Worship in the Ecumenical Centre Monday 11 May 2009
Praying for Kenya and Tanzania in the ecumenical prayer cycle
Musical preparation
We listen to a recording of Baba Yetu
Words of Welcome
Celebrant : 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: Christus ist auferstanden!
All: Christus ist wahrhaftig auferstanden! (German)
Celebrant : Cristo ha resucitado!
All: En verdad ha resucitado! (Spanish)
Celebrant :Yesu Amefufuka !
All: Amefufuka hakika! (Swahili)
Celebrant: Al-Masih qam!
All: Haqqan qam! (Arabic)
Song ~ Agape 98 ~ Utukufu in kiSwahili, English and then again in kiSwahili
Psalm 98
O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things.
His right hand and his holy arm have gained him victory.
The Lord has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Song ~ Agape 10 ~ Bwana awabariki in Swahili, English, German
Prayer
God of Love, God of compassion, in the midst of death and evil you mercifully look after us: protecting, providing and smiling, constantly reassuring us of your care. Grant that we may know that your love is life. Teach us to number our days aright that we may acquire a heart of wisdom, through Jesus Christ whose life has become our light.
Amen
Please stand for the gospel reading and to sing:
Hale, Hale Hale lu-ja Hale, Hale Hale lu-ja Hale, Hale Hale lu-ja, Haleluja Haleluja!
John 15.9-17
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Sing Hale, Hale Hale lu-ja Hale, Hale Hale lu-ja Hale, Hale Hale lu-ja, Haleluja Haleluja!
Meditation by Rogate Mshana
Prayers - our prayers of intercession today are based on the Lord's prayer.
We remember especially the people and churches in Kenya and Tanzania this week, praying for all who work for the good of civil society and peace with justice in these countries.
Our Father who art in heaven,
Beloved God, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all the peoples of the earth,
bring peace and righteousness to all the peoples. In your grace, may equity grow. Turn our hearts to you in healing and transformation.
hallowed be thy name.
Be present to all peoples,
that we may open our eyes and recognize you
in our history, in our cultures, in our struggles.
Deliver us from enchantment by the false goods of money, markets and status. Help us to praise you in our faith and actions,
that, seeing our loving service in your name,
others, too, may bless that name
Thy kingdom come;
Where people resist injustice,
live in solidarity,
and seek a more human social order,
help us to recognize the ferment of your kingdom already at work. Bless those who are poor, those who suffer for the sake of justice,
Those who promote and defend human rights.
Bless the children of our countries,
and protect them from terror and oppression.
Thy will be done,
Yes! That your wisdom would be our wisdom!
Deliver us from adjusting to unjust systems,
Move our hearts, and the hearts of women and men everywhere to act in love,
that we may resist the seductions of power and greed and may live in right relationship with all.
on earth as it is in heaven.
God, present in every movement of creation,
let us be responsible stewards of your garden of life.
striving for sustainability.
And as the firmament in all its mystery and glory
displays your cosmic will,
so may our lives display the mystery and glory of love,
your will for life on earth.
Give us this day our daily bread,
That no one may be threatened by hunger, malnutrition, scarcity, give bread to those who have none,
and hunger for justice to those who have bread.
Teach us what is enough for today,
and to share with those who have less than enough, for in this, it is Jesus whom we serve.
and forgive us our debts
Don't let us lose our lives,
as persons and as peoples,
because of our debts.
Let not the poorest pay for the benefit of the richest,
in unfair demands, punitive interest rates and excessive charges. But forgive us, and let justice prevail.
as we forgive our debtors.
As we live by your grace and sharing of your very self,
deliver us from systems of aggressive and divisive individualism.
Break our chains of selfishness, open our hearts to those who need our solidarity,
and deliver us from illusion,
that we might practise what we preach.
And lead us not into temptation,
Deliver us from being bewitched by power,
and keep us faithful to you;
for you are our help, where else can we appeal.
Money will not save us, nor the market, nor our powerful friends. Strengthen us to resist the false attraction of easy answers, magic fixes,
abuses of power,
and the delusion that there is any way apart from justice in which God's justice can be done.
but deliver us from evil.
From every evil that objectifies the earth, all living beings, and our neighbours; from every evil that degrades creation and destroys societies
from every evil that encourages us to think that we are God.
So may we learn from you to refrain from judgment,
to accord respect to all God's creation, and so be privileged to hear the witness of those the world treats with indignity.
Because yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord's Prayer sung in French
Blessing
lundi 11 mai 2009
An order of worship praying for Kenya and Tanzia
lundi 27 avril 2009
An Orthodox morning prayer for Easter time
Monday 27th of April, beginning of the Staff Planning Days
We pray for the churches and people in Eritrea and Ethiopia
Celebrant: 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. During this process, the celebrants are singing “Christ is risen from the dead” (in Greek)
Celebrant: Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, let those who hate Him flee from before His face
Sung: (English) ‘Oh Christ is risen from the dead and thru death He did trample, trample upon death and thus bestowed on those in the tombs the gift of eternal life’
Celebrant: As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish as wax melts before the fire
Sung: Greek
Celebrant: So the sinners will perish before the face of God but let the righteous be glad
Sung: German
Celebrant: This is the day which the Lord has make. Let us rejoice and be glad in it
Sung:French
Celebrant: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Sung: English
Celebrant: Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen
Sung: Greek
Celebrant: Christ is reason from the dead, trampling down death by death …
Sung: German
Celebrant: Wisdom, Let us attend. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace unto all!
All: And to your Spirit
Celebrant: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark 16, 1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you." Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
The Great Litany
In peace, let us pray to the Lord
“Kyrie eleison” (three times initially and then once after each intention)
For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord
“Kyrie eleison”
For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord
“Kyrie eleison”
For this holy house and for those who enter with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord
“Kyrie eleison”
For this city, for every city and country, and for the faithful dwelling in them and governments marked by peace and justice, let us pray to the Lord
“Kyrie eleison”
For the faithful witness of Ethiopian and Eritrean Christians, their ancient traditions, and the new possibilities for proclaiming the faith of the risen Christ….
“Kyrie eleison”
For reasonable weather, for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord
“Kyrie eleison”
For travellers by land, by sea, and by air; refugees and those who have been displaced from their homes and villages, for the sick and the suffering affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other diseases; for captives and their salvation, let us pray to the Lord
“Kyrie eleison”
For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord
“Kyrie eleison”
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace
“Kyrie eleison”
Let us pray
Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One. We venerate Thy Cross, O Christ, and we praise and give glory to Thy holy Resurrection; for Thou art our God, and we know no other than Thee; we call on Thy name. Come, all you faithful, let us venerate Christ’s holy resurrection. For, behold, through the Cross, joy has come into all the world. Let us ever bless the Lord, praising His resurrection, for by enduring the Cross for us, He has destroyed death by death.
Prayer from the Armenian Orthodox Church
Awesome and marvelous is the mystery of our salvation. He, who is from the Father without beginning, in an ineffable manner was incarnate of the Virgin. He endured the cross and by his voluntary death granted us the gift of life.
For Christ, the eternal God, arose from the dead, the creator and the resurrection of all mankind; the hosts of angels and all the vigilant angels in heaven unceasingly praise him; with them we cry aloud and say: glory to thy awesome resurrection O Lord.
Easter Proclamation
Celebrant : Christos anesti!
All: Alithos anesti! (Greek)
Celebrant: Christ is risen!
All: He is risen indeed! (English)
Celebrant: Christ est ressuscité!
All : Il est vraiment ressuscité! (French)
Celebrant: Christus ist auferstanden!
All: Er ist wahrhaftig auferstanden! (German)
Celebrant: Khristos voskrésye!
All: Voistinu voskrésne! (Slavonic)
Celebrant :Si Cristo ay nabuhay !
All: shianga eye naboo hi!(Filipino)
Celebrant : Christoo weer tellen dar
All: Om, Christoo weer tellen dar!(Tamil)
Celebrant : Cristo ha resucitado!
All: En verdad ha resucitado! (Spanish)
Celebrant :Yesu Amefufuka !
All: Amefufuka hakika! (Swahili)
Celebrant : Nitsangana tami’ny maty i Kristy !
All: Nitsangana marina tokoa izy! (Malagasy)
Celebrant: Christos haryav I merelotz!
All: Orhvial e Haroutiunn Christosi! (Armenian)
Celebrant : Christus is opgestaan !
All : Hij is waarlijk opgestaan ! (Dutch)
Celebrant: Al-Masih qam!
All: Haqqan qam! (Arabic)
Celebrant: Christ is Risen
All: Christ is risen from the dead….
A bright new flower has appeared this day out of the new tomb. Souls, have blossomed and are, adorned with diverse hues, and have become green with life. The florescence of divine light has bloomed in the spiritual spring. He who died for us in love, has raised with him our fallen nature. The light of the resurrection has shone in the darkness of the shadows of death. And the seraph with wings spread sat shining on the rock.
Christ is risen from the dead ! He trampled down death by death, and by his resurrection granted life unto us. Glory unto him for all ages. Amen
Awesome and marvelous is the mystery of our salvation. He, who is from the Father without beginning, in an ineffable manner was incarnate of the Virgin. He endured the cross and by his voluntary death granted us the gift of life.
For Christ, the eternal God, arose from the dead, the creator and the resurrection of all mankind; the hosts of angels and all the vigilant angels in heaven unceasingly praise him; with them we cry aloud and say: glory to thy awesome resurrection O Lord.
Recessional Hymn – Roll Away the Stone
They have been saying, all our plans are empty.
They have been saying, ‘Where is their God now?
Refrain – Roll away the stone, see the glory of God, roll away the stone.
They have been saying, no one will remember; they have been saying ‘power rules the world’ Refrain
They have been saying no one hears the singing, they have been saying ‘all our strength is gone’. Refrain
They have been saying, all of us are dying, they have been saying ‘all of us are dead’ Refrain
lundi 2 mars 2009
A water liturgy for the time of Lent
~ Water Stick ~ Welcome ~ Water Stick ~
Prayer
Holy Spirit, Life-giver, who moved over the waters in creation, who led your people through the waters of the Red Sea to liberation, and who comforted your exiled people by the waters of Babylon, draw us together as we gather in your name.
Sing: By the Rivers of Babylon
By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down
And there we wept when we remembered Zion (twice)
Carried us away to captivity, required of us a song
How can we sing Jehovah's song in a strange land (twice)
By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down
And there we wept when we remembered Zion (twice)
Longing and searching
Psalm 42
As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me continually,
‘Where is your God?’
We sing two verses of Psalm 42 (sung lightly, as a dance)
Comme un cerf assoiffé brame,
Recherchant le frais des eaux
O Seigneur, ainsi mon âme
Soupire après tes ruisseaux !
Elle a soif du Dieu vivant
Et s'écrie, en le suivant :
O mon Dieu, quand donc sera-ce
Que mes yeux verront ta face ?
Mon seul pain, ce sont mes larmes
Et nuit et jour, en tout lieu.
Au milieu du bruit des armes,
On me dit : Que fait ton Dieu ?
Je repense à ta maison,
Où j'allais en procession,
Chantant avec les fidèles
Tes louanges immortelles.
Palm 63
O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
Sing verse three of Psalm 42
Quel chagrin donc te dévore ?
Toi mon coeur, rassure-toi !
Espère en Dieu, car encore
Tu pourras louer ton Roi !
D'un regard, assurément,
Il guérira ton tourment :
Mon Dieu, je sais que mon âme
Près de toi reprend son calme !
Litany of commitment (read in Spanish)
By the rivers in Fortaleza, we sat down and cried for the cholera victims
In those who lived there we saw sadness and didn't know what to say.
People who lived there did not have songs on their lips
They wanted joy but with neither water nor health, there was no way to be joyful
How could we sing praise to the Lord in the midst of such suffering?
If we forget you, may we go thirsty.
May our lips be dry if we forget you, if we don't bring back water, health and joy.
Judge, Lord, our elites, for their neglect and greed have long mistreated us.
But remember Fortaleza, your children in Ceara, Harare, Bangladesh ... who suffer from thirst and cholera;
don't let the earth go dry
Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.
Amen (copyright Napoleao Marcos Mendes In Esperança Viva, CLAI, 1995)
We keep silence, listen to the sound of the rain stick and then rise to sing a different setting of Psalm 42 in Agape 92 verses 1-3
Isaiah 41:17-18 (read in French)
When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them,
I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
and the dry land springs of water.
John 7: 37-38 (read in French)
On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” ’
Meditation
Prayers of intercession (read in French and German)
Spirit of creation, you hovered over the formless void and separated waters from waters:
we ask your guidance in our stewardship of water, that it may enhance the goodness of your world.
We pray for all the people of the earth, that we may realize our place within nature
and live in harmony with all the elements and organisms that are your abiding gift.
Sung response
providing creatures the safety of an ark and extending an olive branch for the dove to carry home:
we pray for those who have suffered through the rising tide
of tsunamis, typhoons, hurricanes and floodwaters of every kind.
We pray for those who mourn, that they may be comforted in the knowledge of your eternal care.
We pray for the poor and for all who work together to rebuild societies in hope of a better world.
We pray for a generation that has failed to confront global warming and rapid climate change;
save us Lord from the harsh storms of nature, but most of all save us from ourselves
We pray for spiritual resources to aid us in reaching out to others, meeting them where they are,
so that we may offer a cup of fresh water to the thirsty, and the word of life to all.
Pray in our prayers, loving Spirit, that our own spirits may be revitalized
Just as gentle healing water brings new growth to a parched and barren land.
In the name of the triune God we pray.
Amen (copyright WCC in Em Tua Graça)
The Lord's Prayer in our different languages
Blessing
May God the Father grant us the grace that changes us
May God the Spirit grant us the grace that saves us
May the Spirit of life grant us the grace that makes us free
And as we go on our way may we celebrate peace
Sing Agape 64 ~ O healing River
dimanche 4 janvier 2009
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
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
vendredi 19 décembre 2008
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
lundi 24 novembre 2008
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.
mardi 18 novembre 2008
Songs for Peace
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.
copyright (c) Douwe Visser and WARC
