In celebration of the International Roma Prayer Day on April 8, 2017, the RCH is pleased to share the following prayer, written in partnership with the PCUSA , and with our Roma brothers and sisters in mind. The prayer aims to encourage all people to work for acceptance and love in the world like Jesus did.
Since 2010, the RCH has been organizing meetings and conferences connected to the International Roma Prayer Day, where congregations dedicated to the Roma Mission gather and pray together for Roma people in Europe.
In 2010, the Presbyterian Women in the USA initiated a program called “10 Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma”. By joining in this initiative, the material written by the Presbyterian Women is used as an important resource for the Hungarian organizers in preparing the liturgy of the Prayer Day Meeting.
This year more than 350 participants are expected to attend the Roma Prayer Day Meeting on the 8th of April.
“That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
(2 Corinthians 5:19-20)
Our God,
We come before you, divided.
We are a nation that is in need of love every day.
We are a nation that explores the hard path of reconciliation.
We all study what it means to live, work, and play together.
Our children are born openminded, and they are taught by us to accept, to reject, and to hate.
We feel this responsibility!
If we accept Your grace, accept the gift of redemption, then you shall awaken in us the will and the courage to be able to forgive and apologize, to be reconciled with You and with ourselves, with each other and with all creation as well.
We pray for the Roma and all the people of Europe today. Lord put your blessing hand on all the children of our world.
May Your Reconciling hand break down the walls that divide us. Let the will of breaking apart come to an end.
In the name of Jesus, we ask you to hear the words of our pleading!
Amen
“While our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
(1 Corinthians 12:24-27)
Our Father,
We are grateful for those who courageously stand up for those who are fleeing, those who are poor, and those who are victims of violence all around the world.Thank You for the patience, courage and spirit of the Roma.
May we all sit at one table without hiding our true identity or fleeing from one another.
We believe that Your perfect love drives out all fear, yet we stand in front of You with petty fears in our hearts as the result of our humanness.
Help us to overcome our fears and help our Roma brothersand sisters to conquer their fears, to experience and pass on Your love, our God.
Help us to draw strength fromthe One who travels with us on the Way.
Let us be the instruments of Your peace, those who fulfill Your providence, heal the world's pain, and give hope to others.
Our Lord, we give thanks for each other, for those standing next to us, for our communities, our church, and let us give special thanks for our Roma brothers and sisters, all the Roma in the world, for their hope and theirfaith, thank You for them.
Have mercy on us, that all our prayers for Roma and their acceptance in society may continue throughout the year.
All this in the name of Jesus Christ, who loves each of us equally.
Amen.