Roswitha Golder's sermon for closing the week of prayer for Christian Unity

Message by Roswitha Golder for the Monday morning prayer in the Ecumencial Centre, 25 January 2010

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today’s worship concludes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Starting last Monday, I had the privilege to participate in the daily services prepared by churches in Edinburgh on different aspects of Luke 24, the chapter that tells the story of the disciples going back to their home in Emmaus. In many of our traditions, this is a text we normally read at Easter, so at first it felt a bit strange to hear
it in January. However, the different portions highlighted on each one of the eight days shed new light on the well-known passage. There are wider perspectives to be considered and additional lessons to be learnt.

Our meditation focuses on hospitality, welcoming the stranger, the migrant in our midst. As many of you know, I spent the last twelve years ministering to the Latin American Christian Community of the United Methodist Church in Geneva. Its Spanish-speaking Branch is the spiritual home of many women and a few men, mostly from Bolivia, who work as so-called “Sans Papiers,” undocumented workers, in the domestic sector, doing the cleaning, washing, and ironing in private homes, but also caring for children, differently abled and elderly. One of my former parishioners will share some of her experiences with you: …..

(Hortensia a member of Roswitha's congregation bore witness to her situation at this point.)

When, because of their joy and amazement, the disciples in Jerusalem do not believe that Jesus is really present in their midst, he asks them a very down-to-earth, simple question: “Do you have anything here to eat?”

Christians all over the world are asked the same question by migrants seeking food, shelter, and employment away from home. How do we respond?

In Matthew 25, Jesus says that in caring for the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, we are ministering to him. “Do we have anything to share? Do we have anything to eat here for them? Are we willing to offer hospitality to foreign brothers and sisters in Geneva and wherever else we may encounter them?”

As churches, as followers of Jesus, we are all sojourners on this earth, allotted a certain time in specific places where we are called to serve the Risen Christ. The Conference of European Churches declared the Year 2010, the Year of Migration. Each month has its specific theme in relation with our traditional ways of celebrating the seasons. Thus in January, the accent is on unity, with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity emphasizing our common faith as local churches, throughout our nations and all over the world. The posters that you saw outside the chapel in the hall are a small contribution towards this goal: “Traces of Hope” tell you about the existence of a colourful mixture of Christian Communities “Witnessing Together in Geneva”.

Starting this year, I shall be involved more closely with these and other migrant churches that I will discover in our region. One of your former colleagues at the World Council of Churches, Lukas Vischer spent the last years of his life visiting the African, Asian, Latin American, and International “Migrant Churches” springing up in this region offering them hospitality, getting to know them and their needs. He asked my colleague Olivier Labarthe and me to continue this work after his death as one of the programmes of the John Knox International Reformed Centre.

At the beginning of January, the Protestant Church in Geneva ratified the mandate I received from the John Knox (International Reformed) Centre to coordinate the movement called “Witnessing Together in Geneva” which brings together some 60 migrant churches existing our region. Networking with those of you who are engaged in this area will be one of my priorities.

May God bless our common effort to offer both material and spiritual food to the hungry, real and “living” water to the thirsty, thus welcoming the stranger in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, our brother and friend.

Amen.

Service for February 1 - mother tongue foreign land

I put together this service of morning prayer for our regular Monday service in the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva. It will be used on Monday 1 February as we pray for and with the peoples and churches of Britain and Ireland through the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle.
Now I just have to spend my weekend trying to write a sermon, then probably there will be so much snow noone will actually be there!

Musical preparation

Words of welcome

Almighty God,
unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid:
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name;
through Christ our Lord. (Book of Common Prayer 1662)
Amen.

Remain seated to sing Thuma Mina 167

Psalm 8
O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honour.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Reading from the Hebrew scriptures Genesis 11:5-9
The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built. And the Lord said, "Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another's speech." So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

We stand to sing verses 1-3 of St Patrick’s Breastplate
I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.

Rublev by Rowan Williams
One day, God walked in, pale from the grey steppe,
slit-eyed against the wind, and stopped,
said, Colour me, breathe your blood into my mouth.

I said Here is the blood of all our people,
these are their bruises, blue and purple,
gold, brown, and pale green wash of death.

These (god) are chromatic pains of flesh.
I said, I trust I make you blush,
O I shall stain you with the scars of birth

For ever. I shall root you in the wood,
under the sun shall bake you bread
of beechmast, never let you forth

to the white desert, to the starving sand.
But we shall sit and speak around
one table, share one food, one earth.
copyright (c) Rowan Williams
From the poems of Rowan Williams

We stand to sing verses 4-6 of St Patrick’s Breastplate (beware the music changes completely for verse 5 and back again for verse 6)

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 2 1-4, 7, 8, 11
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? … 11 in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."

Meditation – from mother tongue to foreign land

Stand to sing: Come my way my truth my life

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
such a way as gives us breath,
such a truth as ends all strife,
such a life as killeth death.

Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
such a light as shows a feast,
such a feast as mends in length,
such a strength as makes his guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
such a joy as none can move,
such a love as none can part,
such a heart as joys in love.


Prayers of intercession
As we enter into prayer we remain seated and sing (music on final sheet):
God be in my head
And in my understanding
God be in my eyes
And in my looking
God be in my mouth
And in my speaking
God be in my heart
And in my thinking
God be at my end
And at my departing.

From the rising of the sun to its setting, let us pray to the Lord.
That the people of God in all the world may worship in spirit and in truth,

We pray to you, Lord God.
For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends and neighbours, and for those who are alone.

We pray for the nations of the earth that they may seek after the ways that make for peace; remembering today and this week especially countries of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. We pray also for our home countries

Loving God, we pray for the people of Haiti in their time of great need.
Lord, comfort them in their pain and their distress.

For this community, for all who work in this place
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.

For the just and proper use of your creation.
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice and oppression.

For all who are sick, in mind or in body;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.

For the peace and unity of the Church;
For all who serve God in this world.

Silence and time for free prayer …

Sing: God be in my head …

We rise to say the Lord’s prayer each our different languages

Blessing

Thuma Mina 167

Prayers of Solidarity for the People of Haiti

Prayers of Solidarity for the People of Haiti

Luke 12:6-7
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Silence

How lonely sits the city that once was full of people!
How like a widow she has become, she that was great among the nations!
She that was a princess among the provinces has become a vassal. (Lamentations 1.1)

Song: Nkosi, nkosi yibanceba Krestu, Krestu yibanceba

Blessed is our God now and for ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more. (Jer 31:15)

Even when I cry out, "Violence!' I am not answered;
I call aloud, but there is no justice. (Job 19:7)

Silence

For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears; for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my courage; my children are desolate. (Lamentations 1.16)

Song: Nkosi, nkosi yibanceba Krestu, Krestu yibanceba

Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and an impious people reviles your name. Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild animals; do not forget the life of your poor forever. Have regard for your covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the haunts of violence. Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. Rise up, O God, plead your cause; remember how the impious scoff at you all day long. (Ps 74:18-22)

Remember this, O Lord,
Remember this, O Lord

Silence

My eyes are spent with weeping; my stomach churns;my bile is poured out on the groundbecause of the destruction of my people,because infants and babes faint in the streets of the city. (Lamentations 2.11)

Song: Nkosi, nkosi yibanceba Krestu, Krestu yibanceba

Remember this, O Lord,
Remember this, O Lord.

Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame.
Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame.

Rise up, O God.
Rise up, O God.

Silence

Words from the gospel of Luke 15.8-9
Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.”

Reflection

Prayer
Loving God of creation,
at this time of devastation
we hold before you the people of Haiti.
When the damage is unimaginable,
and the suffering seems overwhelming,
remind us that every person affected
is loved, honoured and precious in your sight.
We remember all those who have been hurt;
all who have lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones.
Work through us to bring healing
to broken and distorted lives,
peace to those who have been thrown into despair,
light to those in darkness,
and hope to those who fear.
We ask this in the name of Jesus
in whom all life and grace is found.

Time for free prayer … naming those we pray for … lighting candles

We are longing for the day, when Hannah and Mary's song will come true: and the lowly maybe lifted up high and the hungry filled with good things; when God will raise up the poor from the dust and lift the needy from the ash heap,

Affirmation
The cross is the way of the lost.
The cross is the staff of the lame.
The cross is the guide of the blind.
The cross is the strength of the weak.
The cross is the hope of the hopeless.
The cross is the freedom of the slaves.
The cross is the water of the seeds.
The cross is the consolation of the bonded labourers.
The cross is the source of those who seek water.
The cross is the cloth of the naked.
The cross is the healing of the broken.
The cross is the peace of the church.
(St. Yared, Ethiopia)

You are invited to leave the chapel in silence

An order of service to welcome Olav Fykse Tveit as General Secretary of the WCC

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre on 11 January 2010
The Baptism of Christ
Praying for Cyprus, Greece and Turkey
Welcoming Olav Fykse Tveit as WCC General Secretary

Music

Words of welcome

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

Sing: Ameni

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in holy splendour.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king for ever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace! (from Psalm 29)

Sing: Kyrie eleison ~ Thuma Mina 41
Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison. (Sung three times)

Prayer
Do everything in common: unite in one prayer, one petition, one mind, one hope, in love and faultless joy.
All this in Jesus Christ, and there is nothing better than he. So make haste all of you, to come together as one temple of God, around one altar, around the one Jesus Christ, who came from the one Father, while still remaining one with him, and has returned to unity with him.

St Ignatius of Antioch

Sing: Kyrie eleison ~ Thuma Mina 41
Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison. (Sung three times)

Prayer of confession (in Spanish)
Let us confess
the secret sins in the hidden spaces of our lives
which hold us in fear and anguish
keeping us from God and from each other.

Let us confess
the words of judgement we have withheld in our societies,
the compromises we have made which allow evil to multiply,
producing harvests of destruction and death.

Let us confess
the complacency with which we live in disunity,
the ease with which we keep our prejudices
refusing to be the one people of God for which Jesus prayed.

Sing: Kyrie eleison Thuma Mina 41
Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison. (Sung three times)

Words of grace
God from whom nothing is hidden
And who knows the motives of our hearts,
Forgives us our sin
And declares to us the joyful truth
That we are a liberated people.

Reading ~ Isaiah 43:1-7
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, “Give them up”, and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Please stand to sing and remain standing for the reading in Greek of the gospel.
Sing: Thuma Mina 55
Hale, Hale Haleluja
Hale, Hale Haleluja
Hale, Hale Haleluja,
Haleluja, Haleluja!

Gospel Luke 3.15-22
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, added to them all by shutting up John in prison.
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Sing: Thuma Mina 55
Hale, Hale Haleluja
Hale, Hale Haleluja
Hale, Hale Haleluja,
Haleluja, Haleluja!

Sermon – Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit

Sing: Thuma Mina 243
Refrain: Jesus Christ the life of the world!
Jesus Christ the life of the world!

To live is to be open in body, soul and mind,
receive what Christ has promised - God’s breath for humankind. Refrain

Wer leben will, muss leiden an allem, was zerstört,
Durch Christus überwinden, was noch dem Tod gehört. Refrain

To live is to grow daily in ways that lead to life
God’s kingdom, one, yet varied, encompassing all strife. Refrain

Wer leben will, muss eins sein mit allen, die Gott liebt,
und Schanken niederbringen, wo Christus Zeichen gib.

Jesus Christus das Leben der Welt!
Jesus Christus das Leben der Welt! ~ Copyright (c) Dieter Trautwein

Prayers of intercession
God, you called creation into being: We pray for the oikoumene, your whole inhabited earth. Throughout this week we remember particularly the people and churches of Cyprus, Greece and Turkey. We give thanks for the rich culture and history of these lands, and for a Christian faith extending back to the apostolic age. We ask your blessing on all who inhabit these nations today; and we pray for reconciliation where there has been hostility, for the healing of memories, that divisions may be overcome.

Sung response: Kindle a flame to lighten the dark and take away all fear
~ Thuma Mina 154

God, your word is a light upon our path: We pray for the peoples and leaders of the world, that your light of love may guide them, and that all people everywhere may follow your path of justice, peace and fellowship. We pray for the persistence of international organizations, that they may help establish right relations in accordance with your will.

Sung response: Avive la flamme pour éclairer la nuit et ôter toute peur

God, the way of your Son Jesus Christ calls us to life: We pray for Christians and churches throughout the world, that we may all be guided by the gospel of Christ. We pray in particular for those in situations of oppression and persecution. We pray for the leaders and members of Christ’s church across the globe, and for Christian unity.

Sung response: Zünd an ein Licht, das Hell macht die Nacht and alle Angst vertreibt

God of justice and mercy: We pray for all people who face suffering from the effects of weather and other natural calamities. We pray for all who struggle against the perils of climate change, environmental pollution and economic exploitation. We pray for those who fall prey to the forces of warfare, violence and injustice. Transform all human hearts for the better, and open our ears to your assurance: “Do not fear, for I am with you.”

Sung response: Kindle a flame to lighten the dark and take away all fear

God of new beginnings: At this start of a new year we pray for your blessing upon our work in this place, for the mission of the Christian world communions and all ecumenical organizations. We pray for the general secretaries and directors of church-related organizations based here, and for their colleagues: John Nduna (ACT), Colin Williams (CEC), Jenny Borden (EAA), Irene Banda (ECLOF), Peter Kenny (ENI), Ishmael Noko (LWF), Setri Nyomi (WARC) and Michael Wallace (WSCF). Today we pray especially for Olav Fykse Tveit as he takes office in the World Council of Churches.
As we pray for our leaders and our colleagues, we pray also for ourselves, asking you to bless and strengthen all of us in our service on behalf of the churches.

Sung response: Avive la flamme pour éclairer la nuit et ôter toute peur

Hear our prayers, Lord. And hear us as we pray together, with conviction, in our own languages, the prayer that Jesus taught his followers to say.

The Lord’s Prayer – each worshipper prays in the language of his or her choice

Sing: God is love, his the care

God is love, God’s the care,
Tending each, everywhere.
God is love, all is there!
Jesus came to show him,
So that all might know him!

Refrain
Sing aloud, loud, loud!
Sing aloud, loud, loud!
God is good!
God is truth!
God is beauty! Praise Him!

None can see God above;
We can share life and love;
Thus may we Godward move,
Seek God in creation,
Holding every nation.

Refrain

Jesus lived on the earth,
Life and hope brought to birth
And affirmed human worth,
For he came to save us
By the truth he gave us.

Refrain

To our Lord praise we sing,
Light and life, friend and King,
Coming down, love to bring,
Pattern for our duty,
Showing God in beauty.

Refrain

Lyricist: Percy Dearmer (1867 - 1936)
Music and Lyrics Copyright Public Domain

Blessing

Sing: Ameni

Please remain in the chapel for some short greetings before moving to the main lobby for coffee and galette des rois, be careful not to break your teeth on the fève!

Special thanks from the worship committee to Keith Dale from Holy Trinity for playing the organ and leading our music this morning.

This service was put together by the Ecumenical Centre's worship committee.
Prayers are copyright WCC unless otherwise indicated.