Executive Board Meeting, May 22, 2000, Washington,  DC
NATIONAL COUNCIL of the CHURCHES of CHRIST in the U.S.A.

AIDS Day 2000 - Word from the NCC
AIDS in Africa: A Generation at Risk
AIDS In Africa - Backgrounder

AIDS IN AFRICA
A Worship Service  

CALL TO WORSHIP 

Jesus said, “You shall be my witnesses …to the end of the earth.”   Witnessing is not a speaking only.  It is a doing, an acting.  Christian witnessing is in the actions of every Christian who lives out the “good news of Jesus Christ” .  Witnessing is made manifest in the contagious joy that comes from a life of absolute trust in the Divine Goodness and Power over the world and sinfulness.  Witnessing is made manifest in the compassionate actions of caring persons, individuals and communities who carry God and God’s compassion into the world. Yet the lure and clamor of the world are so consuming, tumultuous, strident and demanding. We scarcely can hear the still small whispered voice of calm. We are gathered out of a concern for immense suffering among the people and the nations of Africa...  We do not know well the realities of this epidemic.  We do not see clearly yet how to be responsive in a meaningful way.  We come simply as a people of faith, convinced that God wills healing, justice and peace; that God gives wisdom and shows us the way; that God gives us grace and livens our hearts . 

Hymn:  There is a Balm in Gilead (Verses 1 and 2) 

Period of Silence 

LEADER: Let us pray together a prayer of Martin Luther  (in unison)

Behold Lord, we are empty vessels that need to be filled. Lord do You fill us.   We are weak in faith. Do You strengthen us.   We are cold in love, do You warm us and make us fervent.  At times we doubt and become overwhelmed with helplessness.  We become unable to trust in your Ultimate Power over the world.  We are poor, but You are rich, and You came to bring mercy to the poor.  With us, there is an abundance of selfishness, but in You, there is fullness of Spirit and Love.  Therefore we turn to you, O Lord God of all. We come as individuals and as your church, repentant and in need. 

A RESPONSIVE READING ON AIDS IN AFRICA
(Quotations from various News Sources and the UNAIDS /PROJECT)

LEADER: The HIV / AIDS epidemic has so devastated southern African countries that there are now more than a million orphans, with their numbers expected to double by the year 2010.
Response:  Dear God in Heaven, help us. 

LEADER: Many of the orphans have no place to live and due to the deaths of so many adults, no one to care for them.
Response:  Dear God in Heaven, help them. 

LEADER: About 20 percent of the population  (one in every five persons) - is infected with HIV.
Response:  Dear God in Heaven, help us to see how to help them. 

LEADER: The AIDS situation is worsened by poor economic conditions and high unemployment - a situation based on economic realities imposed by such groups as the International Monetary Fund  and the World Bank.
Response: Let us be partners with people of good will. 

LEADER: To form a united front and alter the course of the epidemic, an International Partnership Against AIDS in Africa - composed of African governments, donor countries, UN bodies, civil society and the private sector - is being established.
Response: Let us be partners with people of good will. 

LEADER: The hope is that churches in Africa, augmented by help from others, can help resettle children orphaned by AIDS back into their extended families or with foster mothers in the same community.  The Christian Council of Churches in Zambia for example has started a home-based program focusing on both prevention and care of HIV/AIDS sufferers and also is providing education and counseling.
Response: Dear God in Heaven, help us to see how to stand with them.

LEADER:  Yet we are far from powerless against AIDS in Africa. With strong political leadership, openness about the issues, and broad, cross-cutting responses, and with the help of outside human and financial resources, clear success is being demonstrated.
Response: Dear God, forgive us our apathy, our self-pre-occupations, our abundant waste of resources, our often hardened and indifferent past.

LEADER: Let us be comforted in the sure faith that God indeed forgives those who repent.
Let us hear the reassuring words of Jesus, “Go and sin no more.” 
Let us hear some ancient words of wisdom echoing through the centuries:
    What does love look like?  It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.  It has the     eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear sighs and sorrows.   That is what love looks like.
                                                                                --St. Augustine

LEADER :  Let us listen with freshly awakened hearts to the Word of God

John: 4: 7-15

Mark: 9: 14-29

Reflection: Providing Living Water to a Dying World                           Tyrone Pitts

Closing Prayer 

Leader:  Oh God, bless those who suffer and die of AIDS in Africa.  Bless their loved ones and those who mourn them. And bless us gathered here to know Your Will and to respond as You would have us to respond in love and compassion.   In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

Closing Hymn:  There is a Balm in Gilead             (Verses 1 and 3)