Prayer

We pray for the holy martyrs
     and those who gave their lives so that others may live;
may their courage and determination remain with us.

Response -- Kiria Alayson -- Ethiopian Orthodox as taught by Gebre Georgis Dimtsu

We pray for those who stood the test,
rejected the comfort of this world,
shed their blood and endured death in order to follow and serve God;
may their faith and devotion guide us.

Response -- Kiria Alayson

We pray for those who suffer patiently in the service of others;
may their prayers and supplications be with us.

Response -- Kiria Alayson

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
Now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Amen.

Reading of the word John 12:20-26

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour."

Friends in Christ, we are the ones who are called to lose our lives. This morning we turn to God by remembering those who were so certain of the resurrection that they could give their very lives to follow Jesus. In our countries, in our churches, who are the ones who have served Jesus? Who are those who, like grains of wheat, have fallen into the ground and borne much fruit? Who are those who are blessed because of their witness, because of their persecution?

You are invited to go to one of the cloths and write the name of a witness, a martyr. Take a single grain from the cloth; say the name aloud; take the grain with you. This grain will bear fruit when later during this day, and throughout the assembly, it is a reminder of the story of this person.

Hymn -- Balaacool we bapezegwa -- Tonga anonymous: Zambia

Hymn -- Kiedy ranne wstaja zorze -- Fr Karpinski: Poland

Prayers

Let us thank God for calling men and women
    to serve God's work in the world:
for all faithful prophets, ministers and teachers of the past,
for apostles sent into the world boldly to witness to your deeds of grace,
for pastors who have lovingly gathered and tended your flock,
for those who have led us into the way of faith.
Gracious Lord, we give you thanks for all saints of the past. (India)

Response -- Moran ethra hama'lain -- as taught by Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim: Syria

Your Cross, O Christ, has been an invincible weapon of the martyrs.
For beholding the approach of death and foreseeing the future life
they were made strong by the hope that lies in you.
By their intercessions, have mercy on us. (Eastern Orthodox Friday Vespers, Tone 6)

Response -- Moran ethra hama'lain

As this, O Lord, is the command of your Only-Begotten Son,
    that we share in the commemoration of your saints,
graciously accord, O Lord, to remember all the saints
    who have pleased you since the beginning:
our holy fathers the patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles, the preachers,
    the evangelists, the martyrs,
the confessors and all the spirits of the righteous
    who were consummated in the faith.
Most of all, the pure, full of glory, ever-virgin, holy Theotokos,
    Saint Mary, who, in truth, gave birth to God the Logos.
And Saint John the Baptist and martyr,
Saint Stephen the archdeacon, the protomartyr,
Saint Mark, the evangelist, the apostle and martyr,
Saint Athanasius the Apostolic, Saint Cyril,
our righteous father the great Ava Antony,
the righteous Ava Paula, the three Ava Macarii,
our mother Saint Makrina, "the teacher of the fathers",
our mother Saint Maria, the Egyptian ascetic,
our mother Saint Verena, the Egyptian missionary to Switzerland,
our father Ava Bishoi, the righteous perfect man,
and all the choir of your saints, through whose prayers and supplications,

have mercy on us and save us,
for the sake of your holy name, which is called upon us. (Coptic Orthodox)

Response -- Moran ethra hama'lain

Sending forth

We stand with [a name will be read], presente.*
The people repeat Presente.

*Presente means "here" or "present" in Spanish. (Sanctuary prayer, USA)

Song -- Stand, O stand firm -- traditional: Cameroon

Introduction

It is important to carry our spiritual reflection beyond the single grain to include the dimension of community. The image of the grain emphasizes that we "bear fruit" by losing our life in service to the Lord. But our self-giving perhaps even to the point of martyrdom, as invoked in this morning's worship is both an individual act and an act in community. A single grain is important, but so is the enriching experience of service as women and men within a community of faith. As individual "grains" we die in order to become a new community of the New Covenant: Christ died and was resurrected for the many, and we must die in order to find ourselves in community.

Biblical text John 12:20-26

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour."

Biblical text Psalm 116:1-9

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
     the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the áLord:
     "O Lord, I pray, save my life!"

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
     our God is merciful.
The Lord protects the simple;
     when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
     for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

For you have delivered my soul from death,
     my eyes from tears,
     my feet from stumbling.
I walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Reflection on themes and images from the biblical texts, and from the morning worship

The angels in heaven are glad for the sufferings of the martyrs,
    and the creatures on earth wonder at the victory of the saints.
Having fought the great battle and having shown their virtue,
    they were crowned by Christ.
The catholic church rejoices
    and the faithful exult and cry out saying:
"Glory to you, O God!" (Mid-day hymn, Armenian liturgy)

Discussion of issues raised in the plenary on the Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women

Closing