The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, of which I am a part, has a longstanding relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). Shortly after Israel's recent military ground movement in Gaza, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton spoke by phone with ELCJHL Presiding Bishop Munib Younan. Bishop Younan said that of the 13 wars he has witnessed in his part of the world, this is the one that concerns him most and asked that the people of the ELCA pray for the people of the ELCJHL and all people and leaders who live in this part of the world.
In response, Bishop Eaton wrote a letter to Bishop Younan. You may find a PDF copy of the letter here: Bishop Eaton Letter to Bishop Younan. An ELCA news release about this situation can also be read at: http://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7681.
Bishop Eaton has asked that this letter be distributed among the leaders and congregations of the ELCA. She also asks that letter be read in congregations this coming Sunday and that a time of silence be observed this Sunday as we pray for our brothers and sisters of the ELCJHL and that peace will come to Palestine and Israel.
Please join us in praying for peace in Palestine and Israel and in so many other troubled places in the world and in our own neighborhoods.
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Come, O Come Emmanuel
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
Embracing all things far and nigh:
In strength and beauty come and stay;
Teach us your will and guide our way.
The
“O Antiphons” have been part of the church’s worship for many centuries. In
some traditions, one verse is sung or read each of the last seven days of
Advent (December 17 through 23). Each antiphon expresses a deep, nearly
inexpressible yearning of the human spirit for release, healing, guidance,
peace, joy, or new life.
The
cry for Wisdom’s embrace rang ‘round the globe on Monday, December 17, the day
of the first funerals for victims of the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
The
need is so great, yearnings run so deep, after something like the Newtown
shooting. Hearts are broken. Spirits ache. Whole communities wonder “Why?” and individuals
wrestle with “If onlys.” Ire rises. Bewildered minds seek answers. Blame slips
from trembling lips and through Facebooking fingers and into broadcast and
newsprint commentary. Whole communities cry for change, demand action. And we
cry out…
O come, O Wisdom, embracing all
things far and nigh:
In strength and beauty come and stay.
Teach us your will and guide our way.
Wisdom,
not raw reactivity, will guide us in the way of peace. Strength and beauty will
provide more permanent and fruitful companionship for this journey than unfettered
fear or ugly accusation ever could. Humility, not arrogance or strident stubbornness,
will teach and guide us well.
Perhaps
this and the other O antiphons can lead us forward through the post-Newtown fog.
They call us to allow space in our hearts and our gatherings (as church, as
family, as friends, as civilians) for the full-throated expression of our own
deepest longings and the sighs too deep for words of the people of Newtown and
of all the suffering people in the world who stare at the horizon looking for a
way forward.
We
make this space through prayer…praying the antiphons (see Hymn #257
in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, see below)…praying the psalms (especially psalms
of lament)…praying the liturgies (such as Evening Prayer).
We
make such space by walking together…listening…sharing…sitting in
silence…lighting candles…singing...sharing peace…holding trembling hands.
We
can make such space for the hurt of the world because we trust that if the
cradled Christmas child offers anything, he offers the promise of healing,
reconciliation, and joy right now, right here where he is born, in the midst of
the world’s deepest sorrows, hurts and mysteries. For he is Wisdom, Lord of
Might, Branch of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring, King of Nations, Emmanuel who
walks with us, with the people of Newtown – with all the suffering ones of the
world – in compassionate companionship every step of the groping journey toward
tomorrow’s promised light.
The
Advent longing is deep. The Christmas promise is sure. We pour out our hearts
and we proclaim the promise, entrusting all broken hearts to the babe of
Bethlehem.
Rejoice; Emmanuel shall come.
December 17
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
Embracing all things far and nigh:
In strength and beauty come and stay;
Teach us your will and guide our way.
December 18
O come, O come, O Lord of Might,
As to your tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times you gave the law
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
December 19
O come, O Branch of Jesse, free
Your own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell your people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
December 20
O come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
December 21
O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer;
O Sun of justice, now draw near
Disperse the gloomy coulds of night,
And death’s dark shadow put to flight.
December 22
O come, O King of Nations, come,
O Cornerstone that binds in one:
Refresh the hearts that long for you;
Restore the broken, make us new.
December 23
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Evangelical
Lutheran Worship #257
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