Pray for Sri Lanka on Sunday, June 25, 2017
Lectionary Selection: Matthew 10:24-39
Prayers for Sri Lanka:
God of all, we give thanks to be in Sri Lanka with people whose origins are deep in the past, and we are grateful for what their past teaches us all.
We cherish our shared story of education, healthcare, faith and friendship. We give thanks that we work with the Church of the American Ceylon Mission (CACM) to continue our shared story. Today the UCC 
celebrates its 60th birthday – and the CACM is celebrating the 200th year since the American Ceylon Mission began! With joy we celebrate the ways our churches change and work to meet the needs of a challenging future.
We pray for what is needed and what is being done to help Tamil people recover from the war that followed years of discrimination against them. With faith in you, O God, the CACM works to reclaim homes and 
businesses and to prepare tomorrow’s adults for progress and success.
As the world grows smaller and more crowded, we pray for meaningful connections. We need your guidance, O Holy One, and the strength and creativity to adapt to a changing world. Help us to judge well what is important for our future and what to leave in history as lessons.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen
Mission Stewardship Moment from Sri Lanka:
Oori After-school Programme
Every afternoon 150 children come through the gates of the Church of the American Ceylon Mission (CACM) church-run after-school program. The children are first given tea and snacks. “Nandri” they say thanks in Tamil. They have already spent the full day at their regular schools and are grateful for the energy-giving snacks.
Oori is a small, poor neighborhood in a corner of an island off the northern tip of the main island of Sri Lanka. Though the caste system is outlawed in Sri Lanka the traditions and culture remain. Few have electricity in their homes. Most walk some distance for drinking water or to bathe at a public well. At our school program drinking water is delivered weekly to black plastic tanks. Children don’t mind that the water is hot when they drink it.
Nearly 100% of Sri Lankan children attend for-profit after-school programs. Our program is free for these destitute children. During the academic term we reinforce the regular school courses. We also offer singing and art, the latter taught by a delightful deaf man whom the children love.
During the month-long holiday periods we offer a program modeled after the church camp programs with which we are familiar. Children sign up for the activities. Kids and teachers love it and it provides employment for 19 local people for the month.
Our families know that education is the key to the future. The church is helping to make a bright future possible for these youngsters.
(Prayer and Mission Moment by Lindley Kinerk)
Mission Partners in Sri Lanka:
- Church of the American Ceylon Mission
- Ecumenical Institute for Study and Dialogue (EISD)
- National Christian Council of Sri Lanka
More information on Sri Lanka: http://www.globalministries.org/sri_lanka
Global Ministries Missionaries in Sri Lanka:
Lindley Kinerk serves as a Long term volunteer with the Church of the American Ceylon Mission. Her appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Churches Wider Mission, and your special gifts.