Global Action Week.
Call to Worship
Leader: God looked into emptiness and created all that is.
God spread out the earth in its diversity with mountains and valleys, rivers and fertile plains.
There were patches of flood and fire, of dryness and of vivid green,
embraced by wind and sea - a sun-filled landscape of hospitality.
And, threading through it all,
like weavings of golden hope,
were dreams of justice and compassion
and gentle streams of peace.
God gathered all peoples into community,
gave a sigh of joy
and set us free to choose our path
in a daring adventure of trust.
All: This is our God
This is the wonder of our calling in faith.
Let us worship God.
Song: Jesus is Lord
Prayer of thanksgiving and lament
Leader: As we come together across the world
and stand before the Holy God,
the voices of the people rise in lament and confession:
Voice 1: We weep, O God, for the lives of our people. We toil day and night and still our children go hungry. We sow the fields, planting your seeds of abundance and bringing in the gifts of your harvest. But this is torn from our hands and all that is left are the crumbs from tables of the rich. The gap grows wider and wider as we die from lack of health care and fall back in life without education and freedom.
Voice 2: We bow our heads in shame, O God, for our tables groan with plenty. Our only questions are about which good thing to eat, and how much is too much. We puzzle over what more we can choose to add to our clothes, our homes and our style of living. As we hear the cries of the suffering people in the distance, we know that we have betrayed your dream. We have failed to live in your just community.
Leader: Lord have mercy.
All: Christ have mercy.
Voice 1: Why have you deserted us, O God? We cry for help and you do not listen? The whole creation groans in pain with us as we wait for the children of God to emerge. Save us and help us, O Christ. Call to your children, O God.
Voice 2: O Christ, for whom each one is precious, as we look at our daily world, we know all too well that it is built on the exploitation of others. We hardly dare to see what it costs them. We turn our faces away from their weeping, always waiting for another day, another time, another political leader to act for us in the bringing in of your justice.
Leader: Lord have mercy.
All: Christ have mercy.
Leader: O God, in grief, we are waiting and longing for the life of Christ to be seen among us.
Hear our prayers, O God.
All: Hold in the hollow of your hand those who cry out to you.
Forgive those who come to you in grieving confession
and bring us all to your abundant life, we pray, O God. Amen.
We thank you, O God,
that you never let us rest in the face of injustices
like those in the world trading system.
Thanks be to God.
We thank you that you invite us to grow and change,
to face the truth and respond with decisive action.
Thanks be to God.
We thank you that you call us all
into a world community which cares and hopes,
which struggles and will not rest until your will is done.
Thanks be to God.
We thank you that you never leave us alone
on our journey towards the beauty and freedom of your reign.
Thanks be to God this day.
Amen.
Notices and Offering
Song: Colours of Day
Bible Readings
Luke 24: 13-35; Joy Park
1 Peter 1: 17-23; David Mackay
Song: Jesus Christ is waiting
Sermon:
Winding road
Everybody has a piece of music that sends them. A melody that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, and relaxes you for a minute or two. I have several, but one piece of music that I love to hear is the Beatles song: "The long and winding road!” It's a love song, a song that talks about a journey, about hopelessness and a heavy heart.
This morning we look at the reading of the two followers of Jesus, who were treading their long and winding road, back to Emmaus. This reading is like a love song, talking about a journey, about hopelessness and a heavy heart, but this song, this journey, ends with joy and celebration.
Life is a journey, long is the road. And this morning you and I tread that road. It begins with birth, and for most of us that means being surrounded by love and warmth, being protected and having a sense of belonging. The road continues with many obstacles and bends, many trials and temptations. Life is indeed a long and winding road that stretches out before us. We do not know what lies around the corner; we don't know what tomorrow has in store for us.
But as Christians we know that Jesus is walking along side. Or do we?
Road to Emmaus
On reading these very familiar verses from Luke 24, verse 16 kept jumping out at me. Let's just take another look, commencing at verse 15 "As they talked and discussed these things with each other Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; BUT THEY WERE KEPT FROM RECOGNISING HIM."
This caused me to ask the question; Are there times when Jesus actually prevents us from seeing his presence with us. Are there times in our life when Jesus is very close at hand, and yet he chooses us not to see him there?
My own thought would be that Jesus should have immediately comforted his friends, when he saw how downcast they were, and how hopeless the situation was, he could have put them out of all their misery by revealing his identify to them and confirming these "rumours" that he had Risen. He could then have explained about the scriptures and shared a meal with them.
Surely this would have been what a "friend" would do? But, it would appear that Christ actually allowed them a time of suffering before sharing his glory with them.
His reasons for this may have been many and varied, but the fact remains that Jesus was with them, even at their time of deep despair, and he choose to share their sadness. Yes he held the truth, and answer to their problems - but he wanted to show wanted them look and see and to recognise him for themselves.
empathy
When I trained as a counsellor there was a large element of training entitled "sitting in the darkness" (actually for the sake of this sermon that is what I have called it, it was actually sitting in the something else!" )
The whole idea was that when you meet with someone who is going through a dark time, when things don't quite fit anymore, when logic and reason have gone out the window - the first thing you have to do endeavour is share their situation as much as possible, so that full empathy can be experienced. Why, you may ask - well it's all part of understanding, seeing and feeling for another, encountering their pain and from their point of weakness accompanying them out of this slowly and with love and sympathy.
It takes time, it takes patience. It is in fact very costly. To walk alongside someone at a time of pain and alienation -be they a friend, partner, parent or client - required commitment and respect. This is what Christ gave to his friends on the Emmaus Road.
If we really want to be involved in help and change of our world - we firstly need to listen to the cries of those who are hurting. What are the voices from the broken world? What is their experience? Can we feel their pain?
Ugandan Farmer
Voice 1: I am Emmanuel Mubiru, a coffee farmer from Uganda. The world price for coffee is at a historic low. I am becoming poorer and poorer. My house is falling down, and I am struggling to keep my children in school.
Fiona Black
Voice 2: I am Fiona Black, working for the dairy industry in Jamaica. Dairy farmers are crying out for help. Export subsidies are killing the developing countries. Jamaican farmers are pleading with you.
Ghana woman
Voice 3: I am Hawa Amadu, a landlady in Ghana. My country's water has been sold as a condition for aid. Foreign companies now control the water supply. Sometimes I will go without food so my grandchildren can have water.
South American farmer
Voice 4: I am Vicente Gomez Gutierrez, a smallscale farmer in Mexico. Our hope is nothing more than this - to be able to sell our crops for a reasonable price so that we have enough to eat. We don't ask for anything else.
Vietnam child
Voice 5: I am Xuyen, a four-year old child in Vietnam and I have AIDS. Because international trade rules impose patents on drugs, my government cannot afford to treat me or even give me basic antibiotics. I died while this service was being written.
Travelling together
Jesus saw the distress of Cleopas and his companion, and draw along side and travelled with them. He heard their pain, he saw their sorrow, and he listened to their story.
Jesus wanted to share their sadness, which was very real to them at that moment in time. In fact, Jesus even encouraged them to re-live the events of the past few days by asking them the specific question, "What things?" (Tell me what things are making you so downcast?)
Jesus didn't deal with the problem at face value, he wanted to go deeper, he wanted to know the whole situation, he wanted to really share their pain, by going back there with them in their thoughts, and making them face up to their feelings of deep despair, loss and grief.
As the people of God we to are called to hear the stories of pain from our world, our society, and to experience this pain experienced by fellow humanity. This week of Global action on Trade challenged us to listen to these stories, but not just to walk away after we have listened, but to be involved in the solutions.
After Jesus had shared their sadness, he didn't just leave them there, actually, it would appear that he was quite agitated, when he said; "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!"
Here we see real empathy exercised. Jesus heard their pain, and it made him angry and agitated. Listen to this story: what does it to you?
Burkina Faso woman
My name is Fati Dare and I am 47 years old and have seven children. I farm rice in Burkina Faso but unjust international trade rules mean the price I get isn’t fair.
I live in a small hut – about five by three metres in size. Within these four mud walls, I cook, eat and sleep, along with nine others. There are no beds – just a few straw mats. There is no wardrobe – but a few clothes hang on a piece of string strung between two corners of the room. There is no kitchen – but a few baskets and bowls serve to store grain, and by the door a pot balances precariously above embers on the edge of two stones.
In 1996 the World Bank insisted that Burkina Faso open up (or ‘liberalise’) its rice sector. This meant that the government had to stop providing support to rice farmers and could not intervene to affect the price of rice in any way. As a result, rice from Asia has flooded the market and is sold at low prices. Burkina Faso’s rice farmers like myself cannot compete and struggle to make a living these days.
Suffering
To journey along the Emmaus road of pain with people means entering into their story, sharing their burdens and doing something to bring about change for the better.
But Jesus wanted to show Cleopas and his friend the truth. The truth would hold the key to their freedom. Hard lessons had to be learned before change could take place and the time of rejoicing, could be encountered.
Trade action
I believe that at this time in history some hard lessons are being learned in our society, by our governments, in our churches. These hard lessons help us to realise that we have a part to play in bringing about change - all of us, have a part to play in being resurrection people.
Injustice in global trade lies at the heart of the inequality in our world today. Trade rules are a key factor in deciding who is rich and poor, and whether our environment is protected or spoilt. They affect people’s lives, livelihoods and habitats and they are grossly unfair. These are hard lessons to learn, but as Cleopas and his companion heard the truth from Christ - we too must hear the true facts and be challenged to work for changed as a result of them.
Forgive O Lord, our indifference to the needs of others.
Our thoughtlessness and self-interest.
How easy it is to forget, when we are loading our trolleys in the supermarket that others toil to bring us our daily food.
Forgive O Lord, our voracious appetites for some thing new, regardless of where it comes from, and who produces it.
The unrealistic prices we pay, and the subsidies we expect.
Forgive O Lord, that we do not equate the results of our own self interest with the plight of so many producers who live in poverty.
Forgive O Lord, when we turn our heads and pretend we do not see.
Wrong way
We don’t know how long Jesus walked with the Emmaus disciples, but maybe for a long time. One thing to note is that the whole gospel of Luke is oriented toward Jesus and his disciples heading towards Jerusalem. Jerusalem to Luke is the focal point in the story, and here we see the two disciples are heading the wrong direction away from Jerusalem. But Jesus walks with them, even when they are going the wrong way. Jesus doesn’t try to turn them around, but when the truth lights them up, they run back to Jerusalem.
At this time in our world history, when it appears as if we too are going the wrong way, moving away from Gods plan for justice, and grace - Jesus travels with us still.
This may be just for you this morning if you feel you have made wrong decisions, are heading in a direction you are not certain is the right choice - even now Jesus travels with you. When you are discouraged or distraught Jesus wants to share your story. The Emmaus story offers insight, no matter which way one is headed.
For Cleopas and his friends this story ends with joy unbounded, energy that allows them to almost fly back to Jerusalem, and contentment and certainty that changed their lives.
On this week of Global Action on Trade we simply keep on the journey for change. As I said, it’s a long journey, empathy is costly, and listening is tiring, change doesn’t come easily - But Jesus travels with us, His gospel of good news ever with us bringing release to the captives, sight to the blind, and allowing the oppressed to run free all the way to Jerusalem. Amen.
Song: Filled with compassion
Intercession:
Olive Garrard - sudden death of her friend Ina Robertson. Thank you for our friends, for what they bring tour lives, and how they make us who we are. Father bless Olive and Ira's family, and all who mourn at this time. May your comfort and peace be theirs.
Royal Wedding - blessing on Charles and Camilla at this new beginning (Thank you that you are a God of new beginnings, forgiveness, reconciliation and love)
As we remember with the Roman Catholic Church the life and influence of Pope John Paul II we thank you for those who have lived the live of faith and have not been afraid to stand up and be people of change in this world.
Give us, O Lord, churches that will be more courageous then cautious;
that will not merely "comfort the afflicted" but "afflict the comfortable";
that will not only love the world but also demand justice;
that will not remain silent when people are calling for a voice;
that will not pass by on the other side when wounded humanity is waiting to be healed;
that will not only call us to worship but also send us out to witness;
that will follow Christ even when the way points to a Cross.
To this end we offer ourselves in the name of him who loved us and gave himself for us.
© Christian Conference of Asia
Song:
New song from URC written for this Sunday
"God, whose people cry with yearning" - Tune Rhuddlan
Blessing and the Grace
O Lord Christ, who became poor that we might be rich,
deliver us from a comfortable conscience if we believe or intend
that others should be poor that we might be rich;
for in God's economy, no one is expendable.
Grant us instead the riches of love.
© World Alliance of Reformed Churches