Praying for Bolivia, Chile and Peru

Monday Morning Worship, Chapel of the Ecumenical Centre, June 29, 2009
Worship leaders were Martin Junge and Maria Chavez as we prayed for Bolivia, Chile and Peru.

Music: El Condor pasa

Welcome

Song: Tatanaka Mamanaka (TM 173, in Aymara language)

Call to Worship
We come together connecting to ancient dreams:
The world at peace. The world made whole.
We join this morning to be nurtured by your vision:
The world at peace. The world made whole.
We come together to listen, to worship you and to pray:
The world at peace. The world made whole.
We come together to be inspired and strengthened as witnesses:
The world at peace. The world made whole

Psalm (from Psalm 145)
I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

Song: Gloria a Dios (TM 56, in Spanish)

Reading of the Gospel: Luke 18:36-43 (in Aymara)
35As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
38He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
39Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41"What do you want me to do for you?"
"Lord, I want to see," he replied.
42Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." 43Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Reflection

Moment of silence

Prayers of intercession
God, we come before you with our deafness and blindness. Heal us with your power, so that we can listen and hear. Heal us with your power, so that we can see:

Response: A ti Señor te pedimos (TM 29, in English)

God, we come before you with our longing for peace and wholeness. Nurture us, so that our longing translates into attitudes and actions in our daily life.
Response: A ti Señor te pedimos (TM 29, in English)

God we pray this morning for the people and the churches in Bolivia, Chile and Peru. Give people and the churches, as well as societies in general and governments your dream of peace with justice, so that discrimination, racism and segregation are challenged, and social and economic inequalities are not taken as normal anymore.

Response: A ti Señor te pedimos (TM 29, in English)

God, we specially pray this morning for the indigenous people in these countries. Centuries of marginalization and oppression have not been able to erase their dignity and aspiration of being subjects of their lives and in their societies. We thank you for that witness. We pray particularly for the indigenous people in the Amazon region of Peru, defending their right to participate in the decisions regarding the use of their own land and their resources.

Response: A ti Señor te pedimos (TM 29, in English)

The Lords Prayer (each in his or her own language)

Song: Danos un corazón TM 228, in Spanish

Blessing and Sending
May God bless us with wisdom
to care for creation.
May God bless us with love
to share what is given to us.
May God bless us with hope,
to live inspired lives.
Go in peace and be witnesses of hope.
Amen

Liturgy for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay

Morning prayers, Ecumenical Centre, Geneva,Monday, June 22, 2009
Praying through the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay

This order for morning prayer was written by Guillermo Kerber.
The preacher was Julio de Santa Ana

Welcome
Song: Tenemos esperanza (Bishop Federico Pagura, Homero Perera) Agape 72

Prayer
(Bishop Aldo Etchegoyen, Argentina)

O God, Lord of the wind and the sea,
of the mountains and the valleys,
of the world and of the church:
In the midst of fear and insecurity
give us trust and hope in you

We live in a world where the gales of power
blow strong enough to shake life itself,
where from the arrogant and the interests of the powerful
roll the waves of injustice and violence.

We pray for those suffering
because of their poverty, their ignorance, their limitations,
because of their colour or status, social or sexual.
We think of your church sailing on a sea
where the waves of racism, militarism, sexism
and economic marginalization hurt human life.

Take care of your church and put in it
a sincere love for those who suffer,
a clear vision of your will,
healing pastoral words for the needy
and a valiant, prophetic proclamation
against those who create violence and pain.

O God, Lord of the wind and the sea,
may your strong mercy calm the whole earth
in the name of Jesus Christ
Amen

Sung: Kyrie eleison - Ore Poriahu (Trad. Paraguay) Agape 69

Readings
From the Letter to Hebrews 12, 1-4 ( read in Spanish)
English version (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Song Hallelujah

From the Gospel according to John 6, 16-21 (read in Spanish)
English version (NIV)
When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

From Matthew's Gospel
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified saying, “It is a ghost!”” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water”. He said, “Come”. So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But, when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Meditation – Prof. Dr. Julio de Santa Ana (Uruguay)

Silence

Prayers of intercession

This week, according to the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we are invited to pray for the people and the churches in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Let’s pray for them.
(Silence)

Gracious God, have mercy with the people in those countries, especially with the poor and most vulnerable, in their uncertainty, fear and distrust as they face their future. Give wisdom to their governments democratically elected, so that they may discern what needs to be done in the name of justice, peace and care for creation. Sustain and strengthen the churches in those countries, so that they remain a prophetic voice unbound by political and economic alliances and with all people there. Accompany the “Living letters” delegation that will visit Uruguay and Bolivia next month. Grant peace to these countries and their citizens, O Lord.

Sung response: Nada te turbe (Taizé)

Let us pray for ourselves, for our families, organizations and churches
(silence)

Merciful God you have called us to labour in your vineyard and without you we can do nothing. Grant us your gracious presence in our forthcoming meetings and work, that what we do will build up your Church. We pray especially for the meeting of the Joint Consultative Commission between Christian World Communions and the World Council of Churches. Let your Holy Spirit govern and direct us so that we may work together for your Kingdom.
Sung response: Nada te turbe (Taizé)

Let us pray for our homelands and for all the nations of the world
(silence)

Heavenly Father, behold and visit, we pray, the nations of the earth. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, injustice and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness and justice with fairness, and that men and women from different cultures and with different talents may find with one another the fulfilment of their humanity through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Sung response: Nada te turbe (Taizé)
The Lord’s Prayer (in your own language) (stand)

Blessing
The Lord bless our eyes that we may see clearly
The Lord bless our mouth that we may speak the truth
The Lord bless our ears that we may hear those who speak to us
The Lord bless our hearts that we may be open to the poor;
The Lord bless our feet that we may walk with humility and courage,
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Our Brother and Lord.
Amen

Final song Aqui estoy Señor

Sermon on faith and fear by Julio de Santa Ana

Sermon preached by Prof. Dr. Julio de Santa Ana in the chapel of the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, 22 June 2009

Texts: Hebrews 12, 1-4; John 6, 16-21; Matthew 14: 22-33

There is a trend among Christian believers that makes us think about faith without recognizing most of the time the relationship that exists between faith and some aspects of reality. These aspects are different from what makes us believe. However, we need to be be aware that they are somewhat close to faith.
Generally we think about faith as a theological virtue, as the driving force of our Christian existence. We think of faith as God-given reality, necessary for the existence of Christian communities. Therefore, faith is a fundamental component of what makes us believers. However, generally we do not consider some aspects which are in tension with faith, and which may weaken it in many cases.
I must say that during the last years I have become aware of the tense relationships that I am talking about. Some situations experienced by Christian communities in Latin America brought me to read the Bible while trying to be attentive to ways which help clarify why their faith, in different circumstances, was endangered, threatened, challenged. I want to share now, with this community at the Ecumenical Centre, some of the lessons learned by groups of Christians and few reflections that have grown up in my mind. I need to say that, although the motivation was something which happened in Latin America, it is something that may also take place in other contexts.
One of the aspects that strikes me is the relationship that appears between faith and fear in some narratives of the New Testament. We often say that faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God. We claim that faith is the rock where Christian life is anchored. Therefore, there are frequent cases of Christian communities repeating these words. It is a traditional affirmation. Nevertheless, it happens that there are many Christian groups who, at the same time as they repeat these words are actually giving up their faith. For example, it is happening to many Christians who, while saying loudly that they want to be followers of Jesus are not ready to give account of their faith.
Unfortunately, what frightens them, what makes them to be fearful, has more power than their faith. I do not want to make a negative observation. Rather, it makes me consider some narratives of the Gospels where stories are told of Jesus walking on the waters of Lake Gennesaret. In the text of the Gospel of Matthew that I read, it says that, when the disciples saw him walking over the sea, “they were terrified”. Jesus told them: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid”. After the answer, Peter questioned Jesus: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come on the water”. Jesus did so; Peter got out of the boat and started to walk on the sea. But, after a moment, Peter was frightened again and began to sink; he cried: “Lord, save me!” Jesus helped him and said: “You of little faith; why did you doubt?”

This narrative reminds me that often we are like Peter and the other disciples: we say that we have faith. But facing the challenges that we experience, we are afraid. Our faith becomes smaller, irrelevant: we are like the disciples, persons of “little faith”.
This is a narrative of the Gospels (it can be read in the story told by Matthew, Mark and John) that helps to understand the situation of many communities of faith in our own time. Faith is linked with fear. The tension between both cannot be denied nor neglected. Trying to understand these texts, we can say that the opposite of faith is fear, rather than agnosticism. Faith is something that transcends knowledge; it looks to be an existential bet, a wager where we apply all of ourselves. Juan Luis Segundo, who was a theologian from Uruguay (like me), used to say that faith is the gate which opens the way to hope. I share the distinction that he used to make between theological faith and anthropological faith; they are different indeed, but both types of faith require the overcoming of fear.

It seems that it should be easy, natural, to do it. But it is not so. Like Peter, when he was walking over the sea, we are very often more attentive to the signs of the storm around us than to the words of Jesus. In cases of this kind we can be called “people of little faith”.
In the Epistle to the Hebrews we find the text of chapter 11, where there is a long list of men and women who were firm in their behaviour, keeping their faith: even before Abraham such persons bore witness to their faith. They persevered and were stubborn, steadfast in their attitude of faith.

After remembering some of those who preserve their faith, we are challenged to be like these people. We are called to run with perseverance the race which is before us. The most important condition is that we have to do it looking to Jesus: he has been, continues to be and will be the one who has manifested that kind of faith that overcomes fear and death. Such affirmation is made in chapter 13 of the Epistle to the Hebrews: “The Messiah Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever” (13:8).
We are called to give witness to our faith in situations that are not favourable. Sometimes our faith is at stake because the storms of life threaten our existence and the winds that rock the boat seem to turn our small ship; other times we may have the impression that powerful institutions want to impose their logic and their traditions, and that we cannot face them. There may be moments also where we become aware of how small and petty we are as we consider the power of those who want to bend us. In situations like these we may be tempted to leave aside our faith becoming afraid. Then, we may be called: “You, of little faith”.
How to be faithful to Jesus, the “pioneer and perfecter of faith” (as the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews called him)? The text of the Epistle of Hebrews give us a clear orientation to fulfil this objective, which I think is coherent with the one that we find in the narratives of the gospels, where the disciples are called to keep faith and do not give up.

Let us pray;

Beloved God and Father of all:
We thank you for the gift of faith. Help us to live it with courage, facing the difficulties that are unavoidable to the situations we have to experience. We ask you, our God, that the balsam of your grace be especially with those who feel that their faith is threatened. Give them that spiritual force that confirms their faith.

In the name of Jesus,

AMEN.

Copyright (c) Julio de Santa Ana

Prayers and reflections from and for Brazil

These prayers were written by Elaine Neuenfeldt, Simei Monteiro and Rudelmar Bueno de Faria for worship in the Ecumenical Centre Geneva on Monday 11 June.

Reflecting and Interceding
(Following each reflection there is a prayer after which a sung response is sung)

Reflection - The challenge of living in cultural diversity
Our country is known for its cultural diversity. And this diversity is our richness. And in this diversity we experience pain and suffering. Our identity assembles in our bodies a mix of oppression and sovereignty. We carry this simultaneity in our daily life, and we struggle with this. Because of this JUSTICE is fundamental in our reality. We can only experience reconciliation in the diversity, if we experience justice. And the process of living together, in an inclusive and divers community is learning from each other how share and heal this memory of colonization, but full of resistance and conflict. This is a process of healing memories.

We pray for ...
learning from each other, in dialogue and sharing,
Merciful God, hear our prayer ...
Sung response

Reflection - Land and food
Brasil has an immensity territory. But the productive land is in the hand of few farmers. New technologies are presented as the solution for poverty. The sugar-alcohol sector is deeply rooted in the exploitation relations of the work and environment and the use of slave work. As a sign of resistance against transgenic products we can see the campaign in defense of the native seeds, and agro ecology as sustainable and viable response, supported by the practices of the peasant’s community’s challenge the monopolizing advances of the biotechnology companies. The women of the Via Campesina are working with the concept of food sovereignty and justice. Through their testimonies all the society faces the reality of the paper and cellulose monopolies and its artificial forest or green desert.

We pray for
Indigenous peoples who have lived on the land for thousands of years, but whose ways of life have been threatened or ended in the name of development and greed.
Landless peasants who struggle to make a life for themselves and their children.
God of Justice, hear our prayer...
Sung response

Reflection: Violence
Violence and police corruption are a serious problem in Brazilian cities. There are 50,000 homicides each year in Brazil, which is one of the highest rates in the world. A large number are concentrated in the favelas. However, residents do not just suffer at the hands of criminals; violence often arises from the police themselves. Such killings are registered as "acts of resistance". Also, human rights defenders, particularly those working on issues of police violence and land conflicts, suffer intimidation and violence. Domestic violence is also a daily reality in many homes. As signs of resistance we can share: the national domestic violence law signed in Brazil in 2006, Maria da Penha, which shares the perspective that domestic violence is a violation of the human rights of women and stipulates a national, integrated set of public policies to eradicate this grave problem; and some initiatives for platforms and participatory processes for citizenship in public policies.

We pray for:
The hundreds of thousands of children who are forced to live and work on the streets; that they may know your gentle touch and love; An end to political violence, torture and brutality by police and others who are charged with the well-being and safety of the people;
Respect for human rights, so that no one can deny others their basic liberty with impunity.
God of Peace, hear our prayer.
Sung response

An order of morning prayer for Brazil

Ecumenical Centre Morning PrayerMonday, 15 June 2009
Praying for Brazil through the ecumenical prayer cycle
this order of prayers was put together by Simei Monteiro and Elaine Neuenfeld

Prelude
Call to worship

Let there be the Word of God,
in every heart impearled.
The living Word
is told and heard for the healing of the world.

Let there be the Love of God
In Jesus Christ unfurled.
The Cross of death
gave life its breath
for the healing of the world.

Let there be the Wind of God.
Through all times it has whirled.
The Spirit moves,
reviews, renews
for the healing of the world.

Let there be the Church of God,
committed, true and bold.
The bread we share
in deed and prayer
for the healing of the world.

Song Agape # 54

Thanksgiving
God, we give you thanks and praise for:
The strength of the church in Brazil, the work of the National Council of Christian Churches, the witness of Pentecostal and Evangelical Christians, the work and commitment of ecumenical groups with the popular and contextual reading of the Bible and those who work to spread the Gospel on the streets and in the favelas.
Those who work for the liberation of the people, and for social, political and economic justice.
The beauty and biological diversity of the Amazonian rainforest – for parrots and the golden-headed lion tamarin, for the medicinal plants and the wisdom of the people who live at the margin of the Amazon (ribeirinhos); for the social movement in defense of the forest, rivers and indigenous land.
Feijoada, strong coffee, rice and beans - for daily bread, bread of justice, bread for all.
Carnival, popular fiesta, spread in all our regions, giving the diversity of colors, songs and when rich and poor dance together.

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 58:1-12
Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God.
"Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 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? 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?
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. 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, 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. 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. 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.

Aleluia by Simei Monteiro

Gospel Reading Matthew 11:1-6
Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities. When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

Reflecting and Interceding
(After each intercession and “God, hear our prayer” we will sing Kyrie)

Affirmation of Faith

L: Let us affirm our faith

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of the magistrates
nor in the god of the generals or of patriotic oratory.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of gloomy hymns
nor in the god of courtrooms
or of preambles or constitutions
and epilogues to eloquent speeches.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of good fortune of the rich
nor in the god of fear of the wealthy
nor in the god of happiness of those who rob the people.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of false peace
nor in the god of justice which is not of the people
nor in the god of venerable national traditions.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of vacuous sermons
nor in the god of formal greetings
or of loveless marriages.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD made
in the image and likeness of the powerful
nor in the god invented as a sedative
for the misery and suffering of the poor.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD who sleeps within church walls
or lies hidden in church safes.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of the commercialized Christmas
nor in the god of slick advertising.


I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD made out of lies
as fragile as clay pots
nor in the god of the established order
which rests on disorder
and acquiesces in it.

THE GOD I BELIEVE IN was born in a cave.
He was a poor.
He was hounded by a foreign king
and wandered through Palestine.
He made the people his companions
and gave bread to the hungry,
light to those in darkness,
freedom to those who lay in bondage
and peace to those who prayed for justice.

THE GOD I BELIEVE IN
put human beings before law
and love in place of old traditions.
He had no stone on which to lay his head
and mixed with the poor.

His only dealings with learned people
were when they questioned his word.
He appeared before judges
who tried to find him guilty.
He was seen with the police
as a prisoner.
He entered the governor’s palace
to be flogged.

THE GOD I BELIEVE IN
wore a crown of thorns.
His tunic was woven entirely of blood.
He had escorts to clear his way before him to Calvary,
where he died, between thieves,
on the cross.

THE GOD I BELIEVE IN
is no other than
the son of Mary,
Jesus of Nazareth.

Every day he dies
crucified by our selfish acts.
Every day he rises from death
by the power of our love.

Song Momento Novo

Blessing

L. Let us ask for God's blessing

All: May God the Father grant us the grace that changes us.
May God the Son grant us the grace that saves us.
May the Spirit of life grant us the grace that makes us free.
And as we go on our way may we celebrate peace.