A sermon on overcoming violence for Advent

This short meditation was preached at the Advent service at the Ecumenical Centre Geneva on Wednesday 17 December 2008



The puzzle of peace and the puzzle of the incarnation

Biblical images and promises are so strange
They seem to not really be of this world
Isaiah says – and the lion shall lie down with the lamb –
And nation shall not learn war any more

And we see hardly any evidence of this today in Afghanistan or Iraq
In the Democratic republic of Congo or Zimbabwe
Our former colleague Daniel Wieser is trying to buy new smaller kinds of cars for the international Red Cross in Chad because the trusty Landrovers and Toyotas so useful in development and relief work are also fairly easy for rebels to hijack and turn into armoured vehicles.

As we gather here in the chapel we look at the icon given to the World Council at the launch of the decade to overcome violence – showing the stoning of St Stephen whose patronal festival is celebrated in the Western calendar just after Christmas
The first Christian martyr remembered on the day after the incarnation
We look at the stones in the hands of those about to stone Stephen

And we hear Isaiah and Micah say “they will beat their swords into pruning hooks”

We also listen though to Woody Allen who says
“The lion may lie down with the calf but the calf won’t get much sleep!”

A humorous reminder but a reminder nonetheless of the terrible price the victims of war and violence are paying week after week, year after year, decade after decade, century after century – not just sleeplessness and fear, but real physical and emotional distress and catastrophe.

And year in year out, in better and in worse circumstances
Christians celebrate the birth of the word made flesh
The prince of peace, the wonderful counsellor
A baby born in a stable
Who will be a light to the nations

But we are of course still left with the puzzle
Around us here in the chapel you can see that words have not so much become flesh as taken on colour
On fragile paper in many languages, by the ordinary artists and poets that we are
We have painted the word peace in our own and other languages
We express something of our hope for the incarnation of God
Our hope for Christ the Prince of Peace

The work of peace and of overcoming violence is not easy and I have to admit that earlier in the week I told some members of the worship committee to give up. When we come to make our act of commitment later each of you will receive a card on the inside of which there in the word peace in many different languages. For some, even most of you the word peace will show through a jigsaw-shaped piece which has been cut out of the front of the card, like on this one. Cutting out these pieces to make peace show through took rather longer and was rather more difficult than we had thought.
The work of peace and overcoming violence often takes longer and is harder than we think.

As we puzzle at the meaning of our own lives
And puzzle at daring to believe in peace
Perhaps this poetry and art which surrounds us this evening will also teach us generosity and practical solidarity
As we look forwards to the promise of the Word becoming flesh amongst us
And to swords across the world being beaten to ploughshares.


God of peace teach us to lay down our stones
Grant us wisdom faced with life’s difficulties
Teach us to use words with care
Teach us to feed the people of your beautiful planet
To offer clean water free of cholera.
May your peace and justice flow
and may we walk joyfully and wisely in the ways of peace.
Amen



Copyright (c) WCC / Jane Stranz

Worship with song, dance and rap for Christ the King

This worship outline was put together by Natalie Maxson who is in charge of the WCC Youth programme

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre - November 23, 2008
This week in the ecumenical prayer cycle we remember the peoples and churches of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger

Welcome

Opening prayer
Lord, my God, You are great, fearful, glorious,
the Creator of every visible and spiritual creation,
You are faithful to your covenant and mercy, for those who love you and keep your commandments,
I thank you both now and forever for all the blessings, seen and unseen, that have been bestowed upon me.
Even up to this present time, I praise, glorify and magnify you,
for everything that has proven your rich mercy and compassion to be wondrous in me,
helping me, out of your goodness and love for humankind, from my mother’s womb
and providing in every way to protect and govern in a holy manner the matters of my life.
Amen
(Excerpt from a daily prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ, St. John Chrysostom, 4th century)

Song "Here I Am To Worship" by Tim Hughes

Psalm 100 from “the word on the street” by Rob Lacey

Matthew 25:31-4
31"When the Son of humankind comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Meditation (Christ the King—He pushes us in new directions)
The meditation was a stunning pas de deux on being pushed and pulled in the Spirit allowing us to reflect on what God is trying to encourage us to do.

Intercessory prayer (all together we read…)
God, we bless you for the gift of life that you grant us,
that strength of faith, so fragile and so powerful, which is nourished by the assurance of your love…♫
“The push, the pull of God’s creative spirit. The push, the pull of God” (X 2)

We pray to you, God, for the sustenance of life for the people of these five countries,
Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.
Stir up the strength and courage of all those who are engaged in lifting these countries out of poverty.
Be with the Christians and Muslims to live together as neighbours in peace…♫

Almighty God, you push us with love to see Christ in others,
to feed the hungry, comfort the lonely,
care for the sick, welcome the stranger…♫

Loving God, You push us to go the extra mile when it's difficult to smile,
You push us, to be better versions of ourselves
and to see the other point of view
You push us when there's nothing else to do
You push us when we think we know it all, when we stumble and we fall…♫

Gentle God, You push us when we don't appreciate,
You push us not to lie and not to hate,
You push us, when all we want to do is cry,
You push us when it's hard for us to try…♫

Everything we do, Oh God, we owe it all to You
Every move we make, every step we take,
Everything we know, it's all because You push us.
Your patience, love and eternal wisdom
we give you thanks and praises God. Amen

Lord’s Prayer (said together in our own languages)

Song—“Make a Joyful Noise—Psalm 100” by Linnea Good

Blessing
May the blessing of God who pulls us back into love and compassion,
the blessing of Christ the King who boldly pushes us in new directions,
and the blessing of the Holy Spirit who guides us in all our days,
be with us all.
Amen.

Songs for Peace

These songs of peace from Latin America aim to express the motto that has been chosen for the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) : "Glory to God and Peace on Earth". They are not only suitable for the Advent season, but can be used in churches' celebrations as well as in other meetings during the whole liturgical year.

You are encouraged to use them freely, but please respect their Creative Commons License.

Title	Listen	Download mp3	Download score (pdf)
Aleluya entre tu pueblo		(1.99 mb)
Aleluya		(1.58 mb)
Caminando hacia tí, oh Dios		(2.28 mb)
El es nuestra paz		(2.09 mb)
El mundo pide paz		(2.47 mb)
En camino sigamos		(1.81 mb)
En Cristo hay nueva vida		(2.16 mb)
Gracias, Señor, por la vida		(2.05 mb)
La paz de Dios sea contigo		(1.49 mb)
La mesa de la paz		(2.6 mb)
Nana del Adviento		(1.68 mb)
Mi paz les dejo		(1.76 mb)
Nuestra ofrenda		(2.04 mb)
Que la paz que nace en nosotros		(1.68 mb)
Que nuestro Dios, creador		(1.84 mb)
¡Que todo el tiempo sea tiempo de paz!		(2.37 mb)
Señor, renueva tu paz		(1.35 mb)
Venga tu Reino		(1.59 mb)

These songs have been created during a workshop organized by the World Council of Churches and Red Crearte (Latin America) in Matanzas, Cuba, in July 2008. A video (in Spanish) under the theme "Gloria a Dios en las alturas y paz en la tierra" was also produced during the workshop.

Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) Licence:

To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/about/licences

Speech by Douwe Visser at the opening of the Calvin Calligraphy exhibition

The following speech was given by Douwe Visser at the opening of the exhbition of Bridget Dommen's calligraphy of Calvin quotes, November 17th 2008.

When our communications secretary John Asling asked me last week to say in two sentences why the Theology Office of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches is doing an exhibition on Calvin, I had to think hard. Of course, it is obvious that the World Alliance of Reformed Churches has something with Calvin, especially in the Calvin09 year when the 500th anniversary of his birthday will be commemorated. No one can claim ownership of Calvin but as the largest global organisation in the tradition of John Calvin the World Alliance of Reformed Churches will most certainly be involved in this Calvin09 year. But still: why this exhibition?
Well, personally I see Calvin as my liberator. He made my Sunday life much happier. Let me explain. As a kid I grew up in a very orthodox reformed family in the Netherlands. Sunday life was going to church twice, in the morning and in the afternoon. No outdoor activities were allowed, except a short walk. I was a keen soccer player but to play that on Sunday was definitely not allowed. And oh how boring was that long, long day. The soccer ball in my room became so attractive. Yes my friend next door, he could play soccer on Sunday but he was Roman Catholic and my father used to say, that they could confess their sins and could continue after that as they liked. Well, I was prepared to confess all my sins if only I could go and play outside. But then on one of those Sundays the word of liberty came. Right from the pulpit in our church. It was during an afternoon service when our minister preached about the fourth commandment, about the Sabbath. He told the congregation in his sermon that we should not be too strict on Sunday because John Calvin himself in 16th century Geneva was now and then sailing in his boat on Sunday! This was a word for me. A word of salvation! The name John Calvin would be forever in my memory. And after the service I asked my mother whether she had listened well to the service. Of course she had. And oh how wonderful were the days when the word of the preacher still had great authority: the Sunday regime in our house became less strict. Thanks to John Calvin, sailing on the Geneva Lake.
Some time ago I had a visit in my office from one of the professors of the Theology faculty here in Geneva. I told him this anecdote. It was a risk because he could spoil my memory by explaining with his authority that John Calvin could never have sailed on the Geneva Lake and certainly not on Sunday. But as a great scholar he said: “This is new to me!”
But still: why this exhibition organised by the Theology Office of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches? I wrote to John Asling that this exhibition is on the words written by Calvin and that for theology today, at least theology from reformed perspective, Calvin’s words are still a source of inspi-ration. The artist of the exhibited works, Bridget Dommen, told me she was a bit amused by this state-ment. Because for the texts of the calligraphy and so for the calendar they had selected words from the more non-theological writings of Calvin. That may be so. You will not find words about Trinity. About Christology. About predestination. But is theology only limited to these topics? If we read for example this text, here shown: “It is nowhere forbidden to laugh or to eat one’s fill or gain new possessions or enjoy oneself with musical instruments or drink wine.” Is that not theology? Quoted even from one of Calvin’s most theological writings, the Institutes. If you read what comes right after that quotation you will find that Calvin warns against over consumption and greed but the words about enjoying life have been said and it is as if I hear Calvin saying: “It is nowhere forbidden to play soccer on Sunday.”
Of course Calvin’s words can today – as in the past – only be read with a critical sense. Within a cen-tury after Calvin died in the Netherlands a confession was written about predestination: the Canons of Dordt. These are words, one could say harsh words, about being ‘elected to salvation’ (for the happy few) or ‘being doomed to rejection’ (for the many). When I worked in Zambia I was elected to be part of a committee translating the Canons of Dordt in the language of the region – Cicewa – where my church, the Reformed Church in Zambia was active. What an election was that: I never felt so doomed before. Sometimes these Canons of Dordt are being regarded as the ultimate outcome of Calvin’s the-ology. However, you need theological research – if you are interested in – to be aware of the fact that there is no direct line from Calvin’s theology to the Canons of Dordt.
You also need theology to see that there is a direct line from Calvin’s theology to words which are now part of the basis of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches: the Accra Confession, a document about injustice in the world and the call for justice. You need theology, I said but look at words here at this exhibition so beautifully shown like this text: “One can recognise a just and well regulated government: it will do justice to the afflicted and needy.” As an isolated text it could just be seen as a political statement but one should read it in its context – a commentary on Psalm 82 – where Calvin speaks about being guilty before God, an awareness which could maybe have helped to prevent something like today’s credit crisis.
For the World Alliance of Reformed Churches the words of John Calvin are a source of inspiration even more than we sometimes recognise ourselves. For our theological journal Reformed World I asked contributions for the next issue on Reformed Identity. One of those I approached wrote me, that he is willing to contribute an article “even if I am not a huge fan of Calvinism”. Well we are open for critical points of view. But I can already say, after having received it, that this well written article is more close to Calvin’s theology than sometimes an article is, written by a huge fan of Calvinism.
So why this exhibition? All I have said so far has to be connected with what is as important as the con-tents of the texts: the beautiful calligraphy produced by Bridget Dommen. You don’t need to be a huge fan of Calvinism to appreciate the beauty of the works here shown. We are very grateful to Bridget for having these works of art as the centrepiece of this exhibition. They go together with posters and other material showing the work of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Because all this work goes together with sources of inspiration like the words of John Calvin. We want to show that in this tradition the World Alliance of Reformed Churches is a vital ecumenical and global organisation. I can only hope that words of John Calvin may continue to be words of liberation not only for young soccer play-ers but more so for a world in which God works with us to the fulfilment of his Kingdom.

Genève 17-11-2008
copyright (c) Douwe Visser and WARC

Notes from a sermon by Simon Oxley on leaving and moving on

Notes for a sermon at the Service of Welcoming and Sending Out, 17 November 2008 in the Chapel of the Ecumenical Centre - Simon Oxley

A question that is frequently put when people know you are leaving, as I have experienced these days: What are you going to do? The presumption that we only leave because there’s something to do, somewhere to go. Like all presumptions it should be questioned.

Is it only a man thing or a cultural thing that there is also a presumption that moving on is to something more significant, better paid, higher status? Even pastors get infected with this – if the new congregation to which they are moving is not bigger, it has to have special circumstances or immense potential.

Of course, moving on to something or somewhere is an important topic for reflection – and I could preach at great length about it, often! But this morning I want to concentrate simply on the significance of leaving in the context of this Welcoming and Sending Out service.

The two passages we had read for us this morning can help us – Genesis 12.1-10 and Matthew 17.1-5.

Abram’s family had moved to Haran from Ur of the Chaldes. They were wealthy with much livestock. There was no particular reason to leave Haran (war, famine, lack of pasture etc) and probably every good reason to stay and prosper. Then Abram gets this feeling that it’s time to move on – some God who he didn’t know had things for him to do. And he didn’t even get to settle where he thought he might be going – passing through and ending up as a refugee in Egypt.

The experience of the transfiguration was so powerful that Peter wanted to preserve it and stay living within in, keeping it for themselves. He proposed a building project – a tendency followed by Christians throughout the ages who spend far too much time being preoccupied with buildings. However, Jesus led them off the mountain into the pain and messiness of everyday life where his love and power were to be found.

So, why is leaving so significant?

Sometimes we should leave because it feels the right thing to do, even when it is not clear where we will go or what we will do. The faith-full act of leaving may open up possibilities that are closed while we are where we are.

Sometimes we should leave to break out of our comfortable existence which inevitably will undermine our creativity and commitment and lead us into unconscionable compromise to maintain our status quo. Living in Geneva may be a snare and a delusion. Yes, we can glory in God’s creation when we see the rising sun shine on Mont Blanc from one window and the setting sun glowing behind the Jura mountains from another. Yes, we can do good with our comfortable monthly pay cheque. This is real life, but not as the vast majority of the world know it.

Sometimes we should leave because we cannot prolong an amazing experience for ever and keep it to ourselves. And it is an amazing experience working here at the Ecumenical Centre. Where else will we come into contact with such a variety of sisters and brothers in Christ with all their variety of tradition and culture? Where else will we have opportunities of understanding how we, our nation, our church, our theology etc. are seen by others? Where else can we begin to understand why others say and do what they do? But all this is to be experienced in the life of the whole world, not just to be the experience of a few fortunate people.

Sometimes we should leave because we have given what we can give and new insights, experience, knowledge and energy are need. It’s a matter of self-knowledge, awareness of needs and, most of all, a matter of personal integrity.

Perhaps most of all we have to leave, sooner or later, because neither I or you are all that important. Before you start protesting, I’m not speaking of the way God loves and values each one of us no matter who we are or what we have done.

It is exceedingly dangerous when:
churches or the ecumenical movement begin to think that they are more important than, or indeed somehow control, the gospel, the good news, embodied in Jesus Christ;
individuals begin to think they are more important or significant than the churches and ecumenical movement and than the gospel, the good news, embodied in Jesus Christ.

The act of leaving reminds us that none of us is indispensible. That even though we have been given a unique opportunity to contribute and to benefit, there are others who will come after us and make their contribution.

Throughout the scriptures we are reminded that the fulfilment of God’s loving and just purposes involves our faithful response – but it always is God’s purposes and ultimate glory – not ours.

Copyright (c) WCC/Simon Oxley

Service of welcoming and sending out

Service of Welcoming and Sending Out - 17 November 2008
This service was put together by Simon Oxley

This week in the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle we remember the people and churches of the Cameroon, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea

Greeting and Welcome

We approach God together (stand)

Welcoming God, you stand with open arms to receive everyone.
Embrace us in your love.
Sending God, you challenge and inspire us to leave our comfort, familiarity and certainty.
Move us towards your kingdom.
Companion God, you travel through life with us.
Alert us to your presence in ecstasy, insight, and devastation.
Transforming God, you make all things new.
Inspire us with discontent with the way things are.
Welcoming God, you stand with open arms to receive everyone.
Embrace us at the end of our activities, our contracts and our lives.

We sing together (remain standing)

The Love of God is broad like beach and meadow,
wide as the wind and an eternal home.
God leaves us free to seek him or reject him,
The gives us room to answer Yes or No.
The Love of God is broad like beach and meadow,
wide as the wind and an eternal home.
We long for freedom where our truest being
is given hope and courage to unfold.
We seek in freedom space and scope for dreaming,
and look for ground where trees and plants can grow.
The Love of God is broad ...
But there are walls that keep us all divided;
we fence each other in with hate and war.
Fear is the bricks and mortar of our prison,
our pride of self the prison coat we wear
The Love of God is broad …

O judge us Lord, and in your judgement free us,
and set our feet in freedom’s open space;
take us as far as your compassion wanders
among the children of the human race.
The Love of God is broad ...

We read Genesis 12.1-10 (sit)
Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb. Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien, for the famine was severe in the land.

We read Matthew 17.1-5
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!"

We reflect on what we have heard

We sing together (Stand)
Ausgang und Eingang,
Anfang und Ende
liegen bei dir, Herr,
füll du uns die Hände

We send out and welcome colleagues (sit)

We pray for those who have left or will be shortly leaving their work at the Ecumenical Centre and we name before God ….. Names of recent and forthcoming departures will be read.
We thank you for their service and their companionship with us in this place.
We pray that you will bless them in their new life wherever you may lead them.

We pray for those who have come to work in the Ecumenical Centre and we name before God … (Names of recent arrivals will be read.)
We thank you for these new colleagues in your work.
We pray that here they will find opportunities for fulfilled lives in your service.

We pray for those who remain working in the Ecumenical Centre that we may never take each other or the opportunity of working for God’s kingdom for granted.
We thank you for the work you have given us to do.
We pray that we may be good and faithful servants of Jesus Christ.
We pray together

As we pray this morning we hold before God the people and churches of the Cameroon, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea and especially our colleague Nyambura Njoroge and former colleague Kersten Storch and their families as they mourn.

Fleeing God,
you escaped with your people through the desolation of the wilderness;
you flee today with the refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo and too many other places
huddling, bewildered, with those driven from their homes and their land.
God of the barren places, fire us with the demands of your justice.

Despairing God,
you experience the pain of your people’s loneliness;
today you sit alongside those trapped in the valley of depression and despair,
grieving with the bereaved in their isolation and disorientation,
journeying with us through the pain of damaged and broken relationships.
God of the barren places, warm us with the glimmering glow of hope.

Responding God,
you experience the frustration and anger of a people who want an easy solution;
you travel today in the highs and lows of addiction,
waiting impatiently with the growing numbers in the dole queues,
listening to victim and perpetrator of the violence in homes and on the streets.
God of the barren places, teach us to see, hear and respond.

Beckoning God,
calling your people onwards to new opportunities;
you call us forward to serve you in new ways,
the direction sometimes clear, or at times shrouded in mist,
sometimes calling us home, yet always with a changed perspective.
God of the barren places, sustain us as we journey into the unknown.

Strength, Lord. Give me strength.
The strength to bear, with some measure of happiness, my sorrows and cares,
strength to make my love abundant in your service,
strength never to reject the poor,
nor to bend my knees before arrogant power,
strength to live the life of the Resurrected One each day,
strength to subject, with love, my strength to your will.
Prayer from the Cameroon

We pray the the Lord’s Prayer (each in our own language)

We sing together (stand)

One more step along the world I go,
one more step along the world I go;
from the old things to the new
keep me travelling along with you:
And it's from the old I travel to the new;
keep me travelling along with you.

Round the corner of the world I turn,
more and more about the world I learn;
all the new things that I see
you'll be looking at along with me:
And it's from the old I travel to the new;
keep me travelling along with you.

As I travel through the bad and good,
keep me travelling the way I should;
where I see no way to go
you'll be telling me the way, I know:
And it's from the old I travel to the new;
keep me travelling along with you.

Give me courage when the world is rough,
keep me loving though the world is tough;
leap and sing in all I do,
keep me travelling along with you:
And it's from the old I travel to the new;
keep me travelling along with you.

You are older than the world can be,
you are younger than the life in me;
ever old and ever new,
keep me travelling along with you:
And it's from the old I travel to the new;
keep me travelling along with you.

We bless one another (stand)

We lift up our eyes to the hills— from where will our help come?
Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The Lord will not let your foot be moved;
the one who keeps you will not slumber.
The Lord who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
the Lord will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
[Adapted from Psalm 121]

An order of worship reflecting on Diaconia and praying for

Morning Prayer in the Ecumenical Centre 27 October 2008

Hospitality and visitation – basic dimensions of diaconal practice

According to the ecumenical prayer cycle we pray this week for the Indian Ocean Islands:
Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles

"In Madagascar, when you feel lost in an unknown situation, the safest place to go is the church. There is always someone to receive you. This is partly a manifestation of Malagasy hospitality, but also it is a real manifestation of a caring church, the living image of God. God through his church always welcomes strangers no matter who they are or where they come from. There is always room for anybody who knocks at the door. The living condition of the church is its deeds towards needy people. We should know by now that actions are more important than words. There are many uprooted people around the world who seek refuge and shelter, with a load of despair and bitterness but full of hope. They feel lost and knock at the door of the church! Welcome them as God welcomes you!"
(Ranto Ranaivoson)

Welcome

Opening responses

Creator of time and space, we come together from different places and contexts
To meet in your presence.

Redeemer of the whole creation, we come with our hope and our sorrow
To be transformed in your presence.

Sustainer of all life, we come to listen to you
To strengthen our communion in your presence.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.

The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures;
and leads me beside still waters;

You restore my soul, O Lord,
and guide me along right pathways for your name's sake.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup is running over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 58:6-12 (read in Malagasy)
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

New Testament reading: Hebrews 13:1-3
Let mutual love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.

Reflection - Kjell Nordstokke

Hymn: Let us build a house were love can dwell

Intercessions from Madagascar
Everlasting God,
who love in justice
and whose justice is fulfilled in love,
we give thanks to you,
in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
for the faithful witness of your churches in the islands of Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles.

We praise you for the lives and works
of those who witness hardship,
in the midst of multi-cultural and multi-religious contexts,
in deep poverty,
always exposed to killer diseases,
yet sharing the good news of your love
through their empowering word
and through work for social and economic justice.

We pray for your continued presence through the Holy Spirit,
to strengthen the ministry of the churches
in the public and political arenas
that the abundant life promised in the Gospel
may become real in the lives of people.

Teach us, Lord Jesus, to live your love in justice
and your justice in love throughout our daily lives.
teach your church to love the Gospel it preaches
and to love those to whom the Gospel is preached.

Prayers continued in silence

Lord’s Prayer (each in his / her own language)

Blessing

On our hearts and on our houses
the blessing of God.

In our coming and our going,
the peace of God.

In our life and our believing,
the love of God.

At our end and new beginning,
the arms of God to welcome us
and bring us home. Amen.

Hymn

This service was put together by Simone Sinn, Kjell Nordstokke and Antsan'ny Rakotoarisoa.

Sow life ...

Comments by Dennis Smith, new president of the World Association for Christian Communication:

I am honored to serve you for these next few years. I want especially to recognize the leadership of Musimbi Kanyoro and Piet Halma who tomorrow will be completing their terms as officers of WACC. We are not alone on this journey, and Musimbi and Piet are among the cloud of witnesses who will continue to accompany us with their witness and vision.

WACC has been important to me for a long time. When I began in WACC back in about 1979, I was staffing a communication training and religious film distribution service in Guatemala's central highlands. The WACC news bulletin Action, edited by Ann Shakespeare, was my one contact with the larger world of Christian communication. Over the years, WACC has served as my professional association, my window onto the rich world of Latin American communication theory and practice, a laboratory for social research through the Global Media Monitoring Project, and the school where I learned about communication rights, public policy and theologies of communication. People like Carlos Valle, Horace Etemesi, and María Elena Hermosilla have been valued mentors.

As the World Association for Christian Communication, we work to assure the full participation and leadership of women in our media, in our churches and institutions, in our world. We provide a unique space where, as people of faith, we can call on all people of good will to build community, to assure the full participation of the silenced, of those who have been made invisible, to challenge systems of impunity and violence by speaking prophetically to power, to stand with processes of liberation and wholeness in human history, to celebrate and defend human culture in all its diversity.

We are bearers of a proud tradition in defense of communication rights. We will continue to be present in the struggle to have the right to communicate recognized as a basic human right. We are here because we are storytellers. And in my brief comments this afternoon I want to speak to the theme of our Congress by telling a story from Guatemala: I was the translator.

The speaker was a Mayan pastor with deep roots in the spirituality of his people. The audience was a delegation representing several theological seminaries from North and Central America. The delegation wanted to know what was happening in Guatemala. In December, 1996, we had signed Peace Accords that ended 36 years of civil war. That war left almost 250,000 people dead or disappeared; more than a million displaced people.

In the larger context, the delegation wanted to know what the pastor could say about Mayan cultural resistance. The Mayas had somehow survived 500 years of adversity and still maintained languages, cultures, a vibrant spirituality, a unique way of being in this world. The Mayan pastor talked about rediscovering roots; he explored how hard and necessary that is after a time of massive brutality. How does one restore one’s humanity? How does one recover one’s connectedness with all things?

Being immersed in so much violence for so long, he said, breaks something inside us. Trust is shattered. Suspicion becomes a way of life. We become confused, numb, exhausted. And deep within us lingers a continuing spark of violence.

How do we restore balance? How do we re-build self-respect? What is the glue that helps us piece together our integrity? A starting point, he said, is to recall the stories told to us by our grandmothers.

But many, he said, have forgotten. They have been seduced by power, by consumerism. Inside, they are hollow, hurting, adrift.

Only a remnant have remained true to their vocation, to the awful, awe-filled calling to serve those in need in the name of God, whose name in Mayan languages is Heart of Heaven, Heart of Earth.

One professor wanted to talk about the problem of evil. Is there not a time when one must take up arms against the oppressor? He was like many of us. In the 80’s, much of his identity had become tied up in Central America’s struggles. In good faith, he, like many of us, had chosen to baptize the revolutions and sidestep their ambiguities. Now, he wanted to hear that the other side was evil.

The pastor did not answer.

Another posed a similar question.

Still no answer. I noted to myself that the pastor did not trot out his credentials of suffering. I knew he had lost close relatives. I knew he had witnessed monstrous acts.

The pastor and I talked later. I asked him why he had chosen not to tell his own story. Such memories, he told me, should not be violated. To do so can trivialize the victims, can cheapen their ongoing presence as they accompany us on life’s journey.

We talked about living in a time of great violence. We agreed that in these circumstances, there are no good guys. Within each of us exists the capacity to do monstrous acts. That is who we are as human beings. To celebrate violence only lessens us, no matter what the justification. But victimhood also lessens us. To perpetrate violence breaks something inside us. Always. There are no exceptions. So here we are, lessened: victims, witnesses, perpetrators. After so much brutality, our very humanity hangs by a thread. God’s restoring grace is our only hope.

So how do we deal with continued violence and injustice? Do we just step aside and let it roll unchecked? No. The struggle to build the world imagined by God must continue. But we must know that the struggle will consume us. In our brokenness we will become even more broken. In Guatemala, I have come to suspect that all of us, sooner or later, end up as damaged goods. That is certainly what we have seen in the films we have viewed and in the stories we have shared in this Congress.

Holy Spirit, spirit of wholeness – we are broken. We are capable of breaking others. That’s why Guatemalan poet Julia Esquivel states categorically:

“Because you can’t kill death with death
Sow life
And kill death with life.”

This is the story we share: the breath of the Spirit is in our midst; her presence will not be denied. Her's is the story of the slow, sure, tender triumph of life and justice and hope in all of Creation.

Go forth, my sisters and brothers, and be bearers of peace. For we are not alone.

Cape Town
10 October 2008

order of prayers for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal

SERVICE OF MORNING PRAYER
The Chapel of the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva
Monday 13 October 2008

This week the ecumenical prayer cycle calls attention to
the nations, churches and peoples of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal

Prelude

Opening prayer
O God, we come before you with unclean hearts, selfish minds, unworthy spirits.
In your grace, you touch us and make us whole and sound.
We dance before you with joy. We sing in freedom. We swim in your love.
We give you thanks and praise for your grace.
We pray that you will touch us, again and again,
and show us the way toward true happiness.
In your triune name we pray, O Lord.
Amen.

Thuma Mina 16 – Veni Creator

Reading from Holy Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7
Soyez toujours joyeux d’être unis au Freuet euch in dem Herrn allewege, und
Seigneur. Je le répète: Soyez joyeux! abermals sage ich: Freuet euch!
Manifestez de la douceur envers tous. Eure Lindigkeit lasset kund sein allen
Le Seigneur viendra bientôt. Menschen! Der Herr ist nahe!
Ne vous inquiétez vous de rien, Sorget nichts, sondern in allen Dingen lasset
mais en toute circonstance demandez à eure Bitten im Gebet und Flehen mit
Dieu dans la prière ce dont vous avez Danksagung vor Gott kund werden!
besoin, et demandez-le-lui avec un cœur Und der Friede Gottes, welcher höher ist
reconnaissant. Et la paix de Dieu, qui als alle Vernunft, bewahre eure Herzen
dépasse tout ce que l’homme peut com- und Sinne in Christus Jesus!
prendre, gardera vos cœurs et vos esprits
en Jésus Christ.

Thuma Mina 52 – Alleluia

Reflection

Prayer of Intercession (Response: Thuma Mina 94 – La ténèbre n’est point ténèbre)
Eternal God, you call us to rejoice. Forgive our tendency towards gloom.
Remind us that your good news is glorious, and lead us into your courts with joy.

La ténèbre n’est point ténèbre devant toi; la nuit comme le jour est lumière.

Lift our lives out for their accustomed ruts, our minds out of their comfortable rants.
Lift our hearts into your presence through the revelation of your gracious will for us.

La ténèbre n’est point ténèbre devant toi; la nuit comme le jour est lumière.

Teach us how to love you, and to worship you in joyousness of spirit.
Teach us joyfully to love one another, to bring your light into one another’s existence.

La ténèbre n’est point ténèbre devant toi; la nuit comme le jour est lumière.

Wherever practical difficulties lie as snares in our neighbours’ paths,
wherever the forces of markets obscure hope for people’s futures,
wherever war or natural catastrophe amplify the temptation to despair,
shed your light upon our world, and grant that we may reflect your goodness.

La ténèbre n’est point ténèbre devant toi; la nuit comme le jour est lumière.

Hear our prayers, O God: those we utter aloud, and those we pray in silence…
Hear us as we pray for all the world, and especially this week for your grace in
Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

All this we pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who taught disciples to pray…

The Lord’s Prayer (said by each of us in his or her own language)

Sending prayer
Compassionate Lord, you know that we would prefer to have power over the storm,
a secure home, a life protected from the winds and every other threat.
Yet we gather here to ask your help in learning to live with the storms that come,
to grant us shelter among friends, to provide strength when our plans end in failure.
Build us up, Lord, again and again.
And grant that we may ever rejoice in fellowship with you, and with one another.
Amen.

Thuma Mina 134 – Laudate omnes gentes

Postlude

This service was written and put together by Theodore A. Gill

Liturgy for the international day of prayer for peace

International Day of Prayer for Peace
21st September 2008

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace (James 3:18).

Talofa! Kiora! Ia ora na! Bula Vinaka! Malo e lelei! Hafa dai! Halo Olgeta! Aloha!
Greetings in a few of the many tongues of the Pacific!

~ Sound the Conch Shell ~

Cultural Presentation (Kava Ceremony)

It is customary in Pacific cultures to welcome (and say farewell) through the traditional Kava ceremony. No important occasion or event takes place without this tradition.

It is important to understand that when serving the kava, the guest (a chief from the visiting group) will drink first and then a host village chief (of equal status) will drink. This process will continue to all visiting chiefs present during the ceremony.

The kava ceremony for the International Day of Prayer for Peace will serve only one (1) kava. It will be served to God.

~ Sound the Conch Shell ~

Our Vigil of Peace

Our vigil of peace occurs in 3 stages: Reading the Tides (a time of thanksgiving) Against the Currents (a time to listen) and; Making New Waves (a time to act)


I. Reading the Tides

Welcome to a time of reflection, transformation and celebration, as we halt canoes and raise our paddles in unity for the International Day of Prayer for Peace.

We rowed and paddled hard for many years. We were caught in storms, rough tides with broken paddles and no hope; we burned in the day and frozen by night; with blistered hands and sore feet; we hungered and we thirst; we missed; we wept; and we prayed.

We rowed and paddled harder for more years. Then we remembered the calm seas; the pleasant breeze; the beautiful sunsets and clear skies; we ate and were full; we smiled; we laughed; and we prayed.

We dock today to read the tides in thanksgiving for the abundant richness the tides have brought to our shores, to acknowledge that we too swim with the currents of violence, pain and injustice, and finally to make new waves to guide our canoes in the way of justice and peace.

(Please rise)

We will row; we will paddle; and we will pray.

Sing ~ People of Peace

Let us pray

Atua, Chief of Chiefs, God
Allow us to drink from the tanoa* of your peace,
Right the course of our canoes to overcome the currents of violence
Give us peace of being at rest, so that peace prevails over any winds that gust through our islands,
Tattoo in our hearts your righteousness and purity
Through all cultures and walks of life, we gather as instruments of peace. Amen.

- Atua of Peace by M. Aunoa, Am. Samoa submitted for IDPP 2008
*tanoa: kava bowl

Sing ~ To God Be the Glory
1. To God be the glory, great things He has done / So loved He the world that He gave us His Son / Who yielded His life an atonement for sin / And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Refrain: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord / Let the earth hear His voice! / Praise the Lord, praise the Lord / Let the people rejoice! / O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son / And give Him the glory, great things He has done.
2. O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood / to every believer the promise of God /
The vilest offender who truly believes / that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
3. Great things He has taught us, great things He has done / And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son / But purer, and higher, and greater will be / Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

II. Against the Currents

(Cultural Presentation of Artwork for Annual Focus from churches and projects in Pacific)
As we present this artwork of the logo of the World Council of Churches from the Pacific Islands, we are reminded of its history, its story and its voyage. The boat represents a journey. The cross symbolizes Christianity. The waves signify rough seas and even storms. Conflicts, violence, death and negativity have affected the churches and the ecumenical movement, sometimes threatening the fellowship, but one thing remains constant, the cross which forms the mast of our ship, embodying faith and unity.
As we read the Word of God and meditate to a musical selection, think about the colours of life, the faces of joy and hope, and the cries of helplessness, violence and war in the world. Acknowledge that we too swim with the currents of hatred, pain and injustice and just as others are enemies to us, we are enemies to others.

Scriptural Journey
An adaptation of Proverbs 16: 1-7 by WEAVERS of Fiji

The plans of the mind belong to us,
But the answer of the tongue belong to God
All our ways may be pure in our own eyes
But God weighs the spirit
Commit your work to the Lord
And your plan will be established
All things were made with a purpose
Even the wicked for the day of trouble
The arrogant is an abomination to God
But loyalty and faithfulness atones for iniquity
When the ways of the people please the Lord,
Even their enemies will be at peace

(Musical Selection)

The Beatitudes Matthew 5 3-12

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who are reviled, persecuted and falsely accused because of God.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you

(Musical Selection)

(An adaptation of Ephesians 2: 14-18 by A. Mahoe of Hawaii)

For God is our peace who has made us all one,
For God has broken down the diving wall of hostility
To create a new human in place of two,
Make peace and reconcile in one body through the cross
Peace was preached to those who are far
Peace was preached to those who are near
For through the Son, we are in one Spirit to the Father

Sing ~ E toru nga mea from New Zealand (Agape 21)

III. Making New Waves

Testimonies: Witnessing to the Peace of God

(Please rise)

Sing ~ Here I am Lord (in English and Spanish)

I, the Lord of sea and sky, / I have heard my people cry / All who dwell in dark and sin / My hand will save.

Refrain: Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? / I have heard you calling in the night. /
I will go, Lord, if you lead me. / I will hold your people in my heart.
I will break their hearts of stone, / Give them hearts for love alone. / I will speak my words to them. / Whom shall I send?
I, the Lord of wind and flame, / I will send the poor and lame. / I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
(Please be seated)

~
Prayers of Intercession
Sing ~ Kyrie Eleison from Ukraine (Thuma Mina 35)
~

The Lord’s Prayer

We are modest and humble as we commit ourselves through our prayers and our pledges to make new waves of peace beginning with ourselves, our families, communities and the world.
(Please rise)

Sing ~ Pasifika from Pacific Islands

Blessing

Together, we row to the East, paddle to the West, sail to the North and steer to the South with God at the helm of our canoes.
by L. Kolngata, Papua New Guinea for Annual Focus 2008

This Liturgy was put together by Ginger Porter who works in the Decoade to overcome Violence office of the WCC.

Sing ~ Papauta

Youth internship with the Waldensian Church in Italy

CSD Diaconia Valdese - Internship / Voluntary Service Opportunity 6-9 month full-time internship
The CSD Diaconia Valdese is the national organisation for the Diaconate (social work) of the Waldensian Church in Italy (www.chiesavaldese.org).
Position DescriptionWe offer one 6-9 month full-time internship starting January-February 2009, at the main offices in Torre Pellice (60 km from Torino). The internship will involve:- Work with administration and communication (50%)- Work in a sheltered community for adolescents (50%)Food and accommodation will be provided by the CSD Diaconia Valdese.
Requirements:- Basic knowledge of Italian- Knowledge of English and/or other European language (French or German)
If interested, please send a complete CV + letter of motivation before 10 December 2008 to volontariato@diaconiavaldese.org

Sermon on wisdom and folly by Rudolf Renfer

Sermon preached by Rudolf Renfer on Matthew 11.16-19

What kind of generation, what kind of people are these! When there is music, they do not dance. When they are at funerals, they do not weep.
And they have the same reaction with John and Jesus.
John is a pessimistic man and speaks about repentance, and they answer: He is crazy, he has a demon.
Jesus is enjoying life, eats and drinks a lot, and they answer: He is a gourmand and gets drunk. He is not serious.

These people might have thought: How can someone enjoy life, when the end of this world is near? The Pharisees are fasting and John is fasting, therefore shouldn’t we also be fasting?
However, this Jesus who calls himself the Son of man is sitting at the table with people who were considered impure and sinners. He accepts the sinners and eats with those who are certainly not politically correct, and possibly neither ideologically nor theologically. He challenges the existing and established religious and social order. Indeed, he seems not to be serious.
However, he also knows that his final destiny will be betrayal, suffering and death on the cross.

So what about us? What shall we do? Where do we stand? Shall we give the same answer: John is crazy and Jesus is not serious? Last Thursday we did not come to work, because it was a holiday, le Jeûne genevois, the Geneva fasting day. Did we fast? Or did we sing and dance on a day of fasting? Maybe we are crazy?
In our daily life, do we behave well, no excess, not too much pleasure, being serious, not eating nor drinking too much, having everything under control?
And in our work here, what attitude do we adopt? Are we punctual with our time schedule (in LWF it’s me who is responsible for the follow-up of the flextime system, so this is something very serious)? No problems with our supervisor? No problems with our assignments? Do we perform well? Is it serious not to take all the vacation days this year, because some of us are under a heavy work load? Maybe some of us are just a bit workaholic and have no time for singing, dancing and relaxing? Are we mad, or are we serious?

It is not easy to find an adequate attitude or life style. If we want to challenge the current economic and social systems, we might need to lose our heads, our traditional common sense, our diplomacy, and stand on the side of all those whom no one wants to stand for.
If we want to challenge the current systems, we might take an option for the table to be shared with all those who are considered impure, unworthy, incorrect and excluded.

So again my question: What shall we do? Our text ends with a strange sentence:
“Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
So, John and Jesus are put together under the word of wisdom. Those who can understand John and Jesus will live under God’s wisdom. Sometimes fast, sometimes feast. We have heard from the Proverbs that wisdom of God means something like knowledge of God’s plans and words. Jesus himself represents God’s wisdom, but this wisdom is seen as madness by this world, says the apostle Paul.

This looks somehow schizophrenic, or at least paradoxical. But in fact, Christian faith is a bit like that. Christian faith is revealed to the excluded ones, to those who do not have an important place in life and society. These people do not appear in newspapers, on internet, they don’t have their own facebook, they do not belong to the world of big finances and politics, but maybe they are close to us, or at least to the work we are trying to do in this house, although we also sometimes have the impression of being crazy and mad when we are sitting at our desks, or participating in meetings or looking at decisions of our authorities.

What saves us is the force of grace, or the conviction that we believe in this crazy John and of course even more in this fabulous Jesus Christ who will save lives and communities from damage, in order to live – and why not even here in the Ecumenical Center – with the dimension of foolish wisdom which will be justified through our daily actions and through our daily work, in spite of all adversities.
This will be sometimes through repentance and fasting, and sometimes through joy and dancing, even if the world around us thinks that we are mad or not serious.
Amen.

Praying for Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary

Worship Ecumenical Centre, Monday 15 September 2008
This week the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle invites us to pray for the countries of Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, and their churches

This order of worship was put together by the Rev. Rudolf Renfer who is director of human resources at the Lutheran World Federation

Welcome – Invocation

The world belongs to God,
The earth and all its people
How good and how lovely it is
To live together in unity.
Love an faith come together,
Justice and peace join hands.
If the Lord’s disciples keep silent
These stones would shout aloud.
Lord, open our lips
And our mouths shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Amen.

Hymn: Agape 3, A Palavra do Senhor (all the 5 languages)

Prayer
Oh Lord,
When you deliver us from our faults,
And when our heart continues to feel guilty,
Forgive us.

Agape 28 Gospodi Pomiliu - sung response

Oh Lord,
When you open the door of our prisons,
And we still continue to pull down the walls,
Forgive us

Gospodi Pomiliu

Oh Lord, when you call us to live from your grace,
And we keep turning over our forgiven faults,
Forgive us

Gospodi Pomiliu

Readings
Proverbs 3, 13 – 18 (in Romanian)
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.

1 Cor 1, 20 – 25 (in French)
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Mt 11, 16 – 19
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates,
‘We piped to you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Message

Hymn Paradiscomnak te szep élö fàja

Prayer of intercession
Because the world is beautiful,
And beauty is a tender thing,
And we want to enjoy life,
But also take up our responsibilities,
We need you, God.

sung response: Sfinte Dumne Zeule

Because human knowledge seems endless,
And we do not know what we do not know,
And what seems to be wisdom for us,
Is seen as folly by those who do not know us,
We need you, God.

Sfinte Dumne Zeule

Because in fact we can live without you,
And are free to go against you,
And are struggling with our convictions of justice,
Trying to stand on the side of the excluded ones,
We need you, God.

Sfinte Dumne Zeule

Because we want to be in solidarity with the countries
Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria and their churches
Witnessing your name and acting in your name,
Resisting to temptations and weaknesses,
We need you, God.

Sfinte Dumne Zeule

Because you came among us
In the man Jesus who was eating and drinking
With impure people and sinners,
And we want to know how to answer to his call,
We need you, God.

Sfinte Dumne Zeule

Blessing
Lord Jesus Christ,
Because you were eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners,
You were looked on as ungodly.

Because you broke bread with the joyful,
You were called a glutton and a drunkard.

Because you broke bread in the upstairs room,
You sealed your acceptance of the way of the cross.

Set our blessing on the bread we break and the company we share,
In the name of God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Let us go in peace.
Amen

Hymn: Here I am, Lord

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Refrain:
Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me,
I will hold your people in my heart.

Yo, Señor de lluvia y sol,
Las angustias y el dolor,
De mi pueblo he de sanar sin condición.
Ese duro corazón, con mi amor transformaré.
Quién mi nombre anunciará ?
Quién me seguirá ?

Refrán :
Aquí estoy, Señor, Heme aquí, Señor.
En la noche escuché tu voz.
Guíame, Señor. Yo te seguiré.
En mi corazón a tu pueblo guardaré.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them,
Whom shall I send?

Refrain