Introduction

The theme for World AIDS Day, for the Church, is: GOD'S LOVE EMBRACES PEOPLE WITH AIDS -- So Should God's People. In celebration of God's graciousness and love for humanity, and mindful of our inadequacies and failings which seldom express God's love, we have invited all worshipping communities to emphasis God's Love, particularly, to the infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS in their worship on 1 December 2002.

As the day coincides with Advent Sunday we are encouraging that the worship reflect both our repentance for failing to love and our hope of the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Following are suggestions of elements to include in the regular worship rather than providing a worship format.

Hymns

The hymns or choruses are to reflect the themes of 'love' and 'hope'.

Sermon

The request is for the sermon to primarily focus on the HIV/AIDS infected and affected. You may choose from one of the sermon outlines. In addition we encourage you to invite a person living with HIV or a relative to speak specifically of the effects of this virus on their personal lives and their experiences and fears particularly as it relates to the Church.

Confession

• In a moment of silence invite the congregation to reflect on their attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS. Does that attitude reflect God's love? This can then be followed by a general confession.
• Use the following litany:

As individuals,
We confess our inaction amidst the devastation, the sorrow and pain inflected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in our communities.
Gracious Lord, forgive us

We confess our attitudes of self-righteousness and negative expressions to people living with the virus and those we suspect to be infected.
Gracious Lord, forgive us

We confess our discrimination to the infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Gracious Lord, forgive us

We confess our lack of concern for the well being of God's people, particularly the infected and affected individuals and families.
Gracious Lord, forgive us

We confess our lack of compassion for the infected and affected.
Gracious Lord, forgive us

As a worshipping community, we seek forgiveness:

For not educating our youth on sexuality and God's divine plan for creation
Compassionate God, cleanse us

For not mobilising for care for those infected and affected, particularly orphans and vulnerable children.
Compassionate God, cleanse us

For not leading by example and abdicating our responsibility in responsive and biblical action against the pandemic.
Compassionate God, cleanse us

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and keep us in eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

General Prayers of the Church

Use one of the following forms

• Spontaneous Prayer

Invite the congregation to offer prayers of thanksgiving, petition and intercession. Suggested themes could range from:

• Thanksgiving for the successes in research; health services; activist groups; ministries to the infected and affected.
• Petitions for a sympathetic heart; living Christ-like lives; acceptance and courage to respond to the plight of the infected and affected.
• Intercessions: those living in situations of hopelessness; dying; afraid; orphans


• Silent Prayer

Invite the congregation to pray for people sitting on either side of them. Holding the neighbours' hands or around the shoulders prayers could be offered silently. Again the focus will specifically be on HIV/AIDS.

• Responsive Prayer

Use the following responsive prayer:

We pray that our Loving Lord, who will come again, may continue to breathe his life into the Church, so that we may speak and reflect his love to the world and be willing to suffer for his sake. Help us to reach out with open arms and a pure heart to people living with HIV/AIDS.
Lord through your love, transform our lives

We pray that the loving Lord may breathe his peace into our community, so that we may work together cooperatively to address the issues impacting on the lives of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Lord through your love, transform our lives

We pray that the loving Lord may breathe his patience and forgiveness into our homes and all our relationships that we may not judge or discriminate against those living with the virus or their loved ones.
Lord through your love, transform our lives

We pray that the loving Lord may breathe his encouragement into every suffering and every sadness, thinking today especially of those experiencing feelings of rejection, fear, guilt or disgrace. May their the dark and painful times becomes places of strong spiritual growth. We commit to God's healing touch all who are living with HIV/AIDS, remembering especially,(name those whom we may know)
Lord through your love, transform our lives

We pray that the loving Lord may breathe his welcome deep into the souls of the dying. We commend to his mercy all those who have died of AIDS related diseases.
Lord through your love, transform our lives

Father, accept these prayers, helping us to follow your example of forgiveness, and to love others as you love us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Call to Commitment

(Invite the congregation to stand and raise their right hand or light a candle before making the commitment.)

We commit ourselves to:

• Create a positive environment in which young people are welcome to discover and celebrate their sexuality and become all that God intends for them to be
• Integrate biblically informed HIV/AIDS education in all aspects of their Church life and ministry
• Minister with compassion to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS
• Protect, nurture and care for all children, especially those who have lost their mothers or fathers and becoming their advocates within families and communities.