CPT Colombia


Life Lists, an Easter Liturgy

For the last six weeks we have been identifying those on death lists on Colombia and around the world and have been burning those lists. Today we pray that those marked for death may be allowed to live freely; that resurrection will come from the ashes.

Life List

God, We call your blessing upon these people whose names are on death lists. We pray that they will live and live freely; that from the ashes you will create what we think impossible.

    We name them: [please write these names on a colorful banner]
  • Colombian people
  • Maria Leon
  • Juan Lazarus
  • Jennifer
  • Manuel
  • Jose
  • Elizabeth
  • Nora
  • Colombian forests
  • crops of the Rodriguez family
  • Joseph
  • Canadian and USA citizens
  • [name others...]

Prayer

The following is an excerpt from a prayer read by Colombians and CPTers during Lent:

God, we pray from our hearts for a day when the children of Colombia -- farmers, the children of paramilitary members, the children of the guerrilla, the children of Navy and Army members and the children in countries that give weapons to Colombia -- can sit together and agree not to kill one another, and agree not to arm one another, and agree that they will share with one another.

God, hear us.

Scripture suggestions

Excerpts from Romans 8:

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pangs of childbirth, right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as children... We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express...

I am convinced that neither death nor life
    neither angels nor demons,
    neither the present nor the future,
    nor any powers,
    neither height nor depth,
    nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God.

Excerpts from Rev. 21:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "...God will be with them and be their God. God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain."

Prayer (unison)

We, the members of [this community] commit to living the resurrection; commit to authentic action with the goal of reducing violence in Colombia. Amen.