Galaxies Evening Service 20 June 2004
Welcome:
Call to togetherness:   Leader:       We are all part of the rhythm of life.                   As we mark this day of the journey, may peace be with us. People:      May we be makers of the peace.   Leader        Where there is confusion and discord, People        We will use loving-kindness as a way through.

 

Leader:        Where there is coldness and indifference,

People:       We will use the fire of our love to warm the coldness, to light fires of love and banish indifference.

 

Leader:        Where there is injustice and discrimination

People:       We will challenge it, we will speak out, we will do all we can to change it

 

Leader:        Where there is joy and hope,

People:       We will celebrate and share it together.

 

Leader:        Let us meet one another in love and forgiveness

People:       Before God and one another we release anything we hold against another.

                   We regret all the harm we may have done; we stand beside each other in peace.

                   We listen to each other’s stories and share each other’s journey,      that we may understand each other deeply, lovingly and become friends.

 

 

 

Affirmation of Faith

 

Together:   The God of our understanding is varied, vibrant and rich in diversity

                   Much like we are!

                   We understand little about the nature of the universe we inhabit

                   Even though we think otherwise!

                   Amidst out struggle to find understanding and meaning in our life

                   Our predecessors in faith give us a glimpse of God that is unsurpassed

                   A God called Loving-kindness; Peace-on-earth; Justice-for-all

                   These are our noblest intentions and when we embody and enact them

                   We, too, enter the Kingdom of God

                   We too are called - God

 

Thinking together

 

Contemporary reflection – Faith in Action (reprise)

 

 

 

I found a great definition of faith in action and it goes like this.

 

Faith in Action is grounded in the experience that relationship, interconnection and interdependence, constitute the fundamental nature of all things and that courage to live fully in each moment and hope for the future are found in, among and between communities working actively to realize their vision of a socially just and ecologically sustainable human society.

 

Faith in Action affirms that the quality of human life is not dependent upon increasing consumption of material goods but is based on those things which have permanence:

 

v     the care of the spirit;

v     relationships of justice and equity;

v     creativity, cultural and artistic expression;

v     the opportunity to provide a livelihood for oneself;

v     reverence for all creation; and

v     celebration of the gift of being.

 

 

Tonight I want to focus on Culture and specifically ‘Creating a culture of Peace”

 

Culture is and has always been at the very heart of the life of humanity - of every tribe, nation and  civilization.  Through Culture we have ever been striving to express the fullness of our being and to interpret our relationships to each other, to the environment, to nature, to God. 

 

Through religion, the arts and science humanity has sought ever deeper understanding of the universe and the role we are to play within this wondrous and continuously evolving whole.

 

We live in a world today, which is very far from the world we wish for ourselves and our children.

We are challenged to restore culture to its rightful place in our own lives and in our society – a culture which respects all cultures and reveres and celebrates life in all its many forms as well as the Giver of Life. A Culture of Peace.

 

In the beginning of the 20th Century the great Russian artist, scientist and philosopher, Nicholas Roerich, formulated the “Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace” which asks that all religious, artistic and scientific institutions, be protected within times of war as well as peace.

 

Nicholas Roerich hoped that the banner of peace would be flown throughout the world as a sign of neutrality and of the commitment to peaceful co-existence between all peoples. The symbol on the banner, three circles within a sphere - the sign of the triad - is an ancient and universal one, used by cultures worldwide.

 

The Roerich Pact was formally proclaimed in accordance with international law and subsequently signed (1935) by USA and many other countries. Says Nicholas Roerich: “The world is striving towards Peace in many ways and every one realizes in their heart that this constructive work is a true prophecy of the

New Era”.

Towards the end of the Century the Nobel Peace Laureates published the so-called “Manifesto 2000”, offering 6 clear and simple guidelines which they believe will, if applied, bring about a peaceful and non-violent civilization: “Respect all life; Reject violence; Share with others; Listen to understand; Preserve the planet; Rediscover solidarity”. The Manifesto has been signed to date by some 75 million people worldwide.

 

 

Discussion:

Do you believe peace is possible?

 

What can we do?

 

How can we help?

 

Can we really make a difference?

 

What are the things that might stop us demonstrating our faith by acting according to our beliefs?

 

 

Prayers for the people

God of loving-kindness, peace-on-earth and justice-for-all, we pray, that we will help strengthen the hands of all who strive for peace and justice throughout the world, and, seeing that all human beings are our relatives, we will share the pain of those who are oppressed, and will strive to promote the dignity and freedom of every person.
God of love, in the dignity and worth you give to all your creatures, may we always acknowledge the respect the diversity and richness of your creation; that we may honour the persons who come to us; that we may refuse to use or to be used as objects of selfish gratification; and that we may work for equity and justice for all people.
Amen.

Individual prayers from the people gathered

Call of Faith to Action

 

Leader:        As we search for some sense in life.

People:       may we find that meaning in our relationships of care, compassion ,and  tolerance.

 

Leader:        We talk about loving-kindness as God

People:       Let us act with loving-kindness to all people, to all animals, to all of nature on earth

 

Leader:        We talk about peace-on-earth

People:       Let us not only talk peace, but act peacefully in all we do, and to be peace makers.  Let us listen to understand the other peoples point of view.

 

Leader:        Jesus the Sage challenged the authorities of his time

                   and was tortured then murdered for his audacity to point out bigotry, prejudice and injustice.

                   In 2000 years the challenge remains just as strong as ever for we are, all of us, either a part of the problem or a part of the solution.

                   The world needs people who live and breath loving-kindness, peace and justice

                   Are we that people?

People:       Yes, we are that people

 

 

 

The blessing   Let us stop for a moment and calm our thoughts    as we prepare ourselves for radical action,       just like Jesus: - to act with peaceful, careful listening; even in the face of aggression - to calmly and lovingly challenge duplicity, bigotry, prejudice and injustice wherever we encounter it. - to accept people with loving-kindness in all our interactions. - to share our joy and blessings freely with others.

 

 

 

Reaching for Rainbows
I keep reaching for rainbows . . .           Thinking one God's morning,                    I will wake up with rainbow ribbons in my hair,                    With hurts painted over in hues that only angel wings could brush,                    Black obliterated, chaos hurled beyond the rainbow and my vision,                              The world created in a myriad of colours:
The Hungry fed,                              The dying held,                              The maimed walking,                              The angry stroked,                              The violent calmed,                              The oppressed freed,                              The oppressors changed,                              And every tear wiped away.
I keep reaching for rainbows,           But instead of colours in our storm,                    Gray and black infiltrate, dirtying the sky,                              And I hear human voices wailing in the darkness,                                        The never-ending darkness . . .             Just the same                    I know the promise of the rainbow.                    I keep thinking I'll turn a corner one day                              And find a litany of rainbows                              Flung across the sky,                                       Hosannaing back and forth                                       Through all the ages and                                       Out into eternity forever amen!             Every tear wiped away ¾                    It's a promise ¾                              When we become rainbows to each other.