Web Stories from CMS January 2009

Stories from the CMS website 

There's a lot going on in Gaza. Here are some web connections from my agency, CMS. They are all people and places I know and have visited. I have included another couple of stories from Nepal (also on reconciliation) and Pakistan  (on environment).   

Anglican hospital at full stretch in Gaza
In Gaza city the staff of the Al Ahli Anglican hospital are struggling to save lives despite a lack of supplies
Read more > :: Thursday, January 08, 2009 :: 112 views :: 0 Comments ::


The Middle East needs prayer and prophets
In the midst of war, we must pray but also speak out against the misuse of power, says Salim Munayer
Read more > :: 1/8/2009 :: 52 views :: 0 Comments ::


Gaza: Love and the Enemy
Tanas Alqassis, a Palestinian Christian, makes a heartfelt call for prayer in the spirit of the Prince of Peace.
Read more > :: 1/8/2009 :: 124 views :: 0 Comments ::


LISTEN   Tour of Reconciliation 
True reconciliation Palestinian and Jewish believers say only Jesus can bring peace 

 Part 1 - the Palestinian experience. Part 2 - biblical reflection. Part 3 - practical experience of reconciliaiton in Israel-Palestine Part 4 - so what, now what?

Gaza PowerPoint
Facts, statistics and prayers about Gaza in the current crisis, prepared by CMS regional manager Tanas Alqassis
Read more > :: 1/8/2009 :: 64 views :: 0 Comments ::


Conflict as necessary for positive change?
Stephen Edison is doing his part to meet Nepalis’ need for conflict resolution and cathartic community transformation.
Read more > :: Friday, December 19, 2008 :: 332 views :: 0 Comments ::

The greening of Rattanabad
A ground-breaking nature-reserve-cum-organic-farm project in Pakistan is restoring people’s relationship with the enviroment...
Read more > :: Friday, November 14, 2008 :: 481 views :: 0 Comments

GloboChrist Carl Raschke Jan 09

I came across this review on Matt Wilsons blog 'living the story: embodying the kingdom'

'Review GloboChrist'  13 Dec 2008 

In his book, “GloboChrist”, Carl Raschke’s main question is how can we take the Great Commission and look at it from the lenses of postmodernity. This is an important question and idea to think about. With an understanding for this time and culture, this book is the postmodern/global “Christ and Culture”. With his use of examples and relevant contextualizing ideas about consumerism, Christianity and mass market and Islam, Raschke explores the world around us and how we can truly live out the Great Commission. Raschke is daring, challenging and refresh in his writing and thinking that will fly in the face of most thinking and models an important way of thinking in this global society that is emerging today. This is a important book within a conversation of how do we respond to the world around us.

There's also a great YouTube Mr Bean clip  on the Greatest Interpretation Ever Given .... 

Once I learn how to embed such clips I'll start adding them. 

GAZA CRISIS January 09

As we watch and hear the news we agonise about what is happening in GAZA.  I have received many heart felt crys for help and include some below  

ben-thomas images 

The images are by a young photojournalist  Ben Thomas, a good friend of my son Jonny, who is currently staying in Ramallah.   He is due back in UK on 20th, after which  I am sure more  will appear on his BLOG and Photo Website. 

Al Ahli Arab Hospital 

The Al Ahli Arab (Anglican) Hospital has been in operation for over 100 years and has a very dedicated medical staff of doctors, nurses, technicians and general services personnel.

During the best of times they are stretched to their maximum meeting the medical needs of this populous community. Now, during the current military conflict with its heavy toll on human life and material, the hospital faces even greater responsibilities and challenges. The result is growing strain on the hospital’s resources. 

Every day since the beginning of military operations, the hospital has received 20-40 injured or wounded patients. A large proportion of them require hospitalization and surgery. These patients are in addition to those with 

non-conflict-related illnesses. About one-fourth of the patients are children.......

In addition, the conflict has brought new type of medical and surgical conditions.
Many medical items are needed, especially bandages and supplies for burns and trauma. The hospital’s windows have all been blown out or shattered from rocket and missile concussion and cold permeates the entire premises. Plastic sheeting to cover the windows could alleviate some of the cold but is unavailable now. Food supplies are scant throughout the Gaza strip and maintaining patients’ nutritional needs at the hospital has been difficult, especially for the most vulnerable. Some medicines and supplies for the hospital have been generously donated but it is impossible to delever these items....

Bishop Suheil S Dawani, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem  - for more information look at the statement on the Diocese of Jerusalem website

A voice heard in Gaza 

A voice was heard in Gaza. Wailing, weeping and great mourning. Nations weeping for Gaza’s children and would not be comforted because they are no more.

On December 23rd, 2008 on a Sydney Radio interview, I indicated that the forthcoming Christmas celebrations might not be joyous. "Why?" queried the interviewer. "Because" I replied "I feel that something is going to happen in Gaza". The interviewer's response was "you are prophesizing?" "No" I replied. "I have read the signs. The signs were clearly written on the wall." My feelings, my intuition have, tragically, proven to be right. I wish, I pray it was not so.

The besieged and beleaguered people of Gaza have been enduring the un-endurable for too long. Not just now, but for decades. Some Christian leaders remained silent. Some sadly equated the oppressed with the oppressor in their statements. None found their way to Gaza. May God have mercy.

Bishop Riah the former Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem 

Other sources: 

There is more information available on the Faith2share website - see 

* Bibles not Bullets in Gaza

* Christian leaders call for intervention in Gaza

* Diocese in Jerusalem active in Gaza crisis

See also the CMS website for more stories and resources 

 

Gaza: Love and the Enemy

written by a collegue of mine, Tannas Al Qassis,  himself Palestinian 

Anglican hospital at full stretch in Gaza

more from the Diocese about the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza 

Tour of Reconciliation

a podcast about a reconciliation tour with Tanas and Jewish colleague  Joseph Steinberg 

Orthodox Christmas Night Vigil Brookwood Monastery 6 Jan 09

S Rozhdestvom!

Happy (Orthodox) Christmas  

Icon of Nativity, 18th century 

6th January - Anglican 'Epiphany' and Russian Orthodox 'Christmas Eve'

A dozen of us went from sacred:space to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas Night Vigil Service at Brookwood monastery.  This is the home of St Edward the Martyr Orthodox Brotherhood  for 25 years a  Russian Orthodox (in Exile) monastic community now under the Greek Orthodox Synod in Resistance. 

The Church is the old Anglican Chapel of Rest at the Brookwood Cemetery,  where 'the sacred relics of St Edward the martyr are enshrined'

It was a bitingly cold, Siberian Winter's night as we entered the Chapel,  the candle-light giving a sense of warmth, without necessarily the reality.   We stood, surrounded by Icons of Saints on all walls, with that feeling that  you are participating in historic worship that goes back centuries. The monks  led the liturgy with Father Alexis presiding.  A congregation of around 40 people seemed to follow the orthodox maxim of  'come when you can , go when you must'     

It was richly, deeply colourful and atmospheric. Periodically the clergy process around the church, liberally incensing the worship space, creating the sense of the holy.  Participation is through chanting along with the liturgy, and moving to the porch for the intercessory prayer. Newcomers venerating the icons of saints and lighting candles and everyone periodically genuflecting. I enjoy worshipping in this context because of the 'otherness', that the magical sense of the transcendent. Being drawn somehow higher into an experience of Light and Goodness.   Normally when I attend an orthodox church as an outsider,  I don't understand the language, so am drawn into the spiritual experience. On this occasion the liturgy was in rapid fire English, and occasional Russian,  so I could follow the structure more easily with my mind. Somehow that got in the way. I prefer the ecstatic to the rational.   

We were not able to stay to the end, but drifted out into the cold night in smaller groups and made our way home. Pausing outside and looking back at the cold solid stone church from the snowy exterior, I felt 'strangely warmed'.   

 

Let me finish with  a prayer from 'The Shepherd: an orthodox Christian Pastoral Magazine', which was handed to me by one of the Brothers (Vol XXIX No 4 Dec 2008) 

 

FROM THE FATHERS 

This is the night of the Most Gentle One 

Let no one be cruel

This is the night of the Humble One 

Let no one be proud 

Now is the Day of Joy 

Let us not revenge 

Now if the Day of Good Will 

Let us not be mean

In this Day of Peace 

Let us not be conquered by anger 

Today the Bountiful One impoverished Himself for our sake

So , rich one, invite the poor to your table

Today we receive a Gift for which we did not ask 

So let us give alms to those who implore and beg us 

This present day cast open the heavenly doors to our prayers

Let us open our door to those who ask our forgiveness 

Today the Divine Being took upon Himself the seal of our humanity

In order for humanity to be decorated by the Seal of Divinity 

Ven. Isaac the Syrian 7th century

 

Three wise men and a donkey

A story for Epiphany !

One day some wise men, who were going about the country trying to find answers to some of the great questions of their time, came to Mulla Nasruddin's district and asked to see the wisest man in the place. Mulla Nasruddin was brought forward, and a big crowd gathered to listen.

The first wise man began by asking, "Where is the exact center of the world?"
"It is under my right heel," answered Mulla Nasruddin.
"How can you prove that?" asked the first wise man.
"If you don't believe me," answered Mulla Nasruddin, "measure and see."
The first wise man had nothing to answer to that. 

So the second wise man asked his question. "How many stars are there in the sky?" he said. "As many as there are hairs on my donkey," answered Mulla Nasruddin.
"What proof have you got of that?" asked the second wise man.
"If you don't believe me," answered Mulla Nasruddin, "count the hairs on my donkey and you will see.""That's foolish talk," said the other. "How can one count the hairs on a donkey?"
"Well," answered Mulla Nasruddin, "How can one count the stars in the sky? If one is foolish talk, so is the other." The second wise man was silent.

The third wise man was becoming annoyed with Mulla Nasruddin and his answers, so he said, "You seem to know a lot about your donkey, so can you tell me how many hairs there are in its tail?"
"Yes," answered Mulla Nasruddin. "There are exactly as many hairs in its tail as there are in your beard."
"How can you prove that?" said the other.
"I can prove it very easily," answered Mulla Nasruddin. "You can pull one hair out of my donkey's tail for every one I pull out of your beard. If the hairs on my donkey's tail do not come to an end at exactly the same time as the hairs in your beard, I will admit that I was wrong."
Of course, the third wise man was not willing to do this, so the crowd declared Mulla Nasruddin the winner of the day's arguments.

In Ramallah for funeral of poet August 08

I thought this poem from Frederica Venn was very poignant given the developments in Gaza at present. She is a community artist and spent some time in Gaza in August of last year, There is an article on her on the CMS website 'From Banksy to Bethlehem'

Avoid reading this if poetry leaves you cold! A wonderful Palestinian poet has died in America, called Mahmoud Darwish. Beautiful words from a real Master. So since he is being buried here in Ramallah I travelled here. I strongly advise reading him. Try his websites. He was born 1942.

Have a look at these 2 poems for starters: 

I come from there  and Under siege

JOURNEY TO RAMALLAH ( for the funeral of Mahmoud Darwish, Poet)

I do not smell the sea
in Palestine,
that is off limits now,
I am far from the Gaza strip.
But I taste the stones.
Rocks of the ages.
Veined with malable history,
worn by pressure
sweet as a sacred memory,
that burst fresh with colour
reverend to touch
creamy as primrose
golden as dawn
run though with chaos
rust-like to blood.
And just when you start to hunger,
soft pink seeps romance.

I travelled to Ramallah
To honour Mahmoud Darwish.
Snaking along pure greyness
observing the Wall.
mounted by silver thorns
crazed as a maze
crowning another heartbreak.
Where once there were trees,
and birds flew to visit.

My senses are reeling.
My smell is for music
an odour of angels
carrying sweet burden
that my blind eyes can not see

And what of my feelings?
Cocooned in that shell
that floats safe in water,
in harbours called home?
I am here because
I am trying to listen
I am learning to hear.
So I close with the words
the Poet,
For whence did I come,
and share.

My wings are Time.
Love is the fire of love. So catch fire
and free yourself
from the body of place