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

Statement of the World Student Christian Federation on the Announcement of an Agreement to Form an Inclusive Government in Zimbabwe

Statement of the World Student Christian Federation
On the Announcement of an Agreement to Form an Inclusive Government in Zimbabwe


The World Student Christian Federation welcomes the announcement of an agreement to form an inclusive Government in Zimbabwe. While we await the full details our thoughts and prayers are with the students, young people and ordinary families in Zimbabwe at this critical juncture. Having suffered so much from a legacy of violence, food shortages, unemployment, collapsed health, education and other vital services – we hope that the agreement will be implemented in a way that fully addresses the dire needs of ordinary Zimbabweans.

WSCF also fervently hopes that this historic agreement marks Zimbabwe’s return to the rule of law and to effective governance for and by the people. We hope that the political leaders will be guided by the principles of good faith and be faithful to the agreement and work selflessly towards its proper implementation.

We trust that the global ecumenical movement and the international community will fulfill their pledge to support the people of Zimbabwe as they begin a challenging process of national healing, reconciliation, reconstruction and renewal.

Reverend Michael Wallace
General Secretary
World Student Christian Federation


About the WSCF
The World Student Christian Federation is a global movement of students working for dialogue, ecumenism, social justice and peace. Founded in 1895, the Federation brings together more than 2 million students in 105 national student Christian movements.
Website www.wscfglobal.org

Meditation on a positive view of scribes . Matthew 13.52 and Jeremiah 36

Matthew 13:52 and Jeremiah 36
And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

A meditation by the Rev. Theodore Gill, senior editor, WCC Communication

One verse in the 13th chapter of Matthew contains a complete parable,
a parable with the most positive view of “scribes”
to be found in the gospel according to Saint Matthew.
Elsewhere, in Matthew 23, we encounter the series of denunciations that begin,
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”

Yet, it turns out, there is such a thing as a scribe trained for the kingdom of heaven,
and many New Testament scholars believe that this is how the author/editor who stands behind our canon’s first gospel understood the role of gospel-writer or evangelist:
The person who is called to tell the story, and record it, must balance
the impact on the community of contemporary developments and trends – “what is new” – with history, the lessons of scripture and tradition – “what is old”.

In the time of Jesus the position of “scribe”
had evolved to one of scholarship and pedagogy,
centering on interpretation and practical application of Torah, the law of Moses.
Luke uses a different term to describe the office of scribe: “a doctor of the law”.

But the word had other connotations at other times –
following the return from exile in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah,
the scribe was an official of the royal court in Jerusalem.
Earlier still, a scribe – sofer in Hebrew – was simply someone who was literate,
capable of reading and writing, and therefore of copying texts or taking dictation.

In the 36th chapter of Jeremiah, we see that Baruch is something more than that,
more than an office clerk or administrative assistant to the prophet.
In fact, Baruch was Jeremiah’s communication secretary –
not merely writing up the details of the boss’s visions but publishing them abroad,
representing the prophet in public, taking much of the heat for Jeremiah’s positions.
And in Jeremiah 36, Baruch does appear in public repeatedly – until
sympathetic courtiers advise him to go into hiding, if he and Jeremiah have any sense.
One of these courtiers, Elishama, is described as ha-sofer, the king’s scribe.
Baruch and Elishama, two communication secretaries, representing different interests;
one warns the other to lay low, if he wishes to avoid prison or worse.
So there was honour among professional communicators, at least in this case.

Of course, Baruch would have been interested in audience reaction to his release,
although reader surveys were not terribly sophisticated in those days.
He heard a variety of people insisting that his scroll was fit for the king,
and he conveys to us later reports of just how the king received his work.
After each three or four columns of prophesy were read,
the king took a particular type of knife that was one of the scribe’s own tools,
cut off the latest strip from the scroll, and threw it into the fire.

Some officials there in the royal winter apartment dared to object to this sacrilege,
and Baruch preserves their names for posterity.
A loyal audience is worth remembering.

The book of Jeremiah assumes that there was a proper response expected
after the scroll had been produced and presented to the people and to the ruler.
I suppose that all communication secretaries harbour such expectations,
and may even worry that doom awaits all concerned
when the world and its leaders turn deaf ears to the message.

But our focus has been on one particular chapter in Jeremiah,
telling of events that happened well before the dire ending of Jehoiakim’s reign.
The end of this chapter is less apocalyptic, but no less world-transforming:
“Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to his communication secretary,
Baruch son of Neriah, who wrote on it…all the words of the scroll
that the king had burned in the fire; and many similar words were added to them.”

So the scroll of prophecy was not lost;
the task of communication was undertaken once more,
no matter how unwelcome the message or the messengers.
Inevitably, accounts of the latest events, new prophetic visions
“and many similar words” were added to the flow of information:
For every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like
the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.

Let us pray.

Living Word,
give us true vision,
bless us with the skills and talents we require,
grant us persistence,
so that we may serve your church
and the world may seek your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

This meditation was given at the prayers which opened which opened the meeting of the press officers network of Euroepean churches - PONEC. The Meeting began in the Ecumenical Centre chapel and continued in the Cartigny Centre in the Genevan countrside.

copyright (c) Theodore Gill/WCC

Who was Saint Paul's press officer? Sermon on 2 Timothy 1:7-10 and Luke 1:1-4

Sermon preached at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Geneva
For the Press Officers Network of European Churches (PONEC)
7 September 2008
Rev. Jane Stranz

2 Timothy 1:7-10
Luke 1:1-4

Au nom du Père et du Fils et du Saint Esprit, Amen.


(The first rule of communication is to check whether the microphone they’ve put in your pocket is switched on!)

You may be surprised to know that St Luke - the apostle who wrote one of the Gospels and also the Acts of the Apostles - is sometimes described as the journalist of the New Testament.
That idea may sound a bit anachronistic, after all there was no television or radio in first century Judea, probably no daily newspapers, certainly no internet.

But what is it that a journalist actually does? One definition puts it like this - journalists gather and present news, including information about current and historical events, things that have changed in the world and other topics of interest. They take notes and record information. They carry out background research for their reports or articles, and, we hope, check facts carefully. They interview people. They write news articles and background features, written in such a was that their readers, listeners or viewers can understand what has been going on. This means they need to know their audience.

[I should add it was the journalist I live with who put me up to saying this!]

If we look again at the text from Luke we can see that at the beginning of the Gospel
Luke sets out his audience - his friend Theophilus. Luke notes too that he has been closely following all the developments concerning Jesus – or perhaps we should call it the Jesus story - and it seemed that it was time to write an "orderly account", so that Theophilus may know the truth concerning the things of which he had been informed.

The tone of Luke's gospel is rather different to Mark's rather breathless and hasty style, or to Matthew's regal and scholarly tone, or to John's opaque, poetic and very theological approach.

But Luke the journalist also makes great literature out of the orderly account he writes for Theophilus. You only have to consider his versions of the story of Christ’s incarnation, passion and resurrection to see how beautifully constructed his account is.
Unlike the other Gospel writers Luke doesn't end the story he tells with Jesus.
He rightly understands that Jesus' story goes on in others – this is the meaning of resurrection.

The orderly literary account Luke narrates, continues in the Acts of the Apostles, where he recounts the exciting missionary tours of Paul, in Cyprus, and Antioch, Asia Minor, Macedonia, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth, Galatia, and Ephesus, leading to Paul's imprisonment, trial, his trip to Rome, the shipwreck.

And there was also of course a major conference in Jerusalem to deal with - a controversy which threatened to tear the Christian Communion apart – centring on the question do Christians have to be circumcised according to the law of Moses?

That must have been a tense and difficult time. Sounds familiar?

If we think people today from the same or different churches are rather “muscular” in the negative criticisms and public statements they make about one another, then reading some of what Paul and Peter and their supporters said to one another in Jerusalem may convince us that being in the church has always been about very animated and committed debate and not particularly about being nice and well-behaved!

Today I wonder whether the Jerusalem conference had an assembly preparatory commission, or an 18 month long communications plan … I suspect not.

But as I was wondering where Luke got the information from, the stories, the narratives, the great statements of Paul, I came up with rather a surprising hypothesis.

I think it's clear that Paul must have employed a great press officer, a spin doctor, as we say these days, to make sure that his side of the story got a good telling.

A press officer is someone employed by an organization - or sometimes a person - to provide the news media and journalists with information about the organization or individual.

You may object, and say - but there is no reference to any spin doctors or press officers in the Acts of the Apostles.

But that just shows how well St Paul's press officer was doing his or her job. Alastair Campbell - Tony Blair's spin doctor - once said he would have failed if he, and not Tony Blair, became the story (and in fact he finally resigned when he DID become the story).

But St Paul's press officer was so good, that she - or he - never did become the story.

But just think of the challenges the press officer had to face ...
– this Christian preacher and his companion get greeted and treated like Greek gods in Derbe (try explaining that to the evangelicals).
– can you imagine trying to pick up the pieces in Galatia after Paul's so called “pastoral” letter in which he calls the Galations stupid (try explaining that he’s a nice guy really to anyone after that).
– or explaining Paul's iconoclastic theology saying it's all right to eat the food offered to pagan gods in sacrifice.
– or trying to spin the huge unrest and rioting that seemed to attend Paul's travels (the forces of law and order are really not going to have much time for your explanations).

And of course all the time this person had Paul, their boss, telling them, 'It's not about me, it's about Jesus Christ living, dying and rising again for us, that's what you should be saying to those writers and storytellers'. While the press officer will of course also have been trying to keep the boss 'on message', and with someone like Paul who had such wide and broad knowledge, that really won't have been easy!

As you have heard, for the past two days press and communications officers from churches right across Europe - from Albania to Ireland and from Finland to Italy - have been meeting in Geneva, swapping experiences and insights about how to communicate their churches -
and looking at one particular conference that is soon coming up.

It’s not a conference in Jerusalem like in Acts but the 13th assembly of the Conference of European Churches that will take place in Lyon next year. And I hear that the press officers have come up with bags of ideas about communicating the assembly.

But what is it that makes a good press officer? I sometimes wonder whether the text we heard from Timothy does not provide a good summary of the qualities that are needed: For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

In English we do not have the wonderful word “Besonnenheit” to render the Greek σωφρονισμου (sophronismos) and so we have
Power love and self-control
power love and right mindedness
power love and sound judgement
and my personal favourite which comes surprisingly from the Darby translation
power love and wise discretion

Any press officer, particularly a church press officer, will need power or dynamism to do their job. They will also need love, a sense of passion and purpose in what they are doing; and they will need buckets-full of wise discretion, sound-mindedness, self control, and more besides.

Perhaps those seem like rather high values for press officers, but I'd like to suggest that actually those values apply not only to them and to the rather timid Timothy (you notice that Paul doesn't mince his words even to those closest to him – 'come on Timothy stop being so scared - get on with it!') but to all of us in the churches.

Each of us and all of us are God's press officers, telling the story of Jesus in today's world.

We bear witness through our lives, the way we do business, the way we speak and interact with one another …

Think for a moment of a local church, or a diocese or a church organisation, or a church-run aid organisation.

How does it and can it bear witness to story of Jesus in today’s plural, globalized world?

Perhaps we should take a leaf out of Paul’s book and not feel embarrassed by the debates, discussions, tensions and politicking, but actually dare to tell the story and say how it adds and gives meaning to our lives.

Bearing witness to the essential is not easy – we’d rather say, 'oh you know I go to church out of habit, for the music, to see friends'. We’re frightened about being seen as too religious.

In a book he has written, the French Protestant theologian Laurent Schlumberger says how important it for Christians today to reclaim the language of bearing witness to their faith. His book is called Sur le seuil which means on the threshold, in the doorway - between our faith and other people’s lives, questions, faith, concerns and convictions. Schlumberger says that if our faith talk is to have any resonance with others, we will need to dare to speak of our doubts as well as our convictions, as part of daring to go to the threshold of interaction.

Before I finish I’m afraid you are going to have to allow me one final linguistic aside. There is a wonderful German word Schwellenangst – it means fear of the threshold, fear of knocking on a new door, doing a new thing, being on a new threshold.

But God has not given us a spirit of fear of the thresholds where the witness to our faith takes place, but a spirit of dynamic power, passionate love and wise discretion.

So may God's Spirit truly blow a hurricane of wise discretion, love, and power calling us to live on that threshold where we bear witness to the faith and keeping all of us - 'on message'.

Amen.


Laurent Schlumberger, Sur le Seuil: Les protestants au défi du témoignage, Lyon, Editions Olivétan, 2005.


copyright (c) Jane Stranz