Chelmno, Poland
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, it brings us great comfort to know that You understand our pain, for You were betrayed and abandoned. You were known as a man of sorrow, and one familiar with suffering. We bring our troubled hearts to You, resting secure in Your loving care. -A2J Community (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust—there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men. -Lamentations 3: 28-33 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. O Lord, do not forsake me; O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord of my salvation. -Psalm 38:18, 21-22 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” -Mark 14:17-21 (Think deeply on the life and words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others O Lord, You answered me when I called to you; with your strength you strengthened me. -Psalm 138:3 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Lord we realize that our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering. For the love of God did not protect His own Son…. He will not necessarily protect us from all things, not from anything it takes to make us like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process. -Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) 
Sofia, Bulgaria
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