Of life, laughter and liturgy . . . documents

Advent worship - waiting for light

2010-12-06T15:18:00.000-08:00

“The True light that gives light to everyone”Service for the Second Week of AdventVisit of the China Christian CouncilPraying through the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle forCape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal6 December 2010Musical rehearsalWords of WelcomeCall to WorshipThis is the season of holy waiting.We wait for the time when the desert will bloom abundantly.We watch for the day

An order of morning prayer for All Saints Day

2010-10-31T21:19:00.000-07:00

Morning Prayers in the Ecumenical CentreAll Saints Day Monday 1 November 2010Praying with the peoples and churches of Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of CongoGreetings and call to worship I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us

Bilingual service of Psalms and music for Haiti

2010-10-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

What follows is the order of service for the Psalms for Haiti servicet/concert we were fortunate to attend last night.The music was amazing.Le 12 janvier 2010, Haïti, un pays de près de 10 millions d’habitants, a été secoué par un puissant tremblement de terre. Bien qu’il n’ait duré pas plus de 35 secondes, il a tué plus de 300’000 personnes et en a blessé tout autant. Plus de 1,5 million de

An order of worship - praying for the Indian Ocean Islands

2010-10-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

MORNING PRAYERMonday 25th October, 2010Dieu, mon amiTu me fortifiesDieu, mon bouclier, mon secoursTu veilles sur moiTu me donnes du largeCar tu m’aimesTu es la lumière de ma lampeTu éclaires ma nuitGrãce à toi, Dieu, je franchis la muraille.Pour cela, je te célébreraiLe matin, et le soirMaintenant et toujours. Amen.Thuma Mina 134: Laudate omnes gentesPsalm 121I lift up my eyes to the hills—

Knock, knock - a poem-sermon by Faautu Talapusi

2010-10-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

Monday 25th October, 2010 - Morning worship reflectionWritten and preached by Faautu Talapusi who is the World Council of Churches executive for youth. this morning i really regretted not having prepared to do an audioboo, this was a very performed poem with a couple of knocks on the pulpit every time she said "knock knock".The readings were: Psalm 121 and Luke 11: 5-13For this morning’s

Order of service praying for Pakistan, India and Srilanka

2010-10-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

Morning Worship, Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, October 18, 2010This order of service was prepared by Deenabhandu ManchalaRebuilding lives, rekindling hopesInvocation (sung in Sinhala) Repeat line by line after the leader Namo, namo, mavumkarun We worship you, Creator Namo, namo, midumkarun We worship you, Redeemer Namo, namo, sudath(n)gurun We worship you, Holy

Of peach blossom and much besides ... a sermon by Shanta Premawardhana inspired by themes of inter-religious dialogue

2010-10-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

II Timothy 3: 14 – 4:4It is not often that I will recommend a book from the pulpit, but I am going to do so today. Without the Buddha I could not be a Christian, by Paul Knitter is not just a book with a provocative title, but it’s a profoundly reflective spiritual journey of a highly respected theologian and teacher. Knitter, a former Jesuit, and now Paul Tillich professor of Theology at Union

Worship for food security and food justice

2010-10-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

THE CHURCHES’ WEEK OF ACTION ON FOODEcumenical Centre10 October, 2010Prepared by the Ecumenical Advocacy AllianceWeek of Churches Action on Food Musical PreparationGreetingWe gather hungry.Blessed are those who are hungry now,hungry for rice and beans,hungry for righteousness,hungry for a world where children do not die of hunger.Blessed are those who are hungry now, for they will be satisfied.We

An order of morning prayer based on 1 John 1:1-4

2010-09-15T14:24:00.001-07:00

MORNING PRAYERTuesday 14 September 2010This order was compiled by Theodore A GillOpening SentencesClap your hands, all you peoples, shout to God with loud songs of joy. God is king over all the nations. God sits upon the highest throne. Amen.Hymn 20: “Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren”: first verse, in German (1), English (2)Scripture reading: 1 John 1:1-4We declare to you what

An order for morning prayer based on Proverbs 31

2010-09-15T14:23:00.001-07:00

Morning prayerEcumenical chapel, Geneva15 September 2010This order of service was compiled by Theodore GillProverbs 31: 8-9: A voice for the voicelessSpeak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.Thuma Mina number 150: “Lumière de Dieu”Prayer for illumination (from In God’s Hands: the ecumenical

A sermon on unnecessary theology - and much else besides - by Theodore Gill

2010-09-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

Meditation on Psalm 14 and Jeremiah 4:22-28Ecumenical Chapel, Geneva, Monday 13 September 2010Rev. Theodore A. Gill, Jr.“Theology is unnecessary, says physicist Stephen Hawking”. Or so reported the bottom-of-the-screen crawl on CNN International.Saturday was a tough day on Theology, so far as CNN was concerned. My wife and I were visiting Zermatt for the weekend, discovering for ourselves whether

Live love laugh ...

2010-09-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

This service was put together in memory of colleague Suzanne Tomaiuoli who took her own life in a moment of despair just a year ago ...Worship in the Ecumenical Centre 6 September 2010Live Love LaughCarrying hope forwardsIn the beginning was the wordAm Anfang war das WortAu commencement était la paroleMusical Prelude Words of welcome and call to worship We rise to praise God and sing "Shine Jesus

A liturgy for a reflection on justice and greed ...

2010-08-30T12:27:00.001-07:00

Worship in the Ecumenical CentreMonday, 30 August 2010Praying for the People and Churches of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia~ Heal our times ~ Sauve notre temps ~ Heile die Zeiten ~ Redime los tiempos ~WelcomeIn the name of GodFather, Son and Holy SpiritAmenGod of life and light and joyWe rejoice in your glorious creationGod of hope and loveWe praise you for your love and faithfulness in

A sermon on justice not greed by Rogate Mshana

2010-08-30T12:21:00.000-07:00

This sermon was preached by Dr Rogate Mshana in the chapel in Geneva on 30 August 2010The liturgy and readings can be found here. I should add that Rogate also told a great story that wasn't written down which I'll try to blog about later on.The faithful have vanished from the face of the earth…….The faithful are people who show faith, are loyal, show awareness of the truth and are trustworthy.

How heavy is the yoke ...

2010-08-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

Worship in the Ecumenical CentreMonday, 23 August 2010This service was put together by Manoj Kurian Words of Welcome Opening Prayer (stand)In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.Glory to you, our God, glory to you.Heavenly Lord, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,Who are present everywhere filling all things,Treasury of good things and Giver of life,Come and dwell in

The assurance of things hoped for ... A sermon by Peter Prove

2010-08-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

The following is a sermon by Peter Prove, director of the Ecumenical Advocacy AlliancePreached as a Monday morning reflection at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 9 August 2010You can find the order of service and Bible reading here.This week in the ecumenical prayer cycle, we journey again in prayer to Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. We underline our relationship with our sisters and

God of Kiwis and Kangaroos - an order of service for prayers for Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia

2010-08-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

The prayers in this order of service were written by Lucy D'Aeth. The service was led by Jill Hawkey and the preacher was Peter Prove. I particularly love the God of Kiwis and Kangaroos in the final blessing.Morning Prayer at the Ecumenical CentreMonday August 9thEcumenical Prayer Cycle: Aotearoa New Zealand and AustraliaWelcomeGatheringL: In the name of the Creator, the fountain of life,the name

Education and research that brings blessing - speech by Alexander Schieffer

2010-08-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH THAT BRINGS BLESSINGby Dr. Alexander SchiefferTRANS4M Center for Social Innovation, Geneva, Switzerlandwww.trans-4-m.comBrief Speech given at the Morning Service at the World Council of ChurchesAugust 2, 2010I. OVERVIEW: REINVENTING RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONThe vision of our Geneva based organization TRANS4M Center for Social Innovation is to reinvent education and research

Sermon notes by Guillermo Kerber from Uruguay - football, religion and hope

2010-07-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

On football, religion and hopeSome sermon notes by Guillermo Kerber - sermon preached on June 21 2010 in the week we were praying for Paraguay, Argentina and UruguayFootball plays a key role in these countries.More than a role, closer to a religion.Eduardo Galeano, an Uruguayan writer asks, “What do football and God have in common? The devotion of the believers and the rejection of many

Morning prayers for the beginning of the Football World Cup

2010-07-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

It so happens that as the soccer world cup started the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle turned to South America.While I was attending the WCRC assembly in Grand Rapids my colleague Guillermo Kerber from Uruguay led morning service concetrating on football and God's playfulness. Wish I had been there!Morning prayers Ecumenical Centre GenevaMonday, June 21, 2010(Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay)WelcomeSong:

An order of service for communion

2010-07-05T10:56:00.001-07:00

Morning Worship and Eucharistin the spirit of Leuenberg and PorvooMonday 5 July 2010The Ecumenical Chapel, GenevaThe Ecumenical Prayer Cycle focuses this week onColombia, Ecuador and VenzuelaAn open invitation to the Eucharist is extended to all,with due repect for churches’ varied positions on intercommunion.Co-presidents: Revds Karin Achtelstetter (Lutheran) and Theodore Gill (Reformed)Preacher

Pentecost - the great feast of communication - a sermon by Stephen Brown

2010-05-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

Pentecost - the great feast of communicationStephen Brown, meditation at the Ecumenical Centre, 25 May 2010When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 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. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.

A Psalm of ascent to retirement for Yvette Milosevic

2010-05-22T12:48:00.001-07:00

A Psalm of ascent to retirement for Yvette MilosevicIntroducing this at her retirement party Theodore Gill described it as "a cry, a sigh and a doxology". The Ecumenical Centre worship committee will miss Yvette enormously, writing this and saying it together helped us begin our leave taking with laughter as well as tears.I lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes YvetteMy help comes from

A few words for Yvette Milosevic' leaving party

2010-05-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Dear YvetteThinking about how to say thank you to on behalf of the worship committee a line from a song came into my mind. Not a holy song from Thuma Mina or Agape or any other hymnbook but a rather saucy ditty from Rogers and Hammerstein’s musical Oklahoma which starts “I’m just a girl who can’t say no …”I suppose I thought of that because for the handful of us still left on the worship

Order of service for Pentecost Tuesday

2010-05-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

Pentecost Tuesday PrayersEcumenical Centre25 May 2010Praying through the ecumenical prayer cycle for Botswana and ZimbabweMusical preparationWelcomeCall to prayerIn the joy of the promise of God’s Holy SpiritWe gather to pray together for God’s “oikoumene” – the whole inhabited earth;We ask that God may send his Spirit upon usthat we may celebrate the name of the blessed Trinity, one God, now and

Morning prayer - that all may be one

2010-05-20T08:43:00.000-07:00

At the Ecumenical Centre we often try to follow the daily readings followed by the community at Grandchamps. Their gospel readings for Thursday and Friday 20 and 21 May are from John17 - "that all may be one".Inspired by this Theodore Gill put together the following order for morning prayer on Friday. This order will also be used for the opening devotions of the WCC staff executive group which

English translation of the sermon preached at the opening service of the 2nd Ecumenical Kirchentag in Munich

2010-05-12T09:44:00.000-07:00

Sermon for the opening service of the Ecumenical KirchentagBishop Dr. Johannes Friedrich / Archbishop Dr. Reinhard Marx(Check against delivery - please note this was a dialogue sermon preached in two voices it worked well)Bishop FriedrichThis is the time and the place to call out to you in the words of 1 Peter, "That you may have hope".Archbishop MarxWith the Kirchentag's theme we warmly welcome

Sharing food - a sermon by Rogate Mshana

2010-05-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

Sharing food- a sermon preached by Rogate Mshana on 3 May 2010 in the Ecumenical Centre, GenevaMathew 14:13-14“Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves,” said the disciples. But Jesus replied, “That is not necessary- you feed them.” In Mark, Jesus said “they need not go away; you give them something to eat.” In Mark the disciples ask Jesus, “are we to go

An order of service on

2010-05-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

Morning Prayer, Monday, 3 May 2010, in the Ecumenical CentreThis service was put together by Sabine Udodesku and Rogate MshanaThere is enough food for all to share.Hunger in a world of plenty is not caused by lack of food.There is enough food to make most people in the world fat!It is caused by lack of compassion and justice.PreludeWelcomeL: Christ is risen!All: He is risen indeed!Song:

An Easter service on the promise of peace

2010-04-26T19:59:00.001-07:00

This order of service was prepared by the WCC's general secretariat for the beginning of the WCC's staff planning days. The service was led by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit who also preached.Morning Prayer, Monday, 26 April 2010 – Chapel, Ecumenical Centre(This week in the ecumenical prayer cycle we prayer for the people and churches in Eritrea and Ethiopia.)PreludeWelcome(L) Christ is risen!(All)

A meditation by Theodore Gill on images of the invisible and how we are all called to be icons

2010-04-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

Images of the invisible - a meditation by Rev. Theodore Gill for the opening of an icon exhibition in the Ecumenical Centre chapel on Monday 19 April 2009 This morning we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. For the next two weeks, this ecumenical chapel plays host to the exhibition of icons you see around us, painted by contemporary artists Josette Laissue and Didi Marmoud. Icons have

Prayer for Monday 19 April 2010 and opening of Icon exhibition

2010-04-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre Monday 19 April 2010Praying through the ecumenical prayer cycle for the people of Somalia and DjiboutiMusical preparationWelcomeChristos anesti!Alithos anesti!Christ is risen!He is risen indeed!Cristo ha resucitado!!En verdad ha resucitado!Le Christ est ressuscité!Il est vraiment ressuscité!Christus ist erstanden!Er ist wahrhaftig erstanden!Christos anesti!Alithos

The Way - an Easter sermon by Jooseup Keum

2010-04-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

The Way - A sermon preached by Rev Dr Jooseup Keum in the Ecumenical Chapel 12.04.2010John 13:1-16Mathew 28:19-20It was a lonely way. Jesus' way to the cross was a lonely way.Nobody dared to walk together with him, even his disciples, maybe even us.Imagine him, imagine his journey, he who is walking alone toward a cross. He carries all the agonies and sad stories of powerless people there.

A Song of Ascents - An Easter Sermon by Theodore Gill

2010-04-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

A Song of AscentsRev. Theodore Gill, WCC CommunicationEcumenical Centre chapel, GenevaTuesday 6 April 2010Scripture lessons: Psalm 118:19-24 and Luke 24:13-35Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! “I thank you, for you have answered me and have become my salvation. “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone: “This is the Lord’s doing! It is marvelous in our eyes.”

An Easter order for morning worship

2010-04-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

The following order for prayers at the beginning of the week was prepared by the wonderful Yvette MilosevicEcumenical Centre Geneva, Monday morning prayers, 6 April 2010Christ is risenChrist is risen indeed!Christus ist auferstandenChristus ist wahrhaftig auferstanden!Christ est résuscitéChrist est vraiment rescuscitéCristo ha resucitadoVerdaderamente, ha resucitado!Hristos a înviat!Adevărat a

Liturgy for World Water Day

2010-03-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

A liturgy for World Water DayThis service was put together by Maike Gorsboth of the Ecumenical Water Network22 March 2010Worship in the Ecumenical CentreWelcome Call to Worship Holy Spirit, Life-Giver,Who moved over the waters of creation,who led your people through the waters of the Red Sea to liberation,who descended like a dove above the waters of Jesus’ baptism,draw us together as we gather

Praying for Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam - a liturgy

2010-03-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

Worship in the Ecumenical Center on 15 March 2010Praying for Laos, Cambodia and VietnamLiving together in diversity WelcomeSong: Tenemos esperanza – Agape 72Opening prayerO Dieu qui est bon au-delà de toute bonté,Beau au-delà de toute beauté,En qui n’est que calme, paix et concorde ;Guéris les discordes qui nous séparent les uns des autresEt ramène-nous dans une unité d’amour,Qui soit à la

A liturgy on Daily Bread for international women's day

2010-03-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

A liturgy for International Women’s DayOur Daily Bread, 8 March 2010Call to WorshipWe are gathered in the name of the Nurturing God.We are called to share our gifts of life, and the symbolsfrom our different contexts and diverse expressions of spirituality.God, our Sustainer, feed our bodies with strength and hope.These symbols serve to remind us of the presence of our relational God, who takes

A sermon for international women's day by Fulata Mbano Moyo

2010-03-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

Desperation created by systems of inequality as enemy to women’s dignityA sermon for international women's day by Fulata Mbano Moyo (2nd Kings 4:1-7 and Matthew 15:21-28)When my husband, Solomon, was diagnosed with liver cancer on March 16, 1999, I refused to accept it. I determined to trust God for his healing. I restricted my understanding of God’s healing to a cure (restoration of his liver).

An order of service as the Ecumenical Prayer cycle turns to Switzerland, Austria, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Andorra ...

2010-03-01T08:40:00.000-08:00

Worship Ecumenical Centre, Monday 1 March 2010This week the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle invites us to pray for the countries of Andorra, Austria, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, and for the churches in these countriesThis order of service was put together by Rudolf Renfer LWF director of Human resourcesWelcome – InvocationGod of the pastWho has fathered and mothered usWe are here to

Chance and risk - a sermon by Rudolf Rennfer

2010-03-01T08:33:00.000-08:00

Chance and Risk - a sermon by Rev. Rudolf Renfer director of Human Resources at the Lutheran World FederationThis sermon was preached on 1 March 2010, the gospel text was the tower of Siloam falling down and killing 18 people. You can find the full liturgy here. A choir of 75 members of the Focolari movement also joined us for the service. Perhaps "opportunity and risk" or opportunity and danger

Liturgy for the Service of Installation of Olav Fykse Tveit as WCC general secretary

2010-02-23T13:50:00.000-08:00

Installation Service for Rev. Dr Olav Fykse TveitEcumenical Centre, Geneva 23 February 2010(stand)ProcessionalPrelude and hymn: The church’s one foundation(1st and 2nd stanza in English, 3rd and 4th in French)L: In the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit.All: Amen(sit)Welcome (Moderator of WCC Central Committee Rev. Dr Walter Altmann)OpeningL: Praise to God

And Ash Wednesday order of morning prayer

2010-02-17T13:56:00.000-08:00

This simple order of morning prayer was prepared by Theodore Gill of the World Council of ChurchesMORNING PRAYER – Ash Wednesday, 17 February 2010Mark 1:9-13In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven:

A sermon by Jenny Borden - Fast for Life, Food for Life

2010-02-17T10:24:00.000-08:00

A sermon by Jenny Borden for Ash Wednesday to launch the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance's Food for Life and Fast for Life campaigns.The EAA’s campaign is called “Food for Life”. Today we are asking people to “Fast for Life.”More than one billion people are suffering from hunger around the world. Despite the goodness and bounty of God’s gifts to us in creation so many people experience scarcity:

A simple order for morning prayer in the workplace

2010-02-14T10:42:00.000-08:00

These order of prayer was prepared by Hielke Wolters.The joy of living and working in the space of God’s loveMorning prayers Ecumenical Centre, February 12, 2010Assurance of God’s loveGod’s love is costly, generous, and trustworthy,Deeper than our expectations, higher than our hopes,Accept in your heart the promise of new life,And proclaim with your lipsthe inexhaustible goodness of God.Holy,

Service for the lenten campaign to end violence against women

2010-02-12T12:15:00.000-08:00

Worship in the Ecumenical CentreMonday 15 February 2010A service to launch the Lenten campaign for an end to violence against womenIs there anyone among you who,if your child asks for bread, will give her a stone? (Matt. 7:9)Words of greeting and introductionSilenceCall to WorshipIn the beginning the Spirit God danced over the void.It was a dance of creation, of joy, of freedom of wholeness, of

A sermon by Jet den Hollander on Love

2010-02-08T10:25:00.000-08:00

This sermon was preached at the chapel of the Ecumenical Centre on February 8 as we were praying for Belgium, the Netherland and LuxemburgNext Sunday is Valentine’s day,and even though in Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands this is not a big tradition, as the preparatory group for this morning’s worship we decided to take our theme from this: “All you need is love”- Hence the Beatles- the “

All you need is love - a service prior to valentine's day

2010-02-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

This morning colleagues from the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg led our worship, giving it the theme "all you need is love".Ecumenical Centre Morning WorshipMonday 8 February 2010Praying with the peoples and churches of Belgium, Luxembourg and the NetherlandsAll you need is Love(Red candles in shape of heart on the altar “Sweet-hearts” in basket next to the liturgies)Musical prelude – Beatles

A sermon by Dagmar Heller on Ephesians 3:14-19

2010-02-05T04:23:00.000-08:00

Homily preached by Rev Dagmar Hellerat the closing worship of the Bossey Ecumenical Institute Graduate School 2009/2010Biblical text: Ephesians 3:14-19For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his

Morning Prayer from Iona

2010-02-02T13:29:00.000-08:00

Mark Taylor has been leading morning prayers this week in the Ecumenical Centre based on this outline from the Iona CommunityIona Community PrayersOpening ResponsesThe world belongs to GodTHE EARTH AND ALL ITS PEOPLEHow good and how lovely it isTO LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITYLove and faith come togetherJUSTICE AND PEACE JOIN HANDSIf Christ’s disciples keep silentTHESE STONES WOULD SHOUT ALOUDSong or

Mother Tongue - Foreign Land

2010-02-01T03:03:00.000-08:00

Mother tongue - foreign land - an exercise in non-conformity and cognitive dissonanceA sermon preached by Jane Stranz at the Ecumenical Centre in the context of praying for Britain and Ireland in the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. Liturgical outline here.A room with a viewThere is a wonderful view from the back bedroom of my parents' house. It was the room where my mother gave birth to my brother, less

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

2010-01-31T02:51:00.000-08:00

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

Service for February 1 - mother tongue foreign land

2010-01-29T11:43:00.000-08:00

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

Prayers of Solidarity for the People of Haiti

2010-01-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

Prayers of Solidarity for the People of HaitiLuke 12:6-7Are 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.SilenceHow 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

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

2010-01-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre on 11 January 2010The Baptism of ChristPraying for Cyprus, Greece and TurkeyWelcoming Olav Fykse Tveit as WCC General SecretaryMusicWords of welcomeGlory to the Father and to the SonAnd to the Holy Spirit.As it was in the beginning is now and shall be forever.AmenSing: Ameni Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe

A Christmas Eve sermon by the Venerable Colin Williams Eve

2009-12-26T06:28:00.000-08:00

The story is so well known. Mary is going to have a baby. She and Joseph prepare for the birth. But just as the birth is about to happen they have to make a journey. Everyone has to go back to their own town to be recorded in a census. For Joseph that means going back to Bethlehem. And so he and Mary make the journey from Nazareth to BethlehemThe journey is perilous. At the end there lies

An order of service for Advent - 350 drum beats

2009-12-17T13:36:00.000-08:00

Advent Service in the Ecumenical Centre16 December 2009Towards Original BlessingAs long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. Gen. 8.22Introduction and welcomeAu commencement était la parole!In the beginning was the WordAm Anfang war das WortIn the beginning was the WordGod of creationGod of historyGod is here with usGod of

Original Blessing - a sermon by Theodore A. Gill Jr.

2009-12-17T13:29:00.000-08:00

This sermon was preached by Theodore A Gill at the annual advent service at the ecumenical centre in Geneva on Wednesday 16 December 2009B’ruch atah Adonoi Elohenu, melek ha’olam – “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of all Creation…” This is the beginning of many Hebrew prayers, offering thanks to God for all the wonders and goodness of creation, returning a portion of that blessing with

“Watch and Pray” Prayers for the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

2009-11-09T14:02:00.000-08:00

“Watch and Pray”Prayers for the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin WallThat walls of division today may be overcome(At lunchtime on 9 November 2009 we met at the pieces of the Berlin wall in the garden of the ecumenical centre. A visitor from outside the house asked so which side was in the east and which in the west? I explained that it would not have been possible to paint the eastern

An All Saints and All Souls Day sermon by the Venerable Colin Williams, general secretary of CEC

2009-11-02T10:51:00.000-08:00

Chris has taken up rowing again. Back home in Canada it was his main leisure activity. But since he came to Geneva to work as an intern at an ecumenical agency there’ve simply been too many things going on. But these last couple of weeks he’s found his way into the Geneva rowing club. And so it was that last Saturday morning he found himself up early and rowing all by himself on the Rhone.

Persisiting until justice prevails

2009-10-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

The following order for morning prayers was put together by Fulata Mbano Moyo.Morning Prayer in the Ecumenical Centre - 26 October 2009Persisting until justice prevailsL: I am because we areA: Since we are therefore I amL: As God’s creation, we are interconnected and interdependentA: We are of the same essenceL: When one suffers injustice, we all suffer as interconnected and interdependentA:

Celebrating Diwali with the people in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

2009-10-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

The following order of worship was put together by Deenbandhu ManchalaMorning Prayer Ecumenical Centre, GenevaOctober 19, 2009Celebrating Diwali with the people inIndia, Pakistan and Sri LankaIntroductionCall to worship(To repeat each line after the leader: No.8 in Agape)Asa to maa sad ga ma yaTa ma somaa jyo tir ga ma yaMri tyor maa am ri tam ga ma yaOm shanti, shanti, shanty(Lead me through

A service for the international day of prayer for peace

2009-09-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

An Order of Service for the International Day of Prayer for Peace Ecumenical Centre 21 September 2009(The order of service that follows includes a meditational walk in the labyrinth of peace which uses the picture here as a labyrinth of peace. the outline is an interpretation of the logo for the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation which will take place in Jamaica in 2011)The LORD gives

Responsive prayers for the opeing of the renovated main hall in the ecumenical centre Geneva

2009-08-26T23:31:00.000-07:00

The following prayers were said by members of central committee before they entered the newly renovated Main Hall on August 26 2009Dialogue of Praise*****Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.Unless a city is of God, those who guard it keep watch in vain.*****God set the earth itself on its foundations,so that it cannot finally be shaken. *****Every house and

I have a prayer ...

2009-08-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

This prayer ended the contribution by young people at the end of the general secretary's speech at the WCC central committeeI have a prayer ...May our gifts and talents be offered in a right way in God's mission.May our youth be prepared in a better way - in order to be able to understand their mission and be used to serve in this time.That the breath of the Holy Spirit be with us during this

“E le fefe ai lo’u loto” – My heart shall not fear - a meditation by Faautu Talapusi

2009-08-17T00:58:00.000-07:00

This heartfelt and authentic meditation was preached by Faautu Talapusi on Monday 17th AugustThe accompanying liturgy for the Ecumenical Prayer cycle prayers for the Pacific can be found here.Every evening, growing up, our family would gather together for prayers as most Samoan families do. And every month my two sisters and I were given a verse or a chapter within the Bible to memorize for the

Praying with the people of the Pacific

2009-08-17T00:49:00.000-07:00

Ecumenical Centre Morning Worship, Monday August 17, 2009This service was prepared by Faautu Talapusi who works at the Pacific desk of the World Council of Churches and with ACT Development.WelcomeCall to WorshipGod who walks on the water of our fears,Stretching out a hand to hold us firm,And telling us not to be afraid:We come to worship you in faithGod who speaks to us in story and word,In each

An order of morning prayer for Australia and New Zealand

2009-08-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Morning Prayer in the Chapel of the Ecumenical Centre - Tuesday August 10, 2009In the week the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle remembers Aotearoa New Zealand and AustraliaThis morning’s prayers are from Living Water, Thirsty Land, the 2009 Mission Prayer Handbook of the Uniting Church in Australia.PrayerSpirit of the living God We seek your word this dayTo hear, to heal, and to befriendAs comfort on

An order of worship for New Zealand and Australia

2009-08-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre, August 10 2009In the week the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle remembers Aotearoa New Zealand and AustraliaThis order of prayer was prepared by Peter Prove, Emma Halgren and Michael WallaceCall to worshipI runga i te ingoa o te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu.(In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit)AmineGrace to you and peace from God our Creator, the

A sermon for St Laurence's day preached by Revd Michael Wallace

2009-08-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

This reflection for St Laurence's Day was preached by Michael Wallace with help from Emma Halgren. It was part of worship prepared for Monday morning 10 August 2009 as we were praying this week for Australia and New Zealand through the ecumenical prayer cycle. Find the full liturgy here.Reflection for Australia NZ service August 10th 2009St LaurenceAs you know this week the Ecumenical Prayer

An order of morning prayer on Hiroshima Day

2009-08-06T01:37:00.000-07:00

Chapel of the Ecumenical CentreThursday 06 August 2009This morning’s prayers are adapted from resources written for the Sixth Assembly of the WCCVancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 1983Biblical affirmationsSearch me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts.See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.Hide your face from my sins, O Lord, and blot out

Morning prayer for the USA and CAnada

2009-08-05T00:42:00.000-07:00

Theodore A Gill put together this order for morning prayers which includes a long reading from Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail the extract can be found here.Wednesday Morning Prayer, Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, 5 August 2009Opening sentences O Lord, open my lips. And my mouth shall proclaim your praise. The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy never cease, fresh as the morning

Martin Luther King excerpts from a "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"

2009-08-05T00:08:00.000-07:00

Excerpts: Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, 16 April 1963MY DEAR FELLOW CLERGYMEN:While confined here in the Birmingham City Jail, I came across your recent statement calling our present activities "unwise and untimely." Seldom, if ever, do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas… But since I feel that you are men of genuine goodwill and your criticisms are sincerely

An order for morning prayer - ecumenical prayer cycle Canada

2009-08-04T01:20:00.000-07:00

The following order was prepared by Theodore A Gill and included a fascinating reading from Stephen Neil's A history of Christian Missions , about which more soon.Morning Prayer - The chapel of the Ecumenical Centre, GenevaTuesday 4 August 2009 - The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle focuses our attention this week on Canada and the USAHuron carol, by Jean de Brébeuf, c. 1641’Twas in the moon of wintertime

Sermon by Thedore A Gill on the Bread of Life

2009-08-04T01:15:00.000-07:00

Monday 3 August – Morning prayer: Exodus 16:11-18, John 6:28-35These are the notes that Theodore Gill based his sermon on - I hope to offer a podcast soon to give you the full experience!“I am the bread of life.”I need hardly tell a congregation including so many people from Stuttgart that the LWF will hold its worldwide assembly next year in that city. The theme of the assembly will be “Our

The Bread of Life as we pray for the USA and Canada

2009-08-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

The following order was put together by Theodore A GillMonday Morning Chapel Service,Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, 3 August 2009This week the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle calls our attention tothe people and churches of Canada and the United States of America.Call to worship – Psalm 117Give glory to the Lord, all you nations!Sing God’s praises, all peoples of the earth! For great is God’s goodness

Praying with the peoples of the Caribbean

2009-07-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre27 July 2009Praying with the peoples of the CaribbeanWe listen to God’s word and share bread and wine at God’s tableMusical rehearsalWelcomeGod in Christ has revealed his glory.Come let us worship.From the rising of the sun to its settingthe Lord's name is greatly to be praised.Give God praise, you servants of the Lord.O praise the name of the Lord!Prayer of

Praying for Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico

2009-07-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Worship Monday, July 20th, 2009Praying for Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and MexicoThis liturgy was put together by Suzanne Tomaiouli as we prayed according the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle for Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and MexicoWelcome and Opening Remarks Opening Hymn – Pescador de hombres/Lord, You Have Come to the Seashore Verses 1 and 3 in Spanish, verse 2 and 4 in English PrayerVisionary

A service praying for Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela and for the upcoming assembly of the Conference of European Churches

2009-07-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre, Monday 6 July 2009Praying for Columbia, Ecuador and VenezuelaCalled to one hope in ChristWelcomeOpening wordsThe love of God our Father be with you all.Amen.The peace of Jesus Christ be with you.And also with you.Come, Holy Spirit.Illumine and inspire us.To be more patient,give us strength LordTo become peacemakers,equip us Lord.To be right,give us your light

Meditation on Ephesians 4.1-6

2009-07-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

The following short sermon was preached on Monday July 6th in the Ecumenical Centre chapel by Angela Schnepel, Vikarin of the Bremen Landeskirche. Angela has been doing part of her curacy based at the WCC in the Decade to Overcome Violence programme.The theme of hope which the service as a whole took comes from the CEC assembly in Lyon "Called to One Hope in Christ".Meditation on Ephesians 4:1-

Red threads and beads for a rare pearl ...

2009-07-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

On Friday July 3rd a group of us gathered invited by a friend who will soon leave Geneva. We talked and shared stories and we threaded beads. The threading helped us to focus on our feelings, our hands had something to do and we could more easily listen to one another.We were sad and emotions were high ...What follows is a reflection I prepared before the evening.Red threads and beads for a rare

Praying for Bolivia, Chile and Peru

2009-06-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

Monday Morning Worship, Chapel of the Ecumenical Centre, June 29, 2009Worship leaders were Martin Junge and Maria Chavez as we prayed for Bolivia, Chile and Peru.Music: El Condor pasaWelcomeSong: Tatanaka Mamanaka (TM 173, in Aymara language)Call to WorshipWe 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

Liturgy for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay

2009-06-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

Morning prayers, Ecumenical Centre, Geneva,Monday, June 22, 2009Praying through the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle for Argentina, Paraguay and UruguayThis order for morning prayer was written by Guillermo Kerber.The preacher was Julio de Santa AnaWelcomeSong: Tenemos esperanza (Bishop Federico Pagura, Homero Perera) Agape 72Prayer(Bishop Aldo Etchegoyen, Argentina)O God, Lord of the wind and the sea,of

Sermon on faith and fear by Julio de Santa Ana

2009-06-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

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

Prayers and reflections from and for Brazil

2009-06-17T06:17:00.000-07:00

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 diversityOur country is known for its cultural diversity. And this diversity is our

An order of morning prayer for Brazil

2009-06-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

Ecumenical Centre Morning PrayerMonday, 15 June 2009Praying for Brazil through the ecumenical prayer cyclethis order of prayers was put together by Simei Monteiro and Elaine NeuenfeldPrelude Call to worship Let there be the Word of God,in every heart impearled.The living Wordis told and heard for the healing of the world.Let there be the Love of GodIn Jesus Christ unfurled.The Cross of death gave

An order of worship praying for Kenya and Tanzia

2009-05-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

Worship in the Ecumenical Centre Monday 11 May 2009Praying for Kenya and Tanzania in the ecumenical prayer cycleMusical preparationWe listen to a recording of Baba YetuWords of WelcomeCelebrant : Christos anesti!All: Alithos anesti! (Greek)Celebrant: Christ is risen!All: Christ is risen indeed! (English)Celebrant: Christ est ressuscité!All : Christ est vraiment ressuscité! (French)Celebrant:

An Orthodox morning prayer for Easter time

2009-04-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

Monday 27th of April, beginning of the Staff Planning DaysWe pray for the churches and people in Eritrea and EthiopiaCelebrant: Come, receive light from the resurrection light, and sing to Christ who is risen from the dead!All : (Sing) Thy resurrection, O Christ our Savior …. During this song the lights are still lit. The Celebrant lights a candle and all the participants take a light from him.

A water liturgy for the time of Lent

2009-03-02T07:55:00.000-08:00

This service was put together for worship in the Ecumenical Centre on Monday 2 March 2009. Many of the prayers come from the WCC assembly worship book "Em Tua Graça" and the motivation for doing a service on water comes from the Ecumenical Water Network's Seven Weeks for Water.Learn how to make your own rain stick from recycled material. We were lucky enough to have one amongst our amazing

Sabeel's reflection on the situation in Gaza

2009-01-04T22:14:00.000-08:00

SABEEL’S REFLECTION ON GAZA The Narrow Gate of Justice “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) On Saturday, December 27, 2008, as the children of Gaza were about to leave their schools to

Communiqué of the Council of Christian Churches in France on the situation in Gaza

2009-01-04T22:12:00.000-08:00

Communiqué du CECEF - Nouvel an 2009En ces jours où nous célébrons la naissance de Jésus en qui nous reconnaissons le Prince de la Paix, nous ressentons une grande tristesse devant les nouveaux affrontements qui affectent cruellement les populations appelées à vivre ensemble sur la terre où Il est né.Nous affirmons notre solidarité avec les Eglises du Proche-Orient qui viennent ensemble de

A sermon on overcoming violence for Advent

2008-12-19T07:41:00.000-08:00

This short meditation was preached at the Advent service at the Ecumenical Centre Geneva on Wednesday 17 December 2008The puzzle of peace and the puzzle of the incarnationBiblical images and promises are so strangeThey seem to not really be of this worldIsaiah says – and the lion shall lie down with the lamb –And nation shall not learn war any moreAnd we see hardly any evidence of this today in

Worship with song, dance and rap for Christ the King

2008-11-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

This worship outline was put together by Natalie Maxson who is in charge of the WCC Youth programmeWorship in the Ecumenical Centre - November 23, 2008This week in the ecumenical prayer cycle we remember the peoples and churches of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and NigerWelcome Opening prayer Lord, my God, You are great, fearful, glorious,the Creator of every visible and spiritual creation

Songs for Peace

2008-11-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

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

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

2008-11-18T13:24:00.003-08:00

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

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

2008-11-17T13:44:00.000-08:00

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

Service of welcoming and sending out

2008-11-16T13:22:00.002-08:00

Service of Welcoming and Sending Out - 17 November 2008This service was put together by Simon OxleyThis week in the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle we remember the people and churches of the Cameroon, Central African Republic and Equatorial GuineaGreeting and WelcomeWe approach God together (stand)Welcoming God, you stand with open arms to receive everyone.Embrace us in your love.Sending God, you

An order of worship reflecting on Diaconia and praying for

2008-10-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

Morning Prayer in the Ecumenical Centre 27 October 2008Hospitality and visitation – basic dimensions of diaconal practiceAccording 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.

Sow life ...

2008-10-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

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

order of prayers for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal

2008-10-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

SERVICE OF MORNING PRAYERThe Chapel of the Ecumenical Centre, GenevaMonday 13 October 2008This week the ecumenical prayer cycle calls attention tothe nations, churches and peoples of Bangladesh, Bhutan and NepalPreludeOpening prayerO 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