PRAYER CELEBRATION OF THE UPROOTED PEOPLE IN EUROPE

PRAYER CELEBRATION OF THE UPROOTED PEOPLE IN EUROPE
Prepared by: Rev. Cesar T. Taguba

UCCP Migrant Ministry/Ecumencial Ministry for Filipinos Abroad (EMFA)

(Uprooted People are those who are forced to leave their communities and country; those who flee because of persecution and war, those who are forcibly displaced because of environmental devastation and those who are compelled to seek sustenance in a city or abroad because they cannot economically survive at home. In this sense we, Cordillera People in Europe and abroad are part of the Uprooted People or Modern Day Diaspora).

Gangsa music to signal the start of the prayer celebration.

Call to Worship (Ugayam): Let us remember and be comforted with the words of Jesus who said “where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them..” (Matthew 18:20).
Liturgist (L): We are gathered here in the presence of God, who ask us to choose between life and death, wholeness and blindness.
All: We are gathered here like the people of Israel of the Old Testament, who were challenged to choose the way of life.
L: Like them, we often follow the way of death.
Men: Yet, like them, we have freedom each day to begin anew by the grace of God.
Women: Let us rejoice in the Lord for He has opened our eyes and hearts to be in solidarity with each other as Cordillera people and with the more than 800,000 Filipino compatriots in Europe. Let us rejoice in God’s guidance and sustenance as we sacrifice so many things in life just to have a decent and secured future for ourselves and our children.
L: In this way, we have enough reason to celebrate, to remember and continuously struggle in order to address the rampant exploitation and oppression of the Uprooted People.
All: let us praise God of life and love who has called us to this Assembly of Cordillera People In Europe.

Panawagan ng Pagsimba (Priest/Pastor): Makapangyarihang Diyos/ lahat ng puso ay
nakahayag sa Iyo/ narito ang inyong sambayanan/ kaming mga taga Cordillera at mga
kababayang Pilipino sa ibayong dagat/ mula Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, The
Netherlands, Switzerland, Scotland, United Kingdom/ at ang aming pamilya at kaibigan.
Nagpapasalamat kami/ sa biyayang natatamasa/ at nananalangin magkaroon ng katuparan/
ang aming mga pangarap sa buhay/ at masagana at mapayapang pamumuhay/ sa
sambayanang Pilipino. Linisin mo ang aming mga puso/ sa pamamagitan ng inyong Espiritu
Santo/ upang kami’y tapat na umibig sa Iyo at sa aming kapwa/ masigasig at masigla/ na
pahahanap-buhay/ at tapat sa aming paglilingkod sa Iyo/ at sa aming bayan. Amen.

Song of Praise : Garait (see songsheet)

Lighting of six candles to represent the Uprooted People in Europe namely: migrants/immigrants, refugees, seamen/seafarers, victims of sex trafficking and those who died entering and being deported from “Fortress Europe”and for the martyrs of the struggle for land, life and selfdetermination in the Cordillera.

Call to Confession: (Priest/Pastor): We have sinned against God and our neighbors. We have failed to concretize God’s love in action. We have been insensitive to the lamentations of the Uprooted People in Europe. Let us seek God’s forgiveness (silence).

Assurance of pardon (Priest/Pastor): God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. If anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation: the old has passed away; behold the new has come. Almighty God have mercy on us. Create in our hearts a spirit of love and concern. Strengthen us, as we commit ourselves to the care and empowerment of the Uprooted People.

Song: Pananagutan

Walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang,
Walang sinuman ang namamatay, para sa sarili lamang.

Koro:
Tayong lahat ay may pananagutan sa isa’t isa,
Tayong lahat ay tinipon ng Diyos na kapiling niya.

Intercessory Prayers: The worshiping community is encouraged to bring forward prayer requests about our individual and common concerns.

Priest/Pastor: Hear our prayers o Lord, and grant us your peace. I now call on all to turn to your neighbor to extend the greetings/embrace of peace, solidarity and community.
Sign of Hope: All are invited to share a song, poem or symbols, news of how the Uprooted People in Europe are struggling for dignity, justice, recognition and solidarity.
Uprooted People demands (women and men alternately)

1. The right to stay.                    6. No to racism, fascism and police
2. The right to family reunion.      7. Not to repatriation and deportations.
3. Free movement within the EU.  8. No to discrimination and inequality.
4. Full social and political rights.    9. The right to organize independently.
5. Full legal rights.                       10. Amnesty for all undocumented migrants.

All: “We dream of a society where families are not broken up by urgent need for survival. We dream and will actively work for a homeland where there is opportunity for everyone to live a decent and humane life.”

Affirmation
L: That we worship one God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in whose image we are made, to whose service we are summoned. by whose presence we are renewed.
All: This we believe.
L: That it is God’s will that the world should be saved and not despoiled by transnational corporation
plunder; violence, apathy, oppression, pollution or any other mask of human greed.
All: This we believe.
L: That it is central to the mission of Christ to participate, by word and action in the struggles of the poor for justice, to share justly the earth’s land and resources and social wealth, to rejoice in the diversity of human culture; to preserve human life in all its beauty and frailty, to witness to the love of God for all people of the earth and to invite all to share that converting experience.
All: This we believe.
L: That through the power of the Holy Spirit, the persecuted shall be lifted up and the wicked will fall, the hesitant prayers and hidden actions of God’s people shall change the course of human history, the ancient words of the Scripture shall startle us with fresh insights.
All: This we believe.
L: That God has called the church into being, to be servant of the Kingdom, to be the sign of God’s new order, to celebrate in the streets and fields of every land the liturgy of the Kingdom on earth.
All: This we believe.

Song: Pananagutan

Sa ating pagmamahalan at paglilingkod sa kanino man,
Tayo ay nagdadala ng balita ng kaligtasan.

Koro:

Sabay-sabay ngang mag-aawitan ang mga bansa,
Tayo ay tinuring ng Panginoong bilang mga anak.

Koro:

Our Conviction:
All: We are saddened and outraged by the physical and emotional violence and injustices against Uprooted People and by the human sufferings it causes. As Christians, we hold these convictions:
Men: We affirm the sacredness of all human life and the sanctity of creation:“ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….and God saw it was good…So God created humankind in His image…” (Genesis 1)
Women: The Biblical values of love, justice and peace compel us to renew our Christian response to the marginalized and the excluded. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbors as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-38).
Men: The Biblical challenge to build inclusive community requires us to accompany the Uprooted People in service and witness. “ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens in a foreign land, but fellow citizens with God’s people, members of God’s household (Ephesians 2:19).
All: We therefore call on ourselves and all Christians to: Uphold life and human dignity of the Uprooted People; Work for peace with justice and Create a loving and caring community.

(Note: Here, the ACPE Declaration and important resolutions can be read if ready).

Prayer of Dedication:(Lahat): Mahal na Diyos/ nagpapasalamat kami/ sa pagtanggap Mo sa amin/at pagturing bilang bahagi ng inyong kaharian. Kami ay pinalakas/ sa pamamagitan ng prayer celebration na ito. Iniaalay naming sa Iyo/ ang aming Filipino community dito sa
Europa/ at ang aming samahang ACPE. Ipahihintulot mong kami ay magkakaisa/ at
magtutulungan. Basabasan mo ang aming paggawa. Ilayo mo sa aming pamilya ang bawa’t
panganib. Patnubayan mo/ ang aming mga mahal sa buhay, saan man sila narorooon.
Sagipin mo kami/ sa bawa’t kagipitan at pagsukob. Sa ngalan ni Hesuksristo. Amen.

Song: Ang Bayan Ko (Our offering to God, country to each other and to all kababayan/kailian)

Ang bayan kong hirang, Pilipinas ang pangalan,
Perlas ng silangan, Sa tiglay niyang kariktan,
Ngunit sawimpalad, Sa minimithiin paglaya,
Laging lumuluha sa pagdaralita.

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas, Lupain ng ginto’t bulaklak,
Pag-ibig ang sa kanyang palad, Nag-alay ng ganda’t dilag,
At sa kanyang yumi at ganda, Dayuhan ay na halina,
Bayan ko binihag ka, Nasadlak sa dusa.

Koro:
Ibon mang may layang lumipad, Kulungin mo at pumipiglas,
Bayan ba kayang sakdal dilag, Ang di magnasang makaalpas,
Pilipinas kong minumutya, Pugad ng luha ko’t dalita,
Aking adhika, Makita kang sakdal laya.

Kay sarap mabuhay sa sariling bayan, Kung walang alipin at may kalayaan,
Ang bayan sinisiil, babagon lalaban din, Ang silang ay pupula sa timyas ng paglaya.

Koro:

Benediction:
L: The grace of God goes with us, and God’s mercy meets us in times of need.
All: We leave behind our burdens and cares, to face life’s challenges with renewed strength.
L: It is through responding concretely to the cries and agony of the powerless, the Uprooted People that we would truly experience the blessings and empowerment of God who is known for His saving act in human history. He is the same God who reveals himself as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of life. Go forth in the strength of Christ. Seek peace with justice and pursue it. Strive to build a just, humane society. Amen.
.
Song: We Shall Overcome (we form our fellowship circle)

Ugayam Solo: We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome someday
O deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome someday.

All: We are not afraid (2x) we are not afraid today
O deep in my heart, I do believe, we are not afraid today

Ugayam solo: We shall live in peace (2x), we shall live in peace today
O deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall live in peace today.

All: We are full of strength (3x), we are full of strength today
O deep in my heart, I do believe, we are full of strength today.

Gangsa music to announce end of Prayer Celebration.