The Year of Mercy

The Year of Mercy Mercy is ? Compassion What is Mercy to you? A compassionate community living Christ’s call Standing with those who need it. Wrapping my arms around someone suffering. What is Mercy to you?

Is for everyone The Mercy of God Is for ever

All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them.  The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them,  they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.  Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? . They wanted to find out what Jesus would do, she was after all guilty, but he ignored them and wrote in the sand

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”  When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they  Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  She said, “No one, sir.”] And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again. This is God’s Mercy:

During this Year we are asked too:

Learn about the mercy of God Show mercy to the planet Show mercy to others Show mercy to the planet

Show mercy to others Forgive Give a drink to the Thirsty Try to show others the right way to live Comfort those who are in need Shelter the homeless Help those who are sick Forgive Feed the Hungry Find out more about God And help others do the same Ransom Captives Bear wrongs patiently Pray for the living and the dead

Sometimes it seems the world is out of control Terrorism War Refugees violence Climate Change

when you meet suffering Jesus gave no answer to the question Why do people suffer He just said when you meet suffering try to end it

In the picture Christ carries humanity He takes us from darkness to light The faces only have 3 eyes this means Christ sees through Our eyes He understands pain and suffering He is with us.

I Believe in Love

How long will my prayers seem unanswered How long will my prayers seem unanswered? Is there still faith in me to reach the end?

I'm feeling doubt I'm losing faith But giving up would cost me everything

anxiety Fear Grief Illness Loneliness So I'll stand in the pain and silence anxiety Fear Grief Illness Loneliness

And I'll speak to the dark night war hunger terrorism refugees

I believe in the sun even when it's not shining

I believe in love even when I don't feel it

And I believe in God even when He is silent

And I, I believe

Though I can't see my stories ending That doesn't mean the dark night has no end

It's only here that I find faith

And learn to trust the one who writes my days

So I'll stand in the pain and silence And I'll speak to the dark night

I believe in the sun even when it's not shining

I believe in love even when I don't feel it

And I believe in God even when He is silent

And I, I believe

No dark can consume Light

No death greater than this life

We are not forgotten

Hope is found when we say Where can I go from your Spirit?     Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there;     if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

Even when He is silent

I believe in the sun even when it's not shining even the darkness will not be dark to you;     the night will shine like the day,     for darkness is as light to you.

I believe in love even when I don't feel it Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

And I, I believe. Refugees in Calais build church

And I believe

So now believing that God is with us we pray The response to our prayers is ‘ Hear our Prayer’

For the people of Paris

For Refugees

For the missing Nigerian schoolchildren taken from their homes

For all in our world who face hunger and poverty

For those who face difficulties in our own country

For ourselves

We pray That in this Year of Mercy We will be filled by your Spirit So that we will be able to: forgive others Be compassionate be peacemakers Live more simply and Be a people of hope We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy; you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.