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unitebostonKeymaster
It’s not just Halloween – I also want to wish you Happy #ReformationDay!
It’s the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses in Wittenburg, Germany. This eventually gave rise to what has become known as the Protestant Reformation, which changed the world forever.
As of today, a year of events worldwide has begun to herald growing cooperation between Protestants and Catholics: http://www.wittenberg2017.us/
UniteBoston is joining into this vision for a reconciled Church by hosting nightly prayer gatherings throughout Boston with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on January 18-25, and coordinating a city-wide day of community service on May 6, 2016.
Pope Francis encourages Christians worldwide in the following: “While theologians continue their dialogue in the doctrinal sphere, continue insistently to seek opportunities to meet each other, to get to know each other better, to pray together and to offer your help to each other and to all those who are in need. In this way, freed of every prejudice and trusting only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that announces peace and reconciliation, you will be true protagonists of a new season in this journey that, with God’s help, will lead to full communion. I assure you of my prayer, and ask you, please to, pray for me, as I am in need. Thank you.”
Truly, the irresistible purpose of Jesus is that we might return to a united universal Church. Here are more of the principles posted by Wittenberg 2017:
1. The irresistible purpose of Jesus is to return to a united Church universal.
2. The current reality is that the Church universal is divided – in heart, purpose, thinking, and organizational structures.
- a. Each division has a story.
- b. Every division brings pain to God’s heart.
- c. No division can be simply “undone.”
- d. Any division can be healed and reconciled with the power of God.
3. Division weakens the Church universal.
- a. Jesus said, “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.” (Luke 11:17) We certainly don’t believe that the kingdom of God is ruined or will fall, but do believe that Jesus’ principle is clear: division weakens.
- b. St. Paul said, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good … there should be no division in the body.” (1 Cor. 12:7,26)
- c. Externally imposed sameness also weakens the Church. St. Paul also said, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit … Now the body is not made up of one part but of many … in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?” (1 Cor. 12:4, 20, 24-25) Manmade uniformity is not the same as God-inspired organic unity. As opposed to division and uniformity, which both weaken the church, diversity strengthens and enriches the Church.
- d. Jesus tells his diverse group of disciples, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Then Jesus prays “that they may be one even as we are one … that the world may know” (John 17:23). Thus Jesus ties the need for unity to the credibility of the Church’s witness. In our day, the divisions in His Church are a commonly cited reason to doubt Jesus and His message.
- e. There is cause for great hope! The New Testament addresses division (between the Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus) and presents the Christ-centered model for transforming division into a reconciled diversity. “His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Ephesians 2:15-16, see also Acts 15:1-35).
4. The Church universal should feel the pain of her divisions and grieve them.
- a. Grieving is a public posture of lament before God.
- b. Grieving requires memory.
- c. Grieving requires emotion.
- d. Jesus grieved the division of people of Jerusalem, longing to “gather their children together.” (Matt 23:37) Does he not also grieve the division among his followers and long to gather us together?
- e. Grieving does not solve the problem of division. It recognizes the gravity of that problem, and presents it to God the Father for His solution.
- f. Grieving does not dishonor people or traditions.
5. The Church universal should pray for reconciliation and unity.
- a. Jesus did it. (John 17)
- b. St. Paul did it. (Romans 15:5-6)
- c. The Church historically has done it. For example, the following prayer is from the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours:
- Lord, hear the prayers of your people and bring the hearts of believers together in your praise and in common sorrow for their sins. Heal all divisions among Christians that we may rejoice in the perfect unity of your Church and move together as one to eternal life in your kingdom.
- d. In our day the Holy Spirit is inspiring a mighty wave of worship and prayer. Much of this prayer is directed towards asking God to heal the wounds of the Church and create a united body of Christ.
- e. Prayer requires faith, not ingenious solutions. A seemingly unsolvable problem is not unprayable. Prayer about such subjects is the glory of the Church, because it requires faith and a reliance on the power of God. Prayer asking God to unify His Church is prayer about a problem that cannot be solved by a clever idea, a charismatic leader, or a carefully thought out program. It must be God, or it will not happen.
- f. Jesus came to restore relationships – our relationship with the Father, and also our relationships with one another – “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13). When we pray with sincere hearts, God will show us our part in the process of restoration. Our response will require the good and hard work of repentance and reconciliation. This will take place person to person, leader to leader, group to group, faction to faction, church to church, culture to culture, and ultimately one historic stream of the Church to other historic streams of the Church. In this process, we repent for the sins of our own faith stream, not the streams of others. We honor other faith streams.
- g. Christian unity is a natural outcome of Christ-likeness. As we mature in Christ-likeness, we mature in our capacity to celebrate and strengthen diversity; prevent diversity from becoming division; and take steps towards healing the divisions that are damaging the Church. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)
unitebostonKeymasterThe Presidential election is right around the corner! We encourage all Christians to pray for the leaders of our country, and prayerfully consider how your faith in Christ informs your vote.
Samuel Adams said, “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote … he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”
Additionally, 1 Timothy 2 states “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
The MyFaithVotes.org website is a great resource for information about party platforms.
Whatever your emotions are leading up to the election, I’d encourage you to read author Max Lucado’s blog about his prediction for November 9th. He encourages us to remember God’s sovereignty and that, regardless of the outcome, “Our good God rules the world.”
The Emmanuel Gospel Center suggests that we pray for the Church in Boston during this election season; and that there will be a display of love and unity among Christians even in the midst of disagreement. Pray that we can promote peace, compassion, and justice that transcends political parties. Pray for healthy dialogue that concerns kingdom values, and not just American values.
The Archdiocese of Boston encourages everyone to vote NO on #4. The Archdiocese is particularly concerned about the serious risks to youth that would follow enactment of this proposed law. We feel an obligation to do all that we can to prevent this from occurring. Click here for more resources, including a statement from Mass Medical Society, Massachusetts Chiefs of Police, and other organizations, who strongly oppose #4.
Additionally, the Massachusetts Council of Churches have provided a few some resources to help Massachusetts voters:
Ecumenical Ballot Question Guide
The Massachusetts Council of Churches have created this guide to be honest, specific, and to present the best in each side.
Prayer Services for Election Eve and Election Day –
Resource from the Massachusetts Council of Churches
As November 8 approaches, consider holding a prayer service in your community. The Disciples of Christ Council on Christian Unity has developed this beautiful Liturgy for an Ecumenical Prayer Service for Election Day or Eve. This communion liturgy might be useful to you in planning worship for November 6 or 13 as well.
Here are prayer services taking place in the Greater Boston area; check back with the Massachusetts Council of Churches’ Facebook page for an updated list, or email info@uniteboston.com to add your service here!
ArlingtonMonday 11/7 Election Eve Prayer, 7pm at Covenant ChurchBoston
Tuesday, 11/8 Taizé Services 8:30 AM, 12:10 PM and 5:30 PM Trinity Church in the City of Boston
Brookline
Tuesday, 11/8 7:00 AM All Saints
Tuesday, 11/8 12:00 PM Church of Our Saviour
Tuesday, 11/8 8:00 PM St. Paul’sCambridge
Monday 11/7, at Christ Church:
-8am: Morning Prayer Service of Trust
-12pm: Midday Prayer Service of Silence and Intercession
-5:15pm: Evening Prayer Service of Repentance and Deliverance
-6pm: Contemplative Prayer Service of Silence and Intercession 6pmTuesday 11/8 at Christ Church:
8am: Morning Prayer Service of Unity and ReconciliationTuesday 11/8 – 9am to 8pm at Reservoir Church – Day of Prayer
Lexington
Monday, 11/7 7:00 PM Church of Our Redeemer
Medford
Monday, 11/7 7:00 PM Grace Episcopal Church
Waltham
Monday, 11/7 6:30 PM (communion) Christ Church
Watertown
Monday, 11/7 7:00 PM (interfaith service) Church of the Good Shepherd, Watertown
Finally, the Episcopal bishops in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts call for a vigil period of intense prayer from noon on All Saints Sunday, Nov. 6 through noon on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8.
October 28, 2016 at 11:39 am in reply to: WEE Forum: Moral Injuries of War Through the Eyes of a Christian #7813unitebostonKeymasterPlease see below for 4 & 14 minute video summaries of the Institute for Christian Unity’s WEE Forum of this past May.
The forum was entitled, ‘The Moral Injuries of War Through the Eyes of a Christian’. Those who attended were moved by the stark and penetrating presentation of Eric Fair.
Eric is an author, Army veteran and former contract interrogator in Iraq. Eric’s presentation included reflections on his time at Abu Ghraib in Iraq and the impact of this experience on his Christian faith.
4 min:14 min version:unitebostonKeymasterHey! UniteBoston is one of the supporting ministries for an upcoming conference on October 27th called “The Regenerative Sabbath.”
Check out this article from “The Pilot,” where Rev. Dr. Rodney Peterson says, “What’s exciting about this is the way Catholics and Evangelicals and Orthodox and all sorts of Christians are working together to uphold the fundamental commandment to keep holy the Sabbath.”
Come and join us for this month’s UniteBoston meetup! RSVP to UB Meetup through the Facebook event and by emailing Kelly kelly@uniteboston.com so you can find our group!
unitebostonKeymasterUniteBoston nurtures relational connections throughout Boston’s Christian community. Save the date for these upcoming events that we’re planning for the year!
- December 8: “UniteBoston: Let’s Do it!” party, Paulist Center downtown, 6:30 to 8:30pm. We’ll have a live band, food, and fun activities. Please plan to attend!
- January 18-25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, with worship gatherings reflecting the diversity of the body of Christ throughout Boston. Do you know any churches who would like to host for this? We’re beginning to recruit for this…
- May 6: BostonServe, where we are coordinating collaborative service projects and encouraging every church to serve together in their neighborhood
- May 21-29: Taize Pilgrimage of Trust gathering in St. Louis focused around racial reconciliation; A large group of Boston people are going; some of us will be doing a running relay to get there!
Finally, in November we’re going to be giving away Amazon gift cards to people who tell their friends to sign up for the UB newsletter. Stay tuned for more info about that!Thanks for your commitment to Jesus and His Church throughout the city. Please email kelly@uniteboston.com if you have any questions or feedback for us. God is up to great things in Boston!unitebostonKeymaster10 Days is an annual opportunity for the Body of Christ in our city to step away from normal routines of daily life and enter into a consecrated time of experiencing God together through worship, prayer, fasting, and fellowship. It’s a way for all the believers to unite with Jesus at the center. It’s rooted in the 10 Days between the biblical Feasts of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement.33 other cities around the nation (and now in Africa as well) will be joining with us in these days of fasting and prayer. We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to come together in unity around the person of Jesus Christ! Let’s be an answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17. It’s time to come together and call upon God to pour out God’s Spirit over our city!10 Days in BostonLocation: Lion of Judah (20 Reed St. Boston MA–4th floor of new Sanctuary)Come and join us to pray 24 hours a day between Sunday, Oct 2 at 7pm to Friday, October 7 at 11pm.
Click here to view the schedule for worship & prayer leaders.As always, 10 Days is a city-wide event. We’re looking for the participation of Christian communities around the city ofBoston.More info about 10 Days Boston can be found on their website, or contact Aaron Reeves with any questions: 10daysboston@gmail.com
Restore: October 12 at the Moody Campus (1 Moody St. Northfield MA)Restore is something of a New England church family reunion. We’ll begin with a picnic lunch at the Northfield campus at 11, with historic tours, worship, and workshops beginning at 11:30. Don’t miss the main event starting at 3pm with representatives from the six-state region! Plan ahead to take the day off work and enjoy the drive in the midst of beautiful fall foliage!
Take the day, and join us for a NE Church “Family Reunion”. You can read more at 10days.net/restore or watch any of these five videos
October 12 Schedule: (1 Moody St. Northfield, MA)
11-3pm: Workshops, Revival history tours, Picnic Lunch, Worship (some food will be provided, but bring something as well)
3pm-6:30: Restore Convocation in the 2,500 person Moody Auditorium! (No registration, no cost)
September 11, 2016 at 8:44 am in reply to: Preparing for the Reformation Commemoration: Conversation Groups #7563unitebostonKeymaster[caption id="attachment_7564" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Photo and Graphics: Empower MissionsDigna Reklambyrå[/caption]
Last fall, Bishop Jim Hazelwood and Cardinal Sean O’Malley announced preparations for a mutual observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. This participates in the worldwide observance, to be initiated October 31, 2016 by Pope Francis and Bishop Munib Younan, President of the Lutheran World Federation. Locally, along with worship and service projects, Cardinal Sean and Bishop Jim encouraged us to participate in ecumenical discussion groups, saying:
…We seek to witness together to the world. One aspect of this witness is in caring for God’s good creation. Pope Francis’ encyclical On Care for Our Common Home provides a timely opportunity for Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and all our ecumenical partners to gather in small groups to read and discuss it together in an atmosphere of prayer and common faith. We encourage all to do so. Such a time of study, prayer, and ecumenical fellowship will serve as a worthy preparation for our mutual observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.
Over the next year and a half, the commemoration planning team would like to encourage and support congregations in forming such groups not only in the Boston Archdiocese but all across New England. Some congregations, such as St. John Lutheran in Sudbury, MA, have already studied the Pope’s encyclical. Others are beginning to plan for next year’s programs and may choose a different document to study. Whatever approach is chosen, these discussion groups can be a starting point for joint activities including shared acts of service and, in the fall of 2017, a culminating worship experience.
If you would like to join the conversation, here are some ways to get started:
- Contact leaders of nearby congregations, share the bishops’ letter, and invite them to co-lead a study group with you.
- Choose the location. Will one congregation host? Or is there a public setting available, such as a coffee shop, library or pub? Perhaps a non-church setting will make the group feel more balanced and welcoming even to people not from our congregations.
- Set dates. Joint study such as this could make for a wonderful Lenten activity for 2017!
- Select a text to read together. Suggested options include:
On Care for our Common Home. Pope Francis’ encyclical will certainly be an engaging option with which Christians of all kinds will find common ground.
The Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ). This document from 1999 presents a shared consensus between Lutherans and Roman Catholics on the central issue of the reformation.
From Conflict to Communion. This book explores the themes and history of the reformation and explores the work of recent decades in reconciling our two churches.
(All three resources are available for free online and for purchase at Amazon.com and other retailers. Additional resources are listed below.)
- Invite and advertise! Depending on your setting and the text you choose, don’t forget to include other ecumenical partners and the non-church neighbors in your community!
- Share what you are doing! Besides using social media, please also share your plans and stories with our planning team so that we can celebrate this as a region-wide, mutual observance. (You can share your plans by sending them to Pastor Andrew Heisen at pastor_mtolivet@townisp.com. He will be compiling a list of all congregations taking part.)
Hopefully, this cross-congregational opportunity will enrich all of our churches, help us discover common ground, and lead us into other aspects of our mutual observance including joint service projects and liturgical observances – so as to demonstrate our unity through baptism in Christ.
For example, please save the date for New England CityServe, which will take place on May 6, 2017. This initiative will be hosted by UniteBoston, where churches all across the region will be coming together to identify shared missional goals to serve their neighborhoods. The committee is also planning a joint liturgical gathering in Boston for Fall 2017 along with materials for use in local gathering with your local neighbors.
For more information:
More information regarding this and other reformation observances in New England can be found at the website of the Institute for Christian Unity at http://www.instituteforchristianunity.org.
The Commemoration Planning Team would love to hear from you to listen to your ideas and answer questions. We can be reached through Pastor Andrew Heisen of the ELCA at pastor_mtolivet@townisp.com and Dr. Vito Nicastro, Associate Director, Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Archdiocese of Boston, at vito_nicastro@rcab.org.
Additional Resources for Discussion:
ELCA social statement on environment: http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Statements/Caring-for-Creation?_ga=1.195392044.149268272.1454101160
ELCA Bishop’s response to encyclical: http://www.elca.org/Resources/Presiding-Bishop-Messages?_ga=1.259436810.149268272.1454101160
Declaration on the Way, From Conflict to Communion Study Guide, JDDJ and other resources: http://www.elca500.org/articles-and-publications/
“Lutherans Restoring Creation Study Guide” http://www.lutheransrestoringcreation.org/Home/highlights/laudato-si—lutheran-study-guide
Study Guide from Archdiocese of Washington: http://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Laudato-Si-Study-Guide.pdf
unitebostonKeymasterChristian unity–the unity of the Church–comes in more than one stripe. Most often, when Christian unity is discussed, the conversation regards the unity, or desired unity, of the great church communities, traditions, denominations.
But there is another Christian unity–another unity of the Church–equal to or greater than the unity of church communities, and that is the Christian unity of colors, races and ethnicities.
Last summer, in New York City, an evangelistic outreach was held, and, as part of the outreach, there was a concert in Times Square. Matt Redman and his band performed (see below link) and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a color, race or ethnicity not represented in this moving and inspiring moment on behalf of the living Christ.
Enjoy!
Re-posted with permission from Matt Crane, Institute for Christian Unity, http://www.instituteforchristi
anunity.org/?p=466 September 2, 2016 at 10:41 am in reply to: Prayer Gathering Unites Christians in Boston Common #7514unitebostonKeymasterLast Tuesday, approximately 3,400 people gathered to pray for our Massachusetts and our nation at the Franklin Graham 2016 Decision America tour. This initiative is bringing together people of all backgrounds to pray at all of the state capitols, and Tuesday marked the 39th stop of their tour.
Click on this link to see photos from the gathering.
[caption id="attachment_7515" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Photo credit: decisionamericatour.com[/caption]
unitebostonKeymasterOur friends at the Emmanuel Gospel Center were featured on an article on Movement Day! Movement Day is a catalytic event designed to transform the world’s cities by focusing on impacting today’s urban issues through the Gospel, and collaborative leadership.
The article mentions how committed ministry leaders in Boston are to Christian unity: “Many of Boston’s denominational and church leaders are passionate about unity and are sharing life and discipleship across orthodox, pentecostal, catholic and evangelical congregations. In fact, many churches blend the best from various church traditions. This is a trend that is taking traction in other cities, and Boston will surely provide fascinating models for unity.”
Praise God! Click on the graphic below to read the full article.
http://movementday.com/boston-a-city-radical-in-the-best-way/
unitebostonKeymasterWe have big news – we were just featured on the Paulist Fathers “Koinonia” newsletter! The text is posted below, or you can check it out by clicking on the link here
UniteBoston: Recognizing the Family of God
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="738"] UniteBoston Reps Team[/caption]
By Kelly Steinhaus
August 2, 2016“These are my brothers and sisters!”
I hear this sentiment expressed repeatedly from individuals attending events affiliated with our up-and-coming ecumenical organization in Boston called UniteBoston. UniteBoston’s mission is to build relational connections throughout the diversity of Boston’s Christian community. There are many differences separating Christians, but with UniteBoston we focus on the shared faith practices that bring us together: worship, prayer, and missional service to the city.
While we are a large network now, with strong relationships in the Catholic, Evangelical, Mainline Protestant, and Orthodox communities, starting a non-profit organization was never our intent. Rather, a group of young people and I noticed that there were so many great things happening around churches in the city, but little infrastructure to connect the events that were taking place with the people that might be interested in attending.
To address this, in September 2010, we started sending out weekly “UniteBoston” email newsletters with information about the various Christian events taking place in the city. Within a couple of months, over 1,000 people had added themselves to the newsletter! Additionally, a lot of local interest was emerging, and a leadership team began to form. Soon, the newsletter became overloaded with information submitted from the community, so we raised funds and built a website.
Over the next few years, UniteBoston continued to grow, eventually becoming a 501c3 non-profit in July 2012. In addition to our weekly Christian events newsletter, UniteBoston hosts monthly “meetup” events to build community and encourage people to go beyond their denominational walls to discover all that God is doing in Boston. During Lent last year, we coordinated a “Holy Week Pilgrimage,” which highlighted various worship services that were already taking place in the city. Two young men attended an Orthodox service for the first time on Good Friday, and were astounded by how they resonated with the liturgy.
Additionally, UniteBoston loves to see Christians come together to serve the city. We have a team of “UniteBoston Reps” who are working to build relationships with pastors and city leaders within specific neighborhoods in Boston. The UB Reps meet monthly as a collaborative “think tank” of God’s work in the city, and they mobilize churches together to discern a collaborative shared missional project for their neighborhood communities. We had our first BostonServe day last October, and we’re gearing up for a CityServe day on May 6, 2017 in conjunction with Catholics and Lutherans throughout New England who are coming together to commemorate the 500thanniversary of the Reformation. Truly, God is up to great things in Boston!
Throughout these initial years of our ministry, I have begun to discover something significant about ecumenism: While the Internet can be a powerful tool to bring Christians together, the real work of Christian unity comes down to relationships, which cultivate agape love between brothers and sisters in Christ. It was not until I sat down with brothers and sisters from other denominations and ethnic groups that God began to reveal my underlying biases and partiality towards my own tradition’s worship practices. Through my new friendships, God began to break down my boxes of how I understood Christ’s Church and God’s work in the world. This continues to be true for our leaders and participants in UniteBoston’s events – we’re discovering that Christ’s family is much bigger than we initially imagined!
In coming together across our differences, God does an incredible work in our hearts. We begin to identify ourselves primarily not as Catholic or Lutheran, for example, but as pilgrims on a journey following Jesus Christ. Our denominational distinctions matter, and they matter profoundly – but our differences come to be understood not as barriers for others to enter into my one “right” understanding of God, but rather as beautiful displays of the multifaceted heart of God. I am beginning to see that unity is a process by which the church is brought to maturity (Eph 4:13).
In light of the recent racially-charged events plaguing our nation, I lament with the families that have been affected with this violence and the reality of racial discrimination and injustice within our communities. Jesus models loving those who are difficult to love, and Jesus’ call to love our neighbor must be stronger than our innate tendency to fear and hate those who are different than us.
People in the world are searching for a vision of hope and transcendence beyond what they see. What they are looking for is found in the Church, as Christ’s work on the cross has fully destroyed the dividing walls of hostility (Eph 2:14.) Indeed, we are called to embody this ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:19). However, if people look at the Church and only see us in tension with one another, then how can they believe that our message is about love? Ultimately, it’s as we embody Christ’s message of reconciliation that we will regain our ability to act in healing ways in situations that the world is wrestling with.
In addition to directing UniteBoston, Kelly Steinhaus is also studying urban ministry at Boston’s campus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She lives in Brookline and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and bicycling.
unitebostonKeymasterOn May 19th, the Emmanuel Gospel Center partnered with Vision New England and the Louis Palau Association to host the first New England City Forum.Please click on this link to see the report, which includes pictures, videos, and links to handouts, slides and a summary of topics discussed. Feel free to share this report with your networks.[caption id="attachment_7262" align="aligncenter" width="1191"] Photo Credit: Emmanuel Gospel Center[/caption]
A second New England City Forum is tentatively scheduled for February 16, 2017 in Worcester, so mark your calendars!
July 12, 2016 at 12:26 pm in reply to: Boston Churches Respond to Racial Violence and Injustice #7219unitebostonKeymasterDarkness cannot drive out darkness;
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate;
only love can do that.
Hate multiplies hate,
violence multiplies violence,
and toughness multiplies toughness
in a descending spiral of destruction….
The chain reaction of evil —
hate begetting hate,
wars producing more wars —
must be broken,
or we shall be plunged
into the dark abyss of annihilation.
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Strength To Love, 1963The racially-charged events that have taken place the past two weeks are dizzying… Alton Sterling and Philando Castile killed during altercations with police officers, followed by a sniper killing five police officers in Dallas, Texas. Then, yesterday, police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota.
In the wake of this violence, how do we as Christians respond?
It is right to be angry about the events, but we cannot lash out against others in our anger or fear. There is no one physical enemy we should be pointing to and we certainly shouldn’t be fighting against the innocent. Our tone as Christians must be peaceful instead of adversarial. We need to remember that it is symptomatic of deep human brokenness.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="531"] Mayor Marty Walsh and Police Commissioner William Evans joined hands in prayer at Morningstar Baptist Church. Image Credit: Boston Globe[/caption]
One of the best things that we can do is to come together and pray for peace, remembering the model that Jesus shows us and His work on the cross that has reconciled us together beyond our differences. A gathering at Twelfth Baptist Church last week brought together more than 50 pastors and ministry leaders for a powerful time of prayer. Another Boston Globe article indicated that this was “not an ordinary Sunday.” Additionally, Forest Hills Covenant Church is one of several churches setting aside this Wednesday, July 13, as a day of fasting and prayer. You are invited to join them for a Service of Prayer, Lament and Worship this Wednesday evening at 7pm in Jamaica Plain. Also, Rev. Liz Walker is having a special gathering at Roxbury Presbyterian this Thursday evening on our collective sense of grief and trauma as we struggle for hope. Additionally, I’d encourage you to listen to Rob Surratt’s sermon entitled “It’s Time to Mourn for our Nation” that he shared at River of Life Church last Sunday. Finally, click on this link to hear Pastor Bruce Wall, Pastor Bryan Wilkerson and Pastor Jua Robinson discuss race in America with Boston Praise Radio.
Insights from national leaders on a recent conference call around racial justice emphasize that people need to hold in tension two complex narratives, one related to violence against young black men and the other related to violence against police officers. It is difficult for many people to do this, but an appropriate response requires that both of these narratives be heard and explored. They also recommended that to overcome fear we need to first communicate unto understanding, out of understanding comes respect, and respect trust. When and only when we have established understanding, respect, and trust, can genuine communication occur. Such communication overcomes fear and ignorance.
Pray With Us:
Here at UniteBoston, we are weeping with the events that have taken place this past week and the reality of racial discrimination and injustice within our nation. Please join with us in praying this powerful prayer of lament from a pastor in Kansas City, Brian Zahnd:
Jesus, we sit with you in lament for the land.
We lament the long history of injustice that has been upon this land.
We weep for the Native Americans who were killed and driven from their land.
We weep for the African slaves who were sold and suffered in this land.
We weep for Native Americans who continue to suffer injustice in this land.
We weep for African Americans who continue to suffer injustice in this land.
We weep for the families of black men who have been unjustly killed.
We weep for the families of police officers slain while keeping the peace.
We weep for our children growing up in this violent land.
But while we weep, lament, and repent…
We do not give in to despair.
We look to God, for our hope is in God.
The psalmist said, “The meek shall inherit the land.”
Jesus, you said, “The meek shall inherit the earth.”
Lord, teach us to be meek and trusting, not greedy and clutching.
Jesus, you bless those who hunger and thirst for justice.
We have a deep ache in the pit of our belly;
We have a searing thirst deep in our soul—
For this wounded land to see justice and be made whole.
But we don’t know exactly what to do—
So Jesus, we sit with you.
We sit with you to see the deep truth—
That God is love. And…
There is no them, there is only us.Other good articles:
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/33022/nine-provocative-reads-on-race-equity-and-urbanism/ – by Aimee Custis
What shootings and racial justice mean for the Body of Christ – by Russell Moore
After the shootings, Dallas clergy will pray, then advocate for change – by Adelle Banks
Time for white churches to speak out about police shootings – by David Waters
July 10, 2016 at 3:37 pm in reply to: “He Called All to Unity” – The Holy and Great Council of 2016 #7210unitebostonKeymasterFrom June 19th to the 26th, bishops from Orthodox Christian Churches around the world gathered together on a scale that has not been matched for over 1,000 years. This week, our blog is written by UniteBoston Rep Jason Oneida, who updates us on the decisions made at the Pan-Orthodox Great and Holy Council and its worldwide witness towards Christian unity.
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From June 19th to the 26th, bishops from Orthodox Christian Churches around the world gathered together on a scale that has not been matched for over 1,000 years. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople issued the invitation for Orthodox bishops everywhere to come together for a great, holy council. The goal of the united body of hierarchs was to advance work their predecessors began generations ago. Over 340 bishops responded to the call and met His All-Holiness at the Orthodox Academy on the island of Crete in Greece. These bishops accompanied their Primate, or leader, in delegations representing their respective local church. Of the fourteen autonomous Orthodox Churches in the world, united by God through common faith and sacramental grace, ten were represented at the council.
The work of organizing the council began in 1930 with a preparatory council that drafted a list of 17 topics for discussion. The 17 topics were combined and reduced down to six through additional pre-conciliar conferences between 1961 and 2015. Unanimity—the ability for all Churches to come to a common mind and witness—was the primary criteria for selecting the topics covered at the Great and Holy Council of 2016. The capability of coming to unanimous decisions was carefully crafted through years of dialog before the council began. Such careful planning allowed the Church to issue resolutions with an authoritative voice backed by all the participating bishops. As a result, one of the primary outputs from the Holy and Great Council was six joint statements on the following topics: the importance of fasting and its practice, the relation of the Orthodox Church to the rest of the Christian world, the mission of the Orthodox Church in today’s world, the sacrament of marriage, and organization of multinational councils of bishops throughout the world.
A gathering so long in the making surely begs a simple, powerful question: what does the council’s work mean for us? In particular, how does it speak to Christian ministry in the greater Boston area? The Great and Holy Council provides reinforcement to Unite Boston’s mission for unity and a guide for future ministry endeavors.
The Great and Holy Council embodied Jesus’ call for unity among all people in its mission statement, organization, and very nature. It is no coincidence that the council was chosen to begin during the Orthodox Christian celebration of Pentecost. And it is also no accident that the council took its slogan, “He called all to unity,” from a hymn sung in honor of this feast day. Furthermore, the council’s method of coming to consensus through dialog and the search for unanimity also bear the mark of desire for unity. All these aspects of the council indicate the overriding truth that unity is essential for humanity. We are not strong alone, but rather when we are gathered together in Christ’s name so that He is among us. Therefore, work toward Christian unity is of the utmost importance to the future of mankind. Following the council’s example, we must strive to understand each other and come to a common mind. We must continue to create opportunities for dialogue that removes the various barriers that separate people.
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The wisdom of the Great and Holy Council also provides a guide for future ministerial endeavors. One of the greatest concerns for humankind discussed by the bishops at the council was the ecological crisis. Exploitation of the natural environment to suit human desires has resulted in serious problems with climate change, extinction of a large number of our planet’s diverse lifeforms, and poisoning of our environment. The members of the Holy Council called on Christians to view the attitude of indifference toward creation as a sin fully warranting our repentance. In order to truly be the Church, we must seek to right this situation through prayer, education, and organized action. Let us Christians respond to this call, taking it as an opportunity to be leaders in new environmental ministries that help us fulfill our vocation as caretakers of creation. Here we have an opportunity to be prophetic voices that remind the world of the truth that God made humanity to live in harmony with His good creation.
There is much more to say about the Great and Holy Council than can be presented here. If you would like to learn more, please visit the official website at http://www.holycouncil.org. There you can see the press releases, read the statements issued, and see videos of the proceedings.
unitebostonKeymasterWhat is ecumenism? Why is UniteBoston’s work to bring together churches so important?UniteBoston Rep Burke Rea has been working to compile a resource list about the value of Christian unity.Check out our new “About Christian Unity” page here! -
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