Sabeel's reflection on the situation in Gaza

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 return home, the Israeli air force carried a massive air attack against the people of Gaza. In less than 4 hours, over 150 people were killed and 200 injured – men, women, and children. By the end of the fourth day, over 390 Palestinians were killed and almost 2,000 injured. On the Israeli side, 4 were killed and no statistics are available on the number of injured.

FACTS ABOUT THE GAZA STRIP:

Population: 1.5 million. 75% of them are refugees. 45% of them are under 14 years.

Area: 360 sq km, 139 sq miles.

Population density: 4,167 people/sq km (The highest in the world.)

80% of Gazan households live below the poverty line, subsisting on less than $3 per person a day. 80% of all Gazan families would literally starve without food aid from international agencies.

The Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip, similar to that of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, started with the 1967 June war. In September 2005, the Israeli army pulled out of Gaza and removed its illegal settlements. However, the illegal Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip did not come to an end. Israel maintained its tight control over Gaza’s borders (air, land, and sea). To make things even worse, Israel imposed a siege on Gaza in June 2007, thus tightening its border restrictions and causing the humanitarian conditions to deteriorate further. Under the brutal siege, every aspect of the lives of the people of Gaza was controlled. They were totally dependent on Israel for fuel, electricity, cooking gas, medical supplies, food supplies (even flour), building material, etc. Israel made sure that the Palestinians would remain alive at barely the survival and basic subsistence level.

On November 14, 2008, UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon issued a statement that said, “The Secretary-General is concerned that food and other life saving assistance is being denied to hundreds of thousands of people, and emphasizes that measures which increase the hardship and suffering of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip as a whole are unacceptable and should cease immediately.”

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER:

FIRST: A word about tahdi’a (the period of calm or truce). It is important to note that among the terms of tahdi’a was the understanding that Israel would lift the siege of the Gaza Strip, and gradually extend the truce to the West Bank. This Israel did not do. It only partially lifted the siege and allowed a trickle of vital commodities into Gaza which kept the people at the level of mere survival. Israel’s raids into the West Bank continued on a daily basis and scores of Palestinians were arrested or assassinated.

The International Herald Tribune reported on December 19, 2008 that it was Hamas’ understanding that after the tahdi’a Israel would open the crossings and allow the transfer of goods that have been banned since the siege was imposed. There was never a return to the 500 – 600 truckloads of goods shipments that used to go into the Gaza Strip before the siege. “The number of trucks increased to around 90 from around 70.” The facts and figures tell the real story. Sadly, however, many western leaders have shut their ears, eyes, and mouths against the cry of the oppressed and they fell into the deceptive snares of Israel. Most of the world judges Israel by what it says and not by what it does; while they close their ears to the comprehensive and workable 2002 Peace Initiative adopted by all the Arab leaders including the Palestinians. Even Hamas has agreed to a Palestinian State within the 1967 borders as expressed to President Carter on his latest visit to Syria.

SECOND: So long as Israel holds the Palestinians in general and the Gazans in particular under occupation, they (the Palestinians) have the right, according to international law, to resist the “seemingly never ending” belligerent occupation and struggle for their liberation. Israel, therefore, cannot demand from the international community sympathy and political support and from the Palestinians calm and security, while it maintains its inhuman and illegal occupation. It is only when Israel ends its occupation that it can have a legitimate right to defend its borders. Israel stands in violation of international law and is the aggressor due to its belligerent occupation.

THIRD: The Arab leaders and governments can do more for peace. Many people accuse them of a conspiracy of silence. Most of the Arab people are ashamed of the positions of their governments because they have not used their resources collectively to end the occupation. Sabeel is not talking about the use of force although many of our Arab people do. We believe that the Arab governments could have contributed much more towards a resolution of the Palestine-Israel conflict through nonviolent means. Tragically, this did not happen.

FOURTH: Although Sabeel wishes that Hamas and other Palestinian factions had chosen a nonviolent way to resist the Israeli siege, we feel that the disproportionate use of military force against the Gaza Strip and the number of casualties that it produced must be strongly condemned. It is a shame that once again many western leaders have failed to see the deeper issues that are involved. They chose to stand with the occupier rather than with the occupied, with the oppressor rather than the oppressed, and with the powerful rather than with the weak. It is important to continue the resistance against the belligerent occupation. But we call on our Palestinian people to abandon the armed struggle and to choose a more potent and effective way – the way of nonviolence. We can do it and we can win. The Palestinians are capable of setting an example for the rest of the world. This is what we must do; and this is what can restore to us our human pride and dignity.

In fact, we must look to a world where wars, and weapons of violence and destruction would be banned and where oppressed nations would choose the higher moral ground and resist the evil of belligerent occupations by nonviolent means. We hope for a world where a reformed United Nations would never be held hostage by powerful nations, but would enjoy the freedom to establish justice for the oppressed of the world.

FIFTH: We believe that the real message of the Palestinians to the world is a genuine cry for freedom and liberation. The Palestinians did not initiate the violence. The prolonged illegal Israeli occupation is the real cause for the violence in our area. Israel has shut the door on justice. The only way that can guarantee a lasting resolution of the conflict is for the United States’ new administration to dare and open the door of justice. We believe that it is the narrow gate of which Jesus Christ spoke. It is the gate that leads to a life of peace and security. “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.” This is the narrow gate of justice. This is the basis of international law. The way of military domination, occupation, violence, and wars is the wide gate that leads to destruction; while the gate that seems narrow and hard is the one that leads to justice, peace and security for both sides. We have tried the wide gate and it has only brought us destruction. It is high time to try the narrow gate of justice so that we might find life.

Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center

Jerusalem

December 31, 2008

www.sabeel.org

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

Communiqué du CECEF - Nouvel an 2009

En 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 condamner la reprise du cycle de la violence entre Israéliens et Palestiniens à Gaza, en demandant « aux responsables des deux parties du conflit de revenir à la raison et d'empêcher tout acte de violence qui ne conduit qu'à la destruction et à la tragédie ».

Convaincus que cette guerre ne fait qu'exacerber la haine entre les communautés et rendre plus difficile le chemin vers une solution politique durable, nous nous associons à tous les appels au cessez-le-feu immédiat et encourageons les efforts diplomatiques auprès des forces politiques palestinienne et israélienne.

Comme nous l'avons déjà fait, nous soutenons les hommes et les femmes de paix : « Avec courage, ils préparent ensemble le seul avenir possible pour les peuples d'Israël et de Palestine, celui d'une paix fondée sur la justice, sur la reconnaissance de l'autre, sur le respect de la parole donnée, sur le refus de la violence. » (Appel du Cecef, le 23 janvier 2003)

Solidaires de leur engagement, spécialement dimanche prochain 4 janvier, « journée pour la justice et la paix en Terre sainte », demandons au Christ Sauveur, dont nous célébrons la venue parmi nous, de faire la grâce de la paix aux hommes, femmes et enfants de cette Terre dont nous portons la souffrance et l'espérance.

Les co-présidents et le Conseil d'Églises chrétiennes en France

Conférence des Evêques de France



Le cardinal André Vingt-Trois

Président

Fédération Protestante de France

A sermon on overcoming violence for Advent

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



The puzzle of peace and the puzzle of the incarnation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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



Copyright (c) WCC / Jane Stranz

Worship with song, dance and rap for Christ the King

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

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

Welcome

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

Song "Here I Am To Worship" by Tim Hughes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Songs for Peace

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, why is leaving so significant?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Copyright (c) WCC/Simon Oxley

Service of welcoming and sending out

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

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

Greeting and Welcome

We approach God together (stand)

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

We sing together (remain standing)

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

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

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

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

We reflect on what we have heard

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

We send out and welcome colleagues (sit)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We sing together (stand)

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

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

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

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

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

We bless one another (stand)

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

An order of worship reflecting on Diaconia and praying for

Morning Prayer in the Ecumenical Centre 27 October 2008

Hospitality and visitation – basic dimensions of diaconal practice

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

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

Welcome

Opening responses

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reflection - Kjell Nordstokke

Hymn: Let us build a house were love can dwell

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

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

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

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

Prayers continued in silence

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

Blessing

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

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

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

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

Hymn

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