Tools for the Sudan project to bring a new beginning for refugees; Religious leaders in Geneva advocate for peace; Jerusalem churches celebrate Week of Prayer for Christian Unity; Concern at destruction of religious sites in northern Syria
Tools for the Sudan project to bring a new beginning for refugees
During 2012, the newest country in the world, South Sudan, has faced a border conflict with the Republic of Sudan to the north. The eruption of new fighting earlier in 2012 led to an ongoing migration from the north of upwards of 100,000 people. These new residents are “city-dwellers”, many from cities, such as Khartoum. They have few tools to get started in basic agriculture and fishing which employ over 80% of the population. Floods have created additional problems along the border.
Region One of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is sponsoring a project “Tools for the Sudan, Building New Lives” from Feb. 1, 2013 – March 31, 2013 to support these new residents migrating from Sudan to South Sudan.
One of Region One’s parishioners, Larry Duffee, from St. George’s Episcopal, Fredericksburg, Va., has been a missionary for two years in South Sudan. He has witnessed the joys of the formation of a new nation but also the struggles of a new nation engaged in providing the basic necessities – feeding itself.
“Tools for the Sudan” has both a paper shopping cart and online site with a shopping cart to encourage parishioners to buy the new immigrants tools, both agricultural ( hoes, axes, rakes, machetes) and fishing (nets, lines, hooks). The cost is per tool is minimal – $10 to $15. These funds will be shipped to Larry in Juba who will send the funds to Bentiu in the north along the border into the community of the immigrants. The Bishop and staff there will buy these tools and hopefully send back evidence, such as pictures and receipts.
This way we will have helped the new residents and also brought mission work close to those who provide the donations. We have already received a $2,000 donation from St. Peter’s Episcopal, Port Royal, one of the 19 churches in Region One, a $500 from Region One itself.
Religious leaders in Geneva advocate for peace
WCC general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit speaking at the Vatican’s inter-religious service in the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva.
In an inter-religious service organized by the Vatican, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit stressed the importance of “expressions for peace and the mutual respect for the dignity of the other”.
“Praying together, we remind each other that God’s gift of life is given to all of creation and that justice and peace are God’s will for everyone,” said Tveit.
The service was held on 21 January at the chapel of the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, where the WCC has its offices.
Coordinated by the Holy See, the service was a follow up to the World Day of Peace, celebrated by Roman Catholic Church on 1 January around the world.
The service took place during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which is celebrated from 18 to 25 January. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is jointly coordinated by the WCC’s Faith and Order Commission and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity of the Roman Catholic Church.
“In God, we are one human family, as Pope Benedict XVI underlines in his message for the World Day of Peace,” Tveit said in his message.
“This implies that the aspirations for peace, dignity and justice for all and not just for a few members of our human family become our common challenge and task,” he added.
Tveit highlighted the example of Joseph of Nazareth as a peacemaker for “the way he cared for the newborn child and his mother.” He said that there is a need for more Josephs in the world, who are willing to follow God’s call for peace and justice by taking care of those around them.
The service brought together local leaders from Buddhist, Jewish and Muslim faith communities. Archbishop Monsignor Silvano Tomasi, permanent representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, led the prayers.
Jerusalem churches celebrate Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 19-27) ecumenical celebrations are being held throughout the Christian churches in Jerusalem. The Theme for the week is “What Does the Lord Require of Us?”
On Sunday, Jan. 20, a 5 p.m. Evening Service in celebration of the week of prayer was held at the Anglican Cathedral of St. George the Martyr in Jerusalem. The theme for Sunday was ‘Walking in Conversation,’ based on the Road to Emmaus story from Luke 24.
Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem Suheil Dawani welcomed the large Christian congregation and spoke of the fellowship amongst the heads of churches in Jerusalem, how “we often walk together and share our common interests and concerns.”
Dawani spoke about the importance of “our care for and protection of Christian holy sites to ensure that Christian pilgrims of every denomination, and from around the world, can come to the Holy Land and experience the places sacred to the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord.”
Dawani said that “among our many important concerns and responsibilities is our mutual sense of urgency about the dwindling presence of Christians here in the Land of the Holy One. Not so long ago, indigenous Christians were more than 20 percent of the population. Today we are less than 2 percent. Christian faithful have been in Jerusalem since the First Pentecost, and we must ensure we remain present and faithful witnesses here till our Lord comes again.”
Dawani reminded the congregation that Christians in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East “have been peacemakers, building a bridge of understanding, tolerance, and acceptance between diverse peoples. The peace we seek and pursue is one with justice at its core. We are the voice of the voiceless and our voice needs to be heard here and around the world, as we remind Christians and non-Christians alike, that God demands justice for all God’s children.”
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, he said, “is answered in our context by being bold in our witness to our Lord Jesus Christ, of encouraging indigenous Christians to remain in the Holy Land, and of pursuing peace with justice.”
Following the service, The Olive Branch Choir offered a performance of choral works, including Vivaldi’s Gloria and W.A. Mozart‘s Te Deum. The choir includes Palestinian Christians from Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Beit Jala and a number of resident foreigners.
The director and accompanist for the choir is Fr. Aurelio Mule Stagno.
The choir seeks to be a witness to the Christian faith and hope within the Palestinian people.
Concern at destruction of religious sites in northern Syria
Armed opposition groups appear to have deliberately destroyed religious sites in mixed areas of Northern Syria, in November and December 2012, Human Rights Watch says.
The comments come following investigations in Latakia and Idlib governorates. An armed opposition group destroyed a Shia place of worship in Idlib governorate, and two Christian churches in Latakia governorate were looted.
In all three cases evidence examined by the international NGO suggests, and witnesses stated, that the attacks took place after the area fell to opposition control and government forces had left the area.