Praying for Peace - Advent 2023

Schools in Myanmar are closed. 

Faithful disciples tend to children, teaching language and numbers from life experience.

Peace be upon those who are carers in places and times of distress.

Mobs attack the vulnerable in Manipur.

The conscience of individuals falls to the press of the many.

Peace be upon those who suffer and those who accompany them.

Bitter cold companions the bitterness of broken communities in Ukraine and Russia.

People are forced from their homes, either as refugees or unwilling warriors.

Peace be upon those in the midst of warzones and those who have left them.

The birthplace of the Palestinian Messianic Jew is as unholy as ever.

The land and her people are daily crucified.

Peace be to those who birth HOPE in the midst of unwelcome rubble.

In these days of tears, we long for your coming - Bring peace, O God!

Come! Come! Emmanuel - be with us!

Yes

I have listened and I desire to hear more...

Of the stories of Land and Sky, of the Seven Sisters and the deep spirits.

I have heard fiction and 'fact', 

but I desire to hear Truths from the heart.

I live a long way away, but my heartland is the dusty red earth and the island home.

Even from a distance, I listen for the kookaburras and the magpies.

I long for the day when the shame of vulgar racial disparities is bridged, 

so that my sisters and brothers may access the same privileges as most of our citizens.

I want to hear how they can take that journey, and I commit to accompanying them.

I wish for the conversation where my imagination is grown by the ancients 

and I can bring the ift of fresh attention and respect.

The people who welcomed and adopted me, honoured and rejected my late-husband,  

giving his earthly remains and his spirit a place of resting until the renewal of all things,

so I pray that we can work together for renewal.

This is why I am voting YES.

Training in Mission Program [2023]

TIM is more than 40 year old. It is a Training in Mission program that includes a Diploma in Mission and experiential learning in field work.

This year’s TIMs will do the following:

Week 1 [17-23 June] Orientation and visits to Centenary Methodist Church, Welcome Dinner at Pacific Theological Collège, visit to Museum, general orientation, beginning our mission garden.

Weeks 2-8 [24 June-14 August] Diploma in Mission, undertaken through Trinity College, Auckland, New Zealand, with a range of international teachers.

Week 9 - Experience visits

Week 10. [30 August-2 September] Godly Play training  

Week 11/12 - Mission trip to Tuvalu [eco-justice focus]

Visiting Dayan Indigenous people in Taiwan

An 80 minute bus-drive from Changhua city into the mountains area situated us close to the clouds.  The local church is the MEIYUAN church, made up of Dayan people. The 23 families of this local church make up about one-third of the village population. There is also a Catholic Church and two True Jesus Churches. They share a Community Hall (more like a fixed outdoor open-air roof structure).

The local Pastor was in his first Placement post-seminary. He has been in the community for 10 years and has encouraged a 'cradle-to-grave' approach to mission and ministry. The church buildings are used on Sunday for worship, but they are also used every weekday for Seniors' Ministries (at least 2-3 hours per day) and also for After-school Programs (2 hours per day). This holds the small village community together very effectively, promoting communal responsibility towards pastoral care and discipleship.

The children in this congregation make up half the children in the local primary school. They spend two hours a day together after school at the church. This forms them into church family relationships, encouraging one another for life. This becomes particularly important for their identity as they must leave the village for highschool (daily) and for higher education (moving to the cities).

The back row members 

of the 

MEIYUAN Children's Choir...

These girls all sang lovely solos!

The elderly members participate in music and movement, games, physically and mentally stimulating activities. There is a chef, who creates nutritious meals for wellbeing. In the early afternoon, visits take place to single elderly, to check on their wellbeing and provide appropriate support.

Everyone in the Church participates in singing and dancing!

The Church was rebuilt after an earthquake and is obviously well cared for and very well used. Our group of CWM Member Church leaders and CWM staff were privileged to enjoy the wonderful hospitality of our friendly and welcoming hosts. Language was not a barrier, as we sign-languaged about grandchildren and food, the role of carers, growing food plants, cooking and how water is collected and shared. It was clear there are landcare issues, as the river water is contamiated by pesticides (from further upstream), making it undrinkable.

 

Beigang Nuomishih Bridge (北港溪糯米石橋)

This is the 'Sticky Rice Bridge', spanning the Beigang River that flows into the Dadu River. The Beigang village is closeby. It was so-named because it had to be rebuilt at a time when mortar was scarce, so a form of rice-flour paste was made to help hold the stones together. [It has since been rebuilt.]

The survival of indigenous cultures here is a great challenge for both the nation and the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. Dayan Presbytery is the largest of the 23 Presbyteries here and the ministry among indigenous people is life-affirming. The commitment of the Church is actually enhanced by the support of the Taiwanese Government, who sees the great value of the Church mission work in helping indigenous language and culture to flourish.

Tiny Home

The challenge of moving house is what to take and what to leave behind. I was widowed three years ago and still had many of the items of a ‘family home’. When I took a Mission role and agreed to move to either Singapore or London, I knew I could no longer justify living in a multi-room house. This meant I would have to do the Marée Kondo and say thanks a goodbye to lots of ‘stuff’. I have passed on many treasures and kept some precious items which have stories representative of life, love, community and special places.

On moving to Singapore, I soon discovered that the ‘relocation allowance’ generously provided by CWM would probably cover up to a month of hotel accommodation. However, the fixed monthly accommodation allowance had been based on pre-pandemic rental conditions. My allowance would cover a studio in a condominium or a 1BR+living unit in HDB (housing development board Govt-sponsored housing). I also discovered that in Singapore, we pay 2 months rent to the agent on top of the bond and rent - all to be paid up-front. 

You can’t open a bank account easily without a home address. You can’t easily get a lease without a bank account. Welcome to the realities of migration. While homelessness seemed to be beckoning, I was helped by prayerful collègues and managed to secure a loft/1 Bed apartment in a nice Condo in a very convenient area. I now live at Tanah Merah, only 7 metro stops to work at Lavender and only 2 metro stops to the airport. With the amount I travel, this is really an answer to prayer.

My little loft suits me fine - for I am vertically challenged! I get about 4-5cm clearance to the ceiling, when I am standing beside the bed. No taller people will really want to come and stay, but you can come and visit and I will take you to a Hawker Centre for a very nice meal! My little kitchen is fine for one, but did not come with an oven, so I have bought an air-fryer… I felt the same way about doing that as I am sure my grandmother did about buying a microwave… a new adventure in home economics and the excuse to try new recipes!

Living in a tiny space challenges me about repurposing, consumerism and thinking very carefully about any acquisition. I now have a capsule wardrobe and can travel for 2 weeks pretty easily with only carry-on that includes two laptops - which in developing places is more important than having clothes anyway.. .

My tiny loft...

Blessing for Mission Sunday

 Word of Mission and Blessing

May the God of all creation pour out the Holy Spirit upon you,

So that you may glorify God and rejoice.

Remember your baptism and the blessings

you have received from God – Creator, Redeemer and Spirit.

Show no partiality, but share the good news with everyone you encounter.

be God’s missionary people in this world that God loves.

 

May the blessing of God be upon you!

May we go to bless all the world. Amen!

Thanksgiving, Dedication, Intercessions for Mission

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving for Mission (2 voices)

Voice 1            We TELL of the glory of God!

Thanks for the Gospel and the passion to share it around the world - the people who make the sacrifice to make Christ known…

 

Voice 2            Holy God, we give you thanks and praise for good news shared by missionaries past and present, especially the Partners in Mission, and the relationships grown between churches and communities. Thank you for their service and commitment.

 

Voice 1            We TEACH and develop disciples to follow the Way of Christ!

Thanks for teachers and learners, mentors and places of nurture - the knowledge of your ways that lead to Life and flourishing…

 

Voice 2            Jesus the teacher, we thank you for giving us models of nurture and learning. We give thanks for those who taught us and those whose commitment to others around the world have led to schools, colleges, universities and libraries. We thank you for the many scholars and programmes of learning and growth (DARE, TIM, Face2Face, A New Face). Thank you for the spiritual gift of Wisdom.

 

Voice 1           Healing God, we thank you for your mission to TEND to the needs of the world.

 

Voice 2            We give thanks for those who hear the cries of the needy and do something about it. We are thankful for our nurses and health workers, for technicians and helpers, for those who comfort in times of crisis. We give thanks for the Gifts of Grace that enabled churches to provide comfort during the worst of the pandemic.

 

Voice 1            Messiah - Our Lord - thank you for challenging the unrighteous and giving voice to the poor and oppressed. Thank you for showing us the way of repentance.

 

Voice 2            We thank you, God, for the prophetic voices and people of action who work to TRANSFORM the unjust structures of the societies we live in. We thank you for the vision of the Kingdom of Heaven that shows us a better way for the economy of life. We thank you for those who work for justice and wellbeing in your name.

 

Voice 1            Creator of All we honour you and give you thanks for the works of your mighty hand.

 

Voice 2            We give thanks for day and night, for light and dark, for earth and water, for creatures of the sea and air. We give you thanks for our very lives. We thank you for CWM actions to care for your creations - for the planting of coral and mangrove, for reforestation and improvements in land management, for the day-to-day acts of creation care taken by our member churches.

Voices 1&2       Thanks and praise to God! Amen

Prayers of Dedication and Intercession

Voice 1        O God, who sees all, bless these gifts of money

            and use them in your mission among those at the margins.

Voice 2        O God, who hears every word of prayer, take our time and health

                   and use us to be signs of your Gospel in the world.

Voice 3        O God, who gives us breath, give us prophetic voices

so that we might speak your comfort and words of healing. 

And so we pray…

We pray first for those who build hospitals and housing, places of care and refuge,

for the architects and construction workers, for the project managers,

and those who run clinics, patiently waiting the building of new facilities.

In all places of hardship, where people have experienced the breakdown of social systems and economic challenges.

We pray for healthcare workers, who have been exhausted

from the ravages of COVID and from the impacts of tensions and conflicts.

We pray for those who educate and their students.

We pray for those who sow the seeds of learning and ask for good soil,

so that flourishing may take place.

We pray for those who struggle with anxiety and depression,

which acts like thorns to choke off life – bless the needy with signs of hope,

so they may rejoice in faith.

We pray for evangelists, who share good news in dark places.

May they be contagious in their love, spreading peace wherever they go.

We pray for your beautiful creation,

broken and hurting from depletion of resources and impacts of greed.

Heal your oceans and countries, by the breath of your Spirit, we pray.

Amen

In the context of Mission

 Meditation in the Context of Mission [3 voices]

Voice 1       They walk past me.

They avoid me. Stepping around me, averting their eyes.

I am the invisible poor and lonely and unloved.

Voice 2       They do not respond.

I call out, asking for just a meal or even an acknowledgement.

                   They listen to their pods, blocking out my hopelessness.

Voice 3       My voice is weak. My words are disjointed.

                   I long for the chorus of encouragement and comfort.

                   I long for the songs of lament I cannot even sing.

ACT OF CONFESSION

We place our hands over our eyes.

Forgive our blindness to the needs of the world.        

We place our hands over our ears.

Forgive our deafness to the voices of the oppressed.  

We place our hands over our mouths.

Forgive our silence in the face of suffering.   

Holy God, you see our faults and failings,

Forgive us we pray. Restore us, so we may rise to life to serve you all our days.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

The Apostle Paul said, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” [Romans 8:1-2]

People of God, you are forgiven! Thanks be to God!

Mission Sunday

 Introduction to Mission Sunday

It is right that we give thanks to God for our personal salvation and also for what God is doing in the world. Mission Sunday is an opportunity for us to pray for the world God loves. God’s love gave us all the gift of Jesus Christ and God’s love continues to give the gift of all those who follow Christ to serve in Christ’s mission.

Take a moment to give thanks - not just for yourselves, but for the miracles God works every day through the hands and feet of Partner Churches around the world.

Call to Worship on Mission Sunday

Come, People of God, why have you come together today?

We come, seeking the Way of Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ calls you to follow Him, to find the Way for a flourishing life.

Yet, the Way is not easy. We stumble and fall.

So, get up and come together, encouraging one another on the journey,

Let us sing with people from around the world...

Hymn - Undivided

 UNDIVIDED

(Tune: Cwm Rhondda OR Regent’s Square)

© Amelia Kok-Butler, 2023

Down they fall - no walls divide us

Love must now replace all hate

Teach us wisdom to revive us

Give us hands to re-create

God of all, our hearts adore you

Open wide your heaven’s gate

 

Break the chains of past oppression

Let us claim our liberty

Cast out greed and self-obsession

Sharing life o’er land and sea

God of all, our voices praise you

Worship now the One-in-Three

 

Take the hand of friend and neighbour

Share a meal and pass the plate

Do the work to share God’s favour

Learn God’s ways and stimulate

Flourish then in life abundant

Heaven’s foretaste will not wait.

 

Prayer for Malawi - 14 March 2023

 

God of thunder and stillness,

see sorrow and pain,

see loss of life and despair.

 

In compassion for your beloved children,

have mercy on Malawi.

 

In moments of quiet,

after the longest of storms, trauma remains.

 

We pray from across the nations, for the people of Malawi.

Stir new creation in their lives.

 

In the closest silences, whisper hope.

In the heartbeat of survival, may faith hold strong.

Have mercy on them, in both the thunder and the quiet.

Amen