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The
Questions Jesus Poses Prayer for Survivors
Section Three A calendar of church events for the upcoming 7 days. |
The Questions Throughout his ministry, Jesus posed questions to the people he met. With those same questions, Christ today challenges us to examine our lives and hear his message for us. Join us in upcoming weeks as we hear these questions anew. Here is the schedule:
Film Review: The POWER of FORGIVENESS
Finding wholeness in a ‘payback’ culture The man who gave us the excellent documentary Bonhoeffer now turns his attention to a central theme in Christian ethics and theology: forgiveness. As the film amply shows, this is a central theme of all major faiths. Striking testimony of the power of forgiveness is offered by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese activist and Buddhist teacher; Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Laureate; Azim Khamisa a Sufi Muslim teacher and father of a murdered son; James Forbes, pastor of Riverside Church in New York City; Thomas Moore, author of the best-selling Care of the Soul; plus others in Northern Ireland, New York City, Pennsylvania and Lebanon. In one segment the film brings together spiritual and the scientific disciplines, disclosing how hundreds of experiments have been conducted on the medical aspects of forgiveness. One experiment reveals how subjects’ blood pressure rises when they recall persons who have wronged them, but how their blood pressure drops when they forgive those same persons. Even better, the film provides examples of forgiveness that move us beyond both the laboratory and the classroom or sanctuary. Three women, two who lost sons and the other her husband on 9-11, speak of their anger, then sorrow and finally forgiveness as they join with an Episcopal minister to lobby for a “Garden of Forgiveness” at Ground Zero in Manhattan — an unpopular cause in the city. The three women travel to Beirut, Lebanon, where activist Alexandra Asseily’s dream of “Garden of Forgiveness” was being fulfilled. Knowing first-hand the power of hatred during her country’s long civil war, Ms. Asseily says, “Forgiveness allows us to actually let go of the pain in the memory, and if we let go of the pain in the memory, we can have the memory, but it doesn't control us.” Just how one can “let go of the pain in the memory” is powerfully demonstrated in an episode narrated by Azim Khamisa, an American Muslim whose son was murdered by a 14-year-old boy while delivering a pizza. Mr. Khamisa not only visits the murderer in jail, but also forms a team ministry with the boy's grieving grandfather to visit school children to speak on the need and the benefits of forgiveness. The film also goes to Pennsylvania where the Amish community forgave the man who murdered five girls and wounded five others in a school; plus in Germany and Israel we witness the results of Elie Wiesel’s forgiving the German nation of its terrible crimes against the Jews. As the film’s director points out, there is a personal and a communal aspect to forgiveness. Filmmaker Martin Doblmeier reminds us, “We are living in a culture of payback and justice. 9/11 shows us that. Lives are being lost.” We are indeed in a culture that teaches “Don‘t get mad, get even,” and this film is a marvelous tool that Presbyterians can use for countering the vindictive urge to “pay back.” This is a film that can help bring healing to those caught in the vise of anger and resentment. It does not offer easy answers, but the various insightful speakers show how forgiveness is the difficult path to spiritual (and mental and physical) wholeness. I cannot recommend this film too highly! —Edward McNulty Note: The full DVD, a book, and a DVD of clips for use in a classroom or discussion setting are available for purchase:
Easy-to-use DVD with simple access to four clips from the film. For use with Campaign for Love and Forgiveness facilitator's guide.
Film reviewer Ed McNulty is a Presbyterian minister, the editor of Visual Parables (a journal of film and theology), and author of Faith and Film (Westminster John Knox Press, 2007). Photo copyright (c) Blair Seitz The magazine Presbyterians Today has a panel of media critics who provide reviews of films, TV shows, books, and music. For a list of all film reviews on file, click here.
Vacation Bible School We are going to a Beach Party — on an exciting journey to learn the basics of surfing, to ride the wave of God’s love, and to return home with a new Beach-Be Attitude. Having a Beach Be-Attitude means being obedient, kind, forgiving, bold, and believing. There will be cool beach music reminiscent of the Beach Boys and a Surf ’n’ Sand Science Lab that will keep kids engaged and mesmerized with easy-to-do activities that bring home the Bible teachings and Be-Attitude. We will be using a new format for Vacation Bible School this year. Activities will begin during the day on Saturday. Some youth will spend Saturday night at the church, then we will continue our activities on Sunday morning and go until mid-afternoon. We will be providing you with more details about the schedule. In the meantime, keep the weekend of August 9 & 10 open and begin inviting your friends and neighbors.
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Since 1996, Charlotte’s Urban Ministry Center has been working with congregations of many faiths, as well as with colleges, to open their facilities one night a week to provide shelter and food for the homeless during the winter months. Each site offers a warm, safe place to sleep and serves two meals (dinner and breakfast) and returns guests to the Urban Ministry Center the following morning. The Room in the Inn program began with 20 shelter sites. It now has grown to almost 100 congregations and colleges providing 14,750 beds for 1,247 neighbors, involving well over 5,000 volunteers. This past winter, our DJs (Disciples of Jesus) Youth Fellowship volunteered to assist one night with the Room In the Inn program at Cook’s Memorial Presbyterian Church. Here is their story:
We met at around 3:00 on Saturday to put together hand-out bags with toiletry items, socks, crackers, notepad and pen, a mini first aid kit and other small items. Then, we fought pouring rain, lightning, and thunder to make it to Cook’s. We began by putting out 12 twin mattresses, then made them up with sheets, blankets and pillows. We set a chair beside each bed like a nightstand and placed a towel and washcloth on them. At the foot of the bed we laid the stuffed, gallon-size Ziploc bags. When our guests entered, you could see their pleasure and relief at finding a place prepared for them. They had fought the same rain, lightning, and thunder that we had — but without any shelter. While members of Cook’s prepared dinner, the DJs set up tables and brought out tea and lemonade. Cook’s has a closet full of items to give any guests who might need them. This day it was dry socks, T-shirts, and underwear. One guest commented that all he had was the sweatshirt he had on, because before he arrived someone had stolen his clothes when he washed them and set them out to dry. Hearing this story really made us think about how blessed we are to not have to worry about having nice clean clothes every day. After dinner, we helped clean up while our guests watched TV and a movie. Some of the DJs chatted with our guests while the rest of us put together a casserole for Sunday morning’s breakfast. By 8:30 we were finished with our duties for the evening, all except Jay and Lee West. They remained at Cook’s as hosts for the rest of the night, watching TV and talking with the guests. The rest of us returned to Christ Pres to spend the night. The kids played some games and settled down for lights out around 11:00 pm. I have this sneaking feeling that the 3 boys didn’t go to sleep right away. (By the way, the sofas in the Session Room are so much more comfortable than the floor was at the 30-Hour Famine. Leigh Anne wasn’t taking any chances, she brought her air mattress.) We were up Sunday morning around 5:30 and heading back to Cook’s to help with breakfast. When we walked in, the Fellowship Hall was pretty much cleaned and our guests were ready for breakfast. By 7:30 am breakfast was over and our guests were boarding the bus to go back to the Urban Ministry Center. Where they went from there, we do not know. All we could do was give them bag lunches to take with them. Extra bags were made so that each guest got to take two bags, and their appreciation was profound. Afterwards, we talked about what had affected us most. We all found that serving others, like Jesus did, helped us see how blessed we are. In talking and interacting with our homeless guests, we learned that they are just normal people who need a little help to get back on their feet. They enjoy the same things we do, such as learning a card trick. And, we learned that simple things — such as someone stealing your socks and underwear — can be devastating when that’s all you have. Even little things we do to help other people can make a big difference in their lives — and in our own. All most people want is just to be treated with respect and given a chance. Tonya McCullough
Join in Prayer for Survivors Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Tornadoes in the United States, a cyclone in Myanmar, and an earthquake in China — all within the past few days and all with deadly and devastating outcomes. Thousands upon thousands of people have lost their lives. Literally millions have been affected directly and are at ongoing risk for diseases and other adversities in the aftermath. To have one such disaster is overwhelming; to have so many in such a short period of time is beyond comprehension. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is responding to these disasters in several ways by working with our overseas church partners, as well as presbyteries and congregations here at home, to offer immediate, on-the-ground help and make preparations for long-term assistance. Please join us in prayer for the countless people affected by these disasters: those killed or injured and their families, those who await word on the missing, those left homeless, on-site rescue workers, medical personnel, chaplains and pastors, congregations, relief agencies, government officials, and so many more.
Cliff Kirkpatrick
Linda Bryant Valentine Widespread DisasterIn the past weeks the world has witnessed mass destruction of people’s lives and homes — from Missouri to Myanmar, from North Carolina to China. The Presbyterian Church, through the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), is witnessing this on the ground with the eyes, ears and hands of congregations reaching out, presbytery staff pitching in and our international partners delivering aid in Asia. Myanmar The situation in Myanmar remains grim, but recent communications from our partners in the area indicate that aid is getting to people in need. Church World Service has been given permission to enter the Irrawaddy Delta region allowing our relief aid into the country. U.S. TornadoesHere in the United States a strong frontal system worked its way across the midwestern and southeastern parts of the United States over the Mother’s Day weekend, with tornadoes touching down in more than five states and leaving behind shattered homes and lives in at least six PC(USA) Presbyteries. A PDA National Response Team is working with those affected. ChinaPC(USA)’s mission partner in China, the Amity Foundation, is responding to this disaster. Amity staff members have been assessing the damage in Chengdu and other affected areas. PDA funds from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated giving will be used to help Amity purchase rice, quilts, and shelter material for the earthquake survivors. Amity has already provided 1 million Yuan (approximately US$143,000) for the purchase and provision of drinking water and food.
Neighborhood Suppers
The 3rd Tuesday of each month, the Camp Greene Neighborhood Association meets in the Fellowship Hall of Christ Presbyterian Church. Everyone who lives, works, or worships in the Camp Greene area is invited to attend these meetings to discuss ways to improve conditions in this neighborhood and meet with community leaders. Each month, Christ Presbyterian serves a free supper to those who attend the meetings. This is a light meal, served from 5:30 until the meeting begins at 6:30. If you would like to help plan or prepare this meal please notify Lee West or the Church Office.
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