ASIA SUNDAY 2001

27 May 2001

Theme: Cultivating the Culture of Peace:
Overcoming Violence

Background

Every year since 1974, on the Sunday before Pentecost, the CCA member churches celebrate Asia Sunday. Some churches and ecumenical partners around the world have joined us in this celebration as a way to express their solidarity with the churches and people of Asia in their struggles and hopes. The day commemorates the founding of the East Asia Christian Conference (EACC, now CCA) on May 14, 1959. Asia Sunday this year falls on May 27, 2001 and the theme chosen is "Cultivating the Culture of Peace, Overcoming Violence."

As we enter the new millennium, our hearts are heavily disturbed by the escalating violence in many parts of Asia. The CCA General Assembly in Tomohon in June 2000 expressed its deep concern on the emerging conflicts in Asia, which perpetuates the culture of violence in the community. Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka is intensified. Communal violence in Indonesia, especially in the Molucca Islands, Poso, Aceh and Papua has created fears and uncertainty in the life of the people each day. Civil war in East Timor and Kashmir has displaced many people and separated families from their loved ones. The persecution of minority groups, including Christians, in the countries like Pakistan, India and Indonesia, has taken the lives of many innocent people. Reemergence of religious intolerance and fundamentalism that happens in many Asian societies has contributed significantly to the emergence of community riots. The increasing crisis and violence in the Philippines is very much rooted in what Muslims in Mindanao see as four centuries of discrimination that has economically and socially marginalised them.

Peace and security in North East Asia is also in a fragile state. Tensions still exist between North and South Korea and between Taiwan and China. At the same time, there is an increasing tendency towards militarism in North East Asia. The revised United States–Japan Security guidelines and the recent increases in the arms race in the region has caused serious concern. The eleventh CCA General Assembly also expressed its deep concern about the increasing levels of inter-Asia arms trading in addition to the sale of arms to Asian nations by Western countries. Such arms sales in Asia have greatly stimulated the ethnic conflicts and communal violence. Moreover, the negative impact of globalisation has dramatically worsened the economic and political gaps within and among countries, leading to greater exploitation and impoverishment of a greater number of people.

It is clear that the continuous violence has destroyed the life of many people. It happens not only in a situation of war, but also becomes a reality in the street, in the market, in school and in the life of the families. It effects the way people relate to each other through words and deeds. It effects the upbringing of the children and the mindset of the young people. This situation is complicated by other realities such as poverty and economic hardship suffered by many families in Asia. Domestic violence, which is often hidden from others, has destroyed the life of uncounted numbers of families and, more specifically, children. In most cases, the victims of the violence are those who are considered different and weak: ethnic and religious minorities, women, children, migrant workers, refugees, internally displaced people, workers with low incomes, etc. In other words, people who are socially, politically and economically marginalised.

In the midst of this situation, churches are called to articulate boldly the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who comes to proclaim "good news of peace to all" (Eph.2:17). He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) who has reconciled us with God and with each other, thus bringing peace to those who have been separated by enmity and hostility. It is, therefore, a challenge for us as churches in Asia to cultivate and nurture the culture of peace so that violence can be curtailed. It requires the changing of heart and mind. It needs our commitment and patience. It grows where space is provided to respect each other despite the differences, to handle the differences creatively, to resolve conflicts peacefully and to sustain a difficult relationship.

Decade to Overcome Violence

By focusing our Asia Sunday on this theme, we, the churches in Asia, are joining the wider ecumenical family in reinforcing its ongoing efforts to promote peace with justice. The World Council of Churches launched a special program on a "Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV)" at the beginning of this year. Asia played a leading role in the launching of this program on 18 November 2000 in Malang, Indonesia, which was sponsored and jointly attended by the representatives of the WCC, the CCA, the Communion of Churches in Indonesia and the Nahdatul Ulama (NU), one of the largest Muslim organisations in Indonesia. In fact it was held at an NU pesantren (a traditional Muslim educational centre), attended by representatives and participants from other religious bodies in Indonesia, which signifies the need of people of different faiths to work together in promoting peace and reconciliation.

In a WCC document, it is stated that "in order to move peace-building from the periphery to the centre of the life and witness of the church and to build stronger alliances and understanding among churches, networks, and movements which are working toward a culture of peace, the goals of the Decade to Overcome Violence are:

• addressing holistically the wide varieties of violence, both direct and structural, in homes, communities, and in international arenas and learning from the local and regional analyses of violence and ways to overcome violence;
• challenging the churches to overcome the spirit, logic, and practice of violence; to relinquish any theological justification of violence; and to affirm anew the spirituality of reconciliation and active nonviolence;
• creating a new understanding of security in terms of cooperation and community, instead of in terms of domination and competition;
• learning from the spirituality and resources for peace-building of other faiths to work with communities of other faiths in the pursuit of peace and to challenge the churches to reflect on the misuse of religious and ethnic identities in pluralistic societies;
• challenging the growing militarisation of our world, especially the proliferation of small arms and light weapons."

In the following liturgy for Asia Sunday, some of the resources from the worship service in the launching of the DOV program in Berlin, Germany on 4 February 2001, are incorporated and adapted to the Asian context. Through the celebration of Asia Sunday 2001, let us affirm and renew our commitment to bring this concern again to the centre of the ministry and witness of our churches in each of our localities.

Practical Suggestions

We encourage you to distribute this material as widely as possible and, if necessary, to translate it to enable more parishes to celebrate Asia Sunday and to give a special attention to the theme which is very crucial for our present situation. In case the date suggested for this Asia Sunday, namely 27 May 2001 is not suitable to your church calendar, please feel free to adjust the date to your needs.

If you feel the need to revise the Liturgy to fit your own situation, we encourage you to do so. However, we do hope that you retain the theme, base your meditation on the proposed scripture readings and other given insights, use the prayers and litanies and sing the suggested hymns. We are aware that many congregations are in the midst of learning the Asian songs. Probably choir members could be asked to lead the congregation in learning the songs prior to the worship service. Another possibility is to select a few of the hymns suggested and also use a few of the hymns that are known to your congregations.

We would like to draw your attention to the part on Lament. It is an opportunity to bring our cries and concerns to God especially on behalf of those who are the victims of violence in our respective communities. The act of naming them is important to give a human face to our Lament. The use of a suitable local musical instrument is encouraged.

It is advisable to include people of different ages and backgrounds to participate in the liturgy, such as in the reading of the different 'voices' and the reading of the Scripture.

Please observe 'silence', as it is appropriate.

"Silence is a time of communion with the Creator and gives space for the Holy Spirit to move and free us from the concerns that separate us from ourselves." (From Five Loaves and Two Fishes)

It may be helpful to form a small group to assist in preparing, adapting, translating and making the liturgy familiar to the congregation.

Offering

The striving to cultivate the culture of peace requires our sustained effort beyond this Asia Sunday. It is our intention to facilitate this process by providing resource materials and facilitating educational programs aimed towards cultivating the culture of peace in our family, church and society. We suggest that a special offering be collected during this service to support the CCA programs specifically focusing on providing a series of educational resources for the use of local congregations on the theme "Cultivating the Culture of Peace: Overcoming Violence." We will be grateful if you can send your support for this program to:

The Associate General Secretary for Finance
The Christian Conference of Asia
96, 2nd District, Pak Tin Village,
Mei Tin Road, Shatin, N.T. Hong Kong

via

Check payable to: CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE OF ASIA

or via

Account Number: 295-259766-001 (HKD plus all other currency)
295-9-916715 (USD)
Hang Seng Bank, Hankow Road Branch
4 Hankow Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

"Cultivating the Culture of Peace: Overcoming Violence"

Order of Worship

1. Preparation

(Learning the hymns and making the introduction about the theme of Asia Sunday 2001 and its liturgy)

(a moment of silence for preparation)

2. Greeting

Sisters and brothers,
We have come together to celebrate the Asia Sunday 2001 in the midst of our concerns on the increasing violence between individual persons and among the different groups in the community. News about wars between nations and groups, and violence against women, children and refugees haunts us everyday. The constant brutality seen all the time on video, films and television harden us. We are shaken by events happening around us, in our own family, in our street, neighbourhood, country and region. Conflicts along different ethnic and religious lines disturb the life of many communities in Asia and around the world. Through this liturgy of Asia Sunday this year, we, the churches in Asia, join and participate in the call of the World Council of Churches for a "Decade to Overcome Violence," beginning this year.
In the centre of our grieving for our own violence and the violence amidst our family, community and the world, we carry in the symbol of the God of light.

(the candle is carried to the table)

Let us worship God!

3. Call to Worship

(stand)

Leader:

The God we worship is a holy God!
Let us come before God's presence in praise and reverence during this special Asia Sunday!

People:

Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Extol God all you peoples!
For great is God's steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

All:

Praise the Lord!

4. Hymn of Praise "God, We Praise You for This Lord's Day"

(Sound The Bamboo # 13)

5. Prayer of Invocation

Leader:

We worship you, Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier God.
Dwell with us and make this worship a blessed one.
Bind us with your churches and your people in Asia.
Heal our tired bodies, melt our hearts, clear our minds,
and direct our thoughts and deeds towards
cultivating the culture of peace in our daily lives.

People:

Amen

6. Lament

(sit)

Prelude – a lament played on an instrument like a flute or other musical instruments.

Voice 1

A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.
(Yer 31:5)

(Silence)

Voice 2

How many mothers and fathers in Sri Lanka, in Ambon, in East Timor,
in Kashmir, and in other places are lamenting like Rachel for their missing children? They refuse to be comforted because they lost their children forever.

(Congregations are encouraged to name children who are the victims of violence in the community)

People:

In your mercy, remember them O God.

Musical lament

Voice 3

Even when I cry out, 'Violence!' I am not answered;
I call aloud, but there is no justice.
(Yer.19:7)

(Silence)

Voice 4

In the midst of escalating domestic violence, how many children or women or domestic helpers are crying out, yet their voices are not heard?
In the event of communal violence, how many people, the victims of violence cry out for justice, but there is no answer?

(Congregations are encouraged to name those people who face the same situation)

People:

In your mercy, remember them O God

Musical lament

Voice 5

Remember this O, Lord, how the enemy scoffs,
and an impious people reviles your name.
Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild animals;
Do not forget the life of your poor forever.
Have regard for your covenant,
for the dark places of the land are full of the haunts of violence.
Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame;
Let the poor and needy praise your name.
Rise up O God, plead your cause;
Remember how the impious scoff at you all day long.
(Psalm 74:18-22)

Musical lament

People:

Remember this O Lord
Do not let the down trodden be put to shame.
Rise up, O God.

7. Hymn for Guidance "Give Us Light, Give Us Life, Give Us Peace"

(Sound The Bamboo # 58)

8. The call to confession

Reading: Acts 7:54-8:1

Saul, later St. Paul, was among those who executed Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Saul was convinced that he was doing a good and holy thing as he watched the killing. Christians have a painful history of either participating in or passively supporting violence for the best of reasons. Victims and the oppressed can become in their turn oppressors. At times we resort to aggression, violence and intolerance. At times we are the ones who cause pain in others. At times we watch and approve.

(Silence)

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we will never enter into the process of cultivating the culture of peace until we acknowledge the violence that is within us. Few of us are free from its grasp. Let us take a moment to name this violence in silence.

(Silence)

Let us pray

Leader:

In the midst of hatred that divides people of different nations, ethnic groups, classes, religions and gender

People:

God, forgive us.

Leader:

In the midst of our difficulty in accepting each other and in respecting our differences

People:

God, forgive us.

Leader:

In the midst of the covetous desires of the people and nations to possess what is not their own

People:

God, forgive us.

Leader:

In the midst of the greediness which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth.

People:

God, forgive us.

Leader:

In the midst of our envy of the welfare and happiness of others.

People:

God, forgive us.

Leader:

In the midst of our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugees and the migrant workers.

People:

God, forgive us.

Leader:

In the midst of the lust that dishonours the bodies of men, women and children

People:

God, forgive us.

Leader:

In the midst of pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God.

People:

God, forgive us.

Congregations' Response: "Lord, Have Mercy on Us"

(Sound the Bamboo #121)

(Silence)

9. Assurance of forgiveness (stand)

Leader:

Hear the good news. Christ is our peace.
He has broken down the dividing wall,
that is the hostility between us.
Through his death he has reconciled us with God and with each other and brought us together into one family of God.
Therefore, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us, and gave himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

People:

Glory to God, Amen!

10. Passing of the Peace

(Greet one another with the peace of God.)

11. Hymn of Celebration "Christ is Our Peace"

(Sound The Bamboo # 262)

12. Listening to the Word: "Stories of Cultivating the Culture of Peace"

(sit)

Old Testament: "Cultivating Solidarity" Ruth 1: 11 - 17

Epistle: "Cultivating Acceptance" Philemon 1: 8 - 20 Gospel: "Cultivating Service " Luke 22: 24 - 30

Ruth 1:11-17

But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has turned against me." Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. So she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." But Ruth said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die – there will I be buried. May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!"

Philemon 1:8-20

For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love – and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother – especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.

Luke 22:24-30

A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. "You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

13. Homily

14. Hymn of Faith (stand) "He came Singing Love"

(Sound The Bamboo # 205)

15. Commitment for peace

In unison with the experience of the victims of violence,
with the way of Jesus Christ
and with the witness of our Fathers and Mothers in faith,
we are joined together,
reconciled with one another
and encouraged by one another through the cross of Christ.
Together with the ecumenical community of churches
we commit ourselves to work for a culture of peace
and to overcome the violence we encounter in our lives.
Together we are carried forward by the vision of the one church,
of the people of God on the way,
challenging all separations of race, gender, age or culture
and striving for justice, peace and integrity of creation.
Enough children have suffered violence.
We are longing for the day, when the prophecy of Isaiah will come true,
when "they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more."

16. Prayer of Intercession

(sit)

(Please include the items below in your prayer list and make a brief pause after every prayer item to give time for people to ponder it in their heart.)

Let us pray:

1. For Christians and other minority communities in many parts of Asia and around the world who are experiencing violence and marginalisation due to the upsurge of religious fundamentalism. May we learn to live in the pluralistic cultural context of Asia with a sense of respect for each other's diversities.

2. For the initiatives of churches in different parts of Asia to promote peace and reconciliation. Let us pray that their governments will listen to the longing of the people for peace rather than war.

3. For the efforts of the churches and people in the Philippines in their peace-building ministry in solidarity with Muslim brothers and sisters in Mindanao.

4. For the peace process in Sri Lanka and for the immediate cessation of hostilities between the ethnic groups of Sinhalese and the Tamils.

5. For peace and reconciliation in Indonesia, particularly in the Molucca Islands, Aceh and Irian Jaya, and for the many internally displaced people caused by the communal conflicts. Let us pray that order may be restored by the government in this land.

6. For the restoration of peace in East Timor, Myanmar and Cambodia.

7. For the peaceful reunification of North and South Korea.

8. For the peaceful resolution of tension between China and Taiwan and the efforts of the churches to continue to work for peace and reconciliation.

9. For specific concerns for peace and reconciliation in your respective country and community (please name it).

10. For love, peace and reconciliation in the life of families, especially those who face difficulties and the threat of brokenness.

11. For the Christian Conference of Asia, its member churches and councils all over Asia and for our witness to foster unity in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Congregations' Response "O Lord, Our God "

(Sound The Bamboo # 123)

17. Offertory

Call to Offering: Jesus Christ calls us all to be his disciples and as a church to witness to the world. Let us offer ourselves to Him and our resources for the task of witnessing to His Name, cultivating the culture of peace in human lives, families, church and community until we all become the household of God.
(Please look at the suggestion in the Practical Suggestions above.)

The Offering of Tithes and Pledges

Prayer

18. Hymn of Commitment (stand) "Hope for the Children"

(Sound The Bamboo # 260)

19. Benediction

Leader:

God go with you in all that is gentle.
Christ go with you in all that is brave.
And the Spirit go with you in all that is free.

People:

Amen

Postlude (sit)

Acknowledgment

Greeting, Confession and Commitment for Peace were adapted from:
WCC Worship Service 4 February 2001, on the Launching of the Decade to Overcome Violence in Berlin, Germany.

Part of Opening and Benediction were adapted from "Echoes of Our Journey" by Dorothy McRae-McMahon.

Hymn and Music from "Sound the Bamboo - CCA Hymnal 2000"

Scripture readings: Bible – New Revised Standard Version.

Illustration: "World Peace" by Gai Mo-seng (China) – courtesy of Asian Christian Art Association in "The Bible Through Asian Eyes" (1991).

Editorial staff team: Corazon Tabing-Reyes and Henriette Hutabarat.

Typesetting: Irene Chan

Prayer

For peace in your country
For the victims of violence everywhere
For the struggling for peace and justice
For churches in conflict situations
For a world without war and violence
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth,
Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace,
Let peace fill our beings, our world and our universe.
Amen

(World Prayer for Peace from the Vancouver Assembly)

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