Pray for Mexico on Sunday, February 15, 2015

Pray for Mexico on Sunday, February 15, 2015

Lectionary Selection: Mark 9:2–9

2015_feb15_mexico_hands.jpgPrayers for Mexico:
God, just as Peter, John, and James witnessed your transfiguration, may all of us, throughout the world witness this same miracle. May we be like Peter, who was awestruck in your sight. May we be like James and John who were speechless in your glory.

Lord, may the people of Mexico listen to you, the Son of God, as their own country is going through many changes. With the loss of the 43 students from Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, we pray that the corruption and fear will end and that human rights will be regained. May your word be their direction.

We pray for peace as INESIN seeks to end the tensions between Catholics and Protestants in the Chiapas region. We also pray for INESIN as they seek funds to help build a multipurpose room to provide a larger space to hold ecumenical workshops and camps for the people of Chiapas. We pray that, together, we can work with our United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) friends so that INESIN can reach their goals and share their gifts with the people of Chiapas. We also pray for the Theological Community of Mexico as they seek to build ecumenical cooperation through joint work in seminaries of varying traditions.  God, we pray that in all things, your people may be one. Amen.

Mission Stewardship Moment from Mexico:
Late September of last year, 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Normal School in Iguala, Guerrero disappeared. Since the now dubbed “cuarenta-tres desaparecidos” or “ayotzinapa” crisis occurred there have been numerous protests in Mexico and all around the world. When someone is speaking of the lost 43, one can feel the disgust, outrage, fear, and sadness for those lost and their families. To explain the horror the best, journalist John Gibler wrote,“Scores of uniformed municipal police and a handful of masked men dressed in black shot and killed six people, wounded more than twenty, and rounded up and detained forty-three students in a series of attacks carried out at multiple points and lasting more than three hours. At no point did state police, federal police, or the army intercede. The forty-three students taken into police custody are now ‘disappeared.’” Why are the people protesting? With the exception of lives lost, why are they in disgust? In recent years, more than 20,000 Mexicans have gone missing, and the lost 43 just add to the people’s suffering. During the Ayotzinapa crisis, there were military and federal police present yet they did not do anything to prevent the violence. They allowed it to happen. This is why they are protesting. This incident just adds to the fear of the people. They no longer feel safe in their own country when their military and police forces are corrupted and not doing the jobs they were meant to do. There is a fight for human rights in Mexico and we pray that some day, the battle will win. Some believe there is still hope that the 43 missing students are alive. Others feel that with so much time has passed that they will never see their lost loved ones again. May there be justice in Mexico.

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Lindsey Mercer)

 Mission Partners in Mexico:

More information on Mexico: http://www.globalministries.org/mexico

Global Ministries Missionary in Mexico:
Lindsey Mercer, a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Bem, Missouri, serves with the Institute for Intercultural Studies and Research (INESIN) in Chiapas, Mexico, where she works as the assistant to the Program for Institutional Strengthening. Her appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples’ Mission Fund, Our Churches Wider Mission, and your special gifts.