Prayers For Those Who Hunger

Ecumenical /Interfaith Worship Service on Hunger
April 10, 5:30, Wiegand Recital Hall/Chapel
B. P. John Administration Building, Third Floor North

Liturgical MinistersRachel Borsch
Kathleen Golden
Kevin Larsen,. .
Mary Ann Didomenico
Beth Ann Rose
Laura Howard
Sr. Carole Strawn, SNJM
Dionysis Murphy
Sr. Carol Anne Higgins. SNJM
Cora Palazzolo
Arleen Harlouff
Sr. Cecilia Ranger, SNJM, Ph.D
Dr. Sheila O’Connell-Roussell

Welcome and Introduction
Sr. Cecilia Ranger, SNJM PhD The U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that both the rates of food insecurity and hunger continue to increase in Oregon. Does not Wisdom call, does not understanding raise her voice;
On the heights beside the way, in the paths she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town... I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice. We pray to seek wisdom, to seek understanding to seek justice so we will come to know the Lord.

Loving God, open our hearts and minds to your presence in one another. We call on your assistance and wisdom as we strive to serve the many needs of people in our communities, especially those who are poor and without hope. We gather this day to discuss and reflect on Hunger in America. As people of God we ask you, our Creator of all good things, to send us your Spirit, open our minds and hearts to new possibilities for service, advocacy and collaboration.
Sr. Carol Anne & Dr. Sheila
Refrain: The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Blessed be the Lord
Reader: Sr. Cecilia Ranger, SNJM, Ph.D
Oregon is now among the five states with the highest hunger rate, and food insecurity. Hundreds of thousands of Oregonians have experienced times when they were hungry but did not eat because there was not enough money for food. The Oregon Food Bank Network distributed 66.2-million pounds of food in 2009 – the highest amount distributed by the statewide network in a single year. Nationally, 1 in 6 Americans (50 million), including nearly 17-million children, lived in households that knew hunger.

Song: I will bless the Lord at all times, with praise ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the Lord, who will hear the cry of the poor. R/
Refrain: The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Blessed be the Lord.

Reader: Rachel Borsch: 1.02 billion people do not have enough to eat -- more than the populations of USA, Canada and the European Union. Higher food prices have increased the number of undernourished people in the world by 75 million in 2007 and 40 million in 2008. 907 million people in developing countries alone are hungry. Asia and the Pacific region are homes to over half the world’s population, and yet they comprise nearly two thirds of the world’s hungry people.
Song: Let the lowly hear and be glad: the Lord listens to their pleas; and to hearts broken, God in near, who will hear the cry of the poor. R/
Refrain: The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Blessed be the Lord.
Reader: Kathleen Golden: More than 60 percent of chronically hungry people are women.65 percent of the world's hungry live in only seven countries: India, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Ethiopia. One out of four children -- roughly 146 million -- in developing countries are underweight.

Song: Every spirit crushed, God will save; will be ransom for their lives; will be safe shelter for their fears, and will hear the cry of the poor. R/
Refrain: The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Blessed be the Lord.

Reader: Kevin Larsen Every six seconds a child dies because of hunger and related causes.
More than 70 percent of the world's 146 million suffering children are under the age five. 10.9 million of these children under five die from malnutrition and hunger-related diseases.

Song: We proclaim your greatness, O God, your praise ever in our mouth; every face brightened in your light, for you hear the cry of the poor. R/

Refrain: The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Blessed be the Lord.
Reflections on Hunger from the Hebrew Prophets:

Lector: Mary Ann DidomenicoTheir skin shrinks on their bones, as dry as wood.
Better for those who perish by the sword than for those who die of hunger, Who waste away, as though pierced through, lacking the fruits of the field! (Lamentations 4: 8b-9) Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? (Malachai 2:10)

Lector: Beth Ann RoseGod prefers righteousness and justice above sacrifice. (Proverbs 21:3). God calls for “justice (to) well up as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. (Amos 5:24) And what the Lord doth require of thee: Only to do justly, love mercy And walk humbly with thy God. (Micah 6:8)

Lector: Sr. Carole Strawn, SNJM Take away from Me the noise of thy songs; And let Me not hear the melody of your songs. But let justice well up as waters, And righteousness as a mighty stream. (Amos 5:23, 24)

Leader: Laura HowardIntercessions: Through the intercession of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, two exemplary models of service to the poor, we pray: Fill us with your love, O Lord!
Response: Fill us with your love, O Lord! For the hungry, that we may find the means to feed them:
Response: Fill us with your love, O Lord!
For the naked, that we may find the means to clothe them: R/
Response: Fill us with your love, O Lord!
For the homeless, that we may find the means to shelter them: R/
Response: Fill us with your love, O Lord!
For our students, staff, administration, alums, donors and volunteers in thanksgiving for their support and dedication: R/
Response: Fill us with your love, O Lord!

Ritual of Providing of Food to Alleviate Hunger

Reader: Sr. Cecilia Ranger, SNJM, Ph.D Blessed are you, God, Flame of hope: may we be fuel and kindling for your fire of generosity toward others who have less than we do.

ALL: Blessed be God forever.

Presenter of the Bowl of Earth: Dionysis Murphy lifts up the bowl of earth, then lowers it and plants several seeds in the dirt.

Reader Dionysis Murphy: Blessed are you, God, Seed of justice: may we be fertile ground for your harvest.

ALL: Blessed be God forever.

Presenter of the Waters: Cora Palazzolo
Cora lifts up the pitcher of water and then pours water onto the bowl of earth planted with the seeds. Cora prays:

Reader Cora Palazzolo Blessed are you, God, Water in the wilderness: may we be streams in your river of peace.

ALL: Blessed be God forever.

Reader Dionysis Murphy: Blessed are you, God, Bread of life: may we nourish our sisters and brothers.
ALL: Blessed be God forever.

Reader Cora Palazzolo: Bless us, O Holy One of Blessing, that we may bless you in our lives of justice and peace.
ALL: Bless us, God of justice.

Reader Rachel Borsch: Bless all who mourn for their sisters and brothers who die from starvation or through war or injustice.
ALL: Bless us, God of justice.

Reader Kathleen Golden: Bless all who experience your mercy through the work and witness of women and men who unloose the bonds of oppression.
ALL: Bless us, God of justice.

Reader Kevin Larsen,. .
Bless all who hunger and thirst for righteousness in solidarity with those who put their lives on the line for justice in their homelands.
ALL: Bless us, God of justice.

Reader : Mary Ann DidomenicoBless all who seek your face in the laughter of children, the wisdom of elders, the mystery of creation, and in the solace of prayer.
ALL: Bless us, God of justice.

Reader: Beth Ann RoseBless all who work as your peacemakers to resolve conflicts, in our homes, communities and world.
ALL: Bless us, God of justice.

Reader: Laura HowardGod of all peoples,
Bless us in our work as members and supporters of development and peace.
Bless us through the challenges, struggles and joys we experience.
ALL: Bless us, God of justice.

Reader: Sr. Carole Strawn, SNJMBless us when we falter and when we grow weary.
Bless us with your peace.
ALL: Bless us, God of justice.

Leader: Sr. Cecilia Ranger, SNJM, Ph.D The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Peace Ritual to Unite All Peoples in Sharing Who They Are and What They Have
Prayer Leader: Rachel Borsch
HINDU PRAYER FOR PEACE Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real. Oh God, lead us from darkness to light. Oh God, lead us from death to immortality. Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all. Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace in celestial regions. May there be peace on earth. May the waters be appeasing, May herbs be wholesome, and may trees and plants bring peace to all. May all beneficent beings bring peace to us. May thy Vedic Law propagate peace all through the world. May all things be a source of peace to us. And may thy peace itself bestow peace on all, and may that peace come to me also.

Sr. Carol Anne, Dr. Sheila and CongregationSERVANT SONG by Donna Marie McGargill, OSM
What do you want of me, Lord?
Where do you want me to serve you?
Where can I sing your praises?
I am your song.

Jesus, Jesus, you are my Lord.
Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.

Prayer Leader:
Dionysis Murphy
BUDDHIST PRAYER FOR PEACE May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be free from their illnesses. May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those bound be free. May the powerless find power, and may people think of befriending one another. May those who find themselves in trackless, fearful wildernesses--the children, the aged, the unprotected--be guarded by beneficent celestials, and may they swiftly attain Buddhahood.

Song: I hear you call my name, Lord,
and I am moved within me.
Your Spirit stirs my deepest self.
Sing your songs in me.
Jesus, Jesus, you are my Lord.
Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.

Prayer Leader: Kevin Larsen.
MUSLIM PRAYER FOR PEACE In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful. Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us and made us into tribes and nations, that we may know each other, not that we may despise each other. If the enemy incline toward peace, do thou also incline toward peace, and trust in God, for the Lord is the one that heareth and knoweth all things. And the servants of God, Most Gracious are those who walk on the Earth in humility, and when we address, them, we say "PEACE."

Song: Above, below, and around me,
before, behind, and all through me,
your Spirit burns deep within me.
Fire my life with your love.
Jesus, Jesus, be the warmth of my heart.
Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.

Prayer Leader: Cora Palazzolo
BAHAI' PRAYER FOR PEACE Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be a lamp unto those who walk in darkness, and a home to the stranger. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be a breath of life to the body of humankind, a dew to the soil of the human heart, and a fruit upon the tree of humility.

Song: You are the light in my darkness.
You are my strength when I'm weary.
You give me sight when I'm blinded.
Come see for me.
Jesus, Jesus, you are my Light.
Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.

Prayer Leader: Mary Ann Didomenico
JEWISH PRAYER FOR PEACE Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, that we may walk the paths of the Most High. And we shall beat our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation--neither shall they learn war any more. And none shall be afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken.
Song: I am your song and servant,
singing your praise like Mary.
Surrendered to your Spirit,
"Let it be done to me."

Jesus, Jesus, "Let it be done to me."
Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.

Prayer Leader: Beth Ann Rose
CHRISTIAN PRAYER FOR PEACE Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS, for they shall be known as the Children of God. But I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To those who strike you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from those who take away your cloak, do not withhold your coat as well. Give to everyone who begs from you, and of those who take away your goods, do not ask them again. And as you wish that others would do to you do, do so to them."

Closing Prayer
Leader: Sr. Cecilia Ranger, SNJM, Ph.D Let us invoke the Love that moves above and below us, around us and within us.
Let us invoke the Spirit of Love that is greater than we are, but which is made real through us -- and only though us and our service to our sisters and brothers.
Let us invoke that human solidarity that makes justice and generosity possible and through which by making justice, we make peace possible.
Let us invoke love and live it as solidarity.
Our lives of giving and sharing are our prayers.
Amen.

Exchange of PeaceLeader: Invite all to exchange a sign of peace. As they greet another person, ask the participants to share with that person where or with whom they would like to take some action-- to alleviate Hunger in our world.