

eternal life?”

26. He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?”

27. He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your

soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

28. And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

29. But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30. Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands

of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

31. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by

on the other side.

32. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other

side.

33. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved

with pity.

34. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he

put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care

of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’

36. Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of

the robbers?”

37. He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

(Please be seated)

Sermon···················································“Go and Do Likewise”·············································Presider

Thanksgiving and Response

Joint Prayer for the peaceful reunification on the Korean Peninsula···································All Together

God of Love!

It has been 25 years since we agreed to keep the week of Independence Day as a joint

prayer week with the wish of reconciliation, and peace and reunification of the Korean

Peninsula. It was a promise from the South and North Korean churches’ deep prayer to

God for peace and reunification and was a vow of love in a very difficult time. We,

however, still have not reached full liberation and still are experiencing conflict and

hostile policies. Oh Lord! Have mercy on us.

God of the Road!

You know our suffering and pain at the division of our people. Lord, the road of

reconciliation and peace, created by the life and devotion of many people, has been

blocked. A high barrier of division is again being built up by people who don’t want

reunification. The door of joint economic cooperation into Kaeseong has been shrinking

and we cannot be sure when the pathway of reconciliation through Mt. Keumkang will

open again. All sky access, waterways and railways have been blocked. Lord, we are

afraid of today’s reality. Oh Lord, help us be against the injust, and open the way of

peace and reunification.

God of Truth!

When we look back at this long and painful reality, you convince us that the way for

sincere reconciliation and peace and reunification is coming together in exchange and

cooperation based on mutual understanding, and opening military and political

barricades with mutual trust. “For he is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). The Lord of the

Resurrection sent peace to all people through the love of the Cross. Lord, let the

ceasefire agreement, which was not made by our will, be discarded immediately and let

the war finally be ended through a peace treaty. Break the influence of darkness and

injustice which tries to dominate the world by force and power, and let us all walk the

way of service, sharing, love and truth.

God of Life!

We want to be a lighthouse for peace in East Asia and the world to light the peace of the

world. Lord, let us put an end to the military culture of plunder, domination and death

that has been made by the strong. Let us build the history of life through your love. Let

those confess their sin who unjustly dominate, threatening the powerless and taking the

lives of others, and let them do justice again by returning all that they have exploited.

Accordingly, let the South, the North, and all Christians of the world pray, “God of life,

lead us to justice and peace”, and let us come to the Lord who calls us as the apostles of

peace.

In 2013 at the WCC 10th General Assembly in Busan, 345 churches of the world,

representing 560,000,000 Christians, promised to act and pray together for the peace

and reunification of Korea. However, unfortunately, the Korean Christian Federation

could not join us in that time. Oh Lord, let the churches of South and North Korea make

every effort to work for peace and reunification, praying together now more than ever.

In the near future, let us hear the Gospel of reunification which will be to us a 2nd

liberation. You are the love, truth, and life. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

August 15, 2014

The National Council of Churches in Korea Korean Christian Federation

Intercessory Prayer ···············································································································Presider

1. For the conclusion of a peace treaty on the Korean peninsula and for an end to

military drills…

2. For dismantling all the systems that disrupt exchanges and cooperation…

3. For the peace of all countries embroiled in conflict (Sudan, Palestine, Ukraine, etc.)

Offering Hymn··································“You Shall Love God, You Lord”·································All Together

Offering Prayer························································································································Leader

Eucharist

▶ Invitation to the Lord’s Table

Presider: We invite all of those who wish to join the journey of peace, who wish to resemble

Jesus as he became the way and life in person by embracing the cross through His love for His

people.

Presider: Lift up your hearts.

Congregation: We lift them to the Lord.

Presider: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Presider: We praise God with our whole heart and mind.

Prayer for Communion▶

Presider: Oh Lord, who became one with the joy of peace, as we stand together participating in

your body and blood; we want to live into God's world of life, peace, and justice. Grant us your

grace in this communion; let our life not be an embarrassment in front of God. Let us embrace

the heart of Jesus by putting down the vain desires, hatred, and conflict which continue growing

inside us even though they pour out of us every day. Let us follow the way of peace with joy.

Together: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of Your

glory. Hosanna in the highest.

▶ The Sacrament

Presider: On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread　and gave thanks.　He broke the

bread and gave it to his disciples, and said, "This is my body given for you. Do this in

remembrance of me." After he took the cup and gave thanks, he said to his disciples, “This is my

blood poured out so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in remembrance of me. Drink this cup and

pass it around to everyone. This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, shed for you for the

forgiveness of sins."

Congregation: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

▶ Prayer for the Presence of the Holy Spirit

Presider: Holy Spirit God, please consecrate this table by pouring yourself out onto the bread

and wine that is prepared. Also be present in us so that this bread and wine may be the eternal

food for life, and when we drink and eat this, please grant us the ability to change the world by

receiving the body of Christ.

Congregation: Maranatha! Lord, come quickly so that it may be done.

▶ The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth

as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin

against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and

the glory are yours. Now and forever. Amen.

▶ Distribution

[Please nod your head lightly to express thanks for the bread and wine symbolizing the body

and blood of the Lord before receiving bread and wine.]

Presider: (While breaking the bread) This is the body of Christ.

Congregation: (While they nod) Amen

Co-presider: (Raising the cup) This is the blood of Christ.

Congregation: (While they nod) Amen

▶ Passing of the Peace

Greet each other saying, "The joy of liberation be with you."

▶ Thanksgiving Prayer after Communion

Oh Lord, who unites us with the joy of liberation, thank you for filling us with life and joy, and

for reconciling our divided selves through this communion. The fellowship you have given us

becomes our hope and promise while suffering from deep division between sister to sister,

brother to brother, and neighbor to neighbor.

Lord, give us your Holy Spirit to overflow with the joy of reconciliation amongst our divided

selves, and help us make our nation to overflow with your will; in Jesus Christ, who unites us with

the joy of liberation.

Sending to the World

(Please stand)

Hymn············································“Unto Hearts in Deep Night Pining”······························All Together

Benediction····························································································································Presider