Introduction: a short reflection on the theme

Opening Hymn: an appropriate song about mission

Opening Prayer:             Gloria (Anglican Church of Kenya)             Leader: Glory to the Father                     All: Glory to the Son             Leader: Glory to the Spirit                     All: Forever Three in One             Leader: Be glorified at home                     All: Be glorified in church             Leader: Be glorified in earth                     All: Be glorified in heaven             Leader: Glory to the Father                     All: Glory to the Son             Leader: Glory to the Spirit                     All: Forever Three in One             Leader: Hallelujah                     All: Amen.

Reflection: You are Either Bread or Stone

( at centre of prayer circle is a large stone and bread)

Leader: You are either bread or stone.
All: Bread can be broken and shared with others.

Leader: Stone is hard and cold.

All: When I accept to share what I have with others... When I take the time to help someone in need... I am bread for others.

READER 1

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."

John 6; 53-58

Leader: When I am selfish and think only of myself... When all I am interested in is taking advantage of others... When I am cold with those who could use my friendship... I am stone for others.

All: Bread is good to eat and it gives life

Leader: When I respect others and treat them with kindness... When I am a peacemaker where there is tension... When I forgive those who have hurt me... I am bread for them. I give them life.

All: When I put others down, or laugh at them... When I gossip... When I want revenge... I am

Leader: With stones you can break things.

All: When you use hard thoughts, hard words, hard actions with those around you and treat them as your enemies, you are like a stone thrown through a beautiful stained glass window, shattering the lives of those around you.

Leader: Bread is soft and lets itself be eaten.

All: When I think well of others and help them see the goodness and gentleness of God through me, I am like soft bread that feeds and gives strength.

Leader: We have a choice... We can be stone for others... We can be bread for them... Which have you been lately? Which one do you want to be?

"This, in synthesis, is the fundamental content of World Mission Sunday which we will celebrate on Sunday, October 20, with the stimulating theme: "Mission is the proclamation of forgiveness." The evangelising mission of the Church is essentially the announcement of God's love, mercy and forgiveness revealed to mankind through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. It is the proclamation of the good news that God loves us and wants all people united in his loving mercy; he forgives us and asks us to forgive others even for the greatest offences. This is the Word of reconciliation entrusted to us because, as St. Paul says: "God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself not counting men's transgressions against them and he entrusted the message of reconciliation to us" (2 Corinthians 5:19). These words are the echo and a reminder of the supreme cry from the heart of Christ on the Cross: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

John Paul II

of all humankind for your love,
        Good Lord, deliver us.
From pride, self-sufficiency, and the unwillingness to admit our need

of your compassion,
        Good Lord, deliver us.
From discouragement in the face of pain and disappointment,

and from lack of persistence and thoroughness,
        Good Lord, deliver us.
By your incarnation and lowly birth in the stable,
        Good Lord, be born anew in us.
By your abundant feeding of the multitudes,
        Good Lord, nourish us.
By your suffering and death, which broke down the dividing walls between God and humanity and among humanity,
        Good Lord, reconcile us.
By your glorious resurrection and ascension,
        Good Lord, renew us.
By your commission to the Apostles,
        Good Lord, send us forth.
By the coming of the Holy Spirit, who unites all things in heaven and earth, Good Lord, make us one. Strengthen and encourage all who do your work in lonely and dangerous places.
        Hear us, Good Lord.
Open the hearts and hands of many for the support of your Church in every place.
        Hear us, Good Lord.
Touch our ears, that we may hear from every mouth the wonderful works of God.
        Hear us, Good Lord.
Touch our lips, that we may tell in every tongue the wonderful works of God.
        Hear us, Good Lord.
Touch our hands, that we may do the truth which you have taught us.
        Hear us, Good Lord.
Touch our feet, that we may go for you into all parts of the world.
        Hear us, Good Lord.

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those far off and near. Grant that people everywhere may seek you and find you, pour out your Spirit upon all peoples, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.