Tragedy

Two and a half years ago when Crescent Hill folks were preparing for the first mission trip to El Estor, several people found on YouTube disturbing video of eviction of squatters (people living informally on others' property) off the land near the nickel mine (pictured above) that its Canadian owners were interested in operating again. This week Dennis Smith, Crescent Hill's guest speaker from last week, shared with us the very disturbing news that - apparently in a reprise of three years ago - national police and nickel mine company security guards - apparently - have shot and killed three people and wounded four others in a more violent eviction of squatters. It remains to be seen if Crescent Hill folks inquire about this with Estoreño partners, since - at least in 2007 - the vice president of the Estoreño presbytery had served as a paid consultant to the nickel mine company. When Smith was here, Smith opined that the nickel mine company was probably the most benign of the big three economic actors he saw in the Izabal area: drug traffickers, African palm and sugar cane planters, and the nickel mine company. Perhaps he has revised his opinion now.

P.S. From reading on the Web, it seems clear that this is part of an ongoing conflict between some organized Q'eqchi' communities - including one in La Union, where a Presbyterian mission church exists - and the Canadian nickel mine owner and some El Estor business interests, with the Guatemalan government leaning towards the nickel mine. As among Mayan indigenous folks around the country with other extractive, etc. operations, some Q'eqchi folks believe their lands were stolen some 40 years ago when the nickel mine company was awarded the land and the mine was constructed. Backing the Q'eqchi' are some human rights advocates and international treaties. Behind whoever owned the nickel mine - for years - was the Guatemalan military, which may or may not have operated the then dormant mine area as a torture site in the 1980s and 1990s, and - now - a paramilitary group representing mine-friendly El Estor business interests. On top of Dennis Smith's discussion of drug traffickers in the area, this paints the area in a somewhat different light.

P.P.S. The deaths and injuries reported Tuesday apparently resulted in part from a roadside ambush of a van carrying some communitiy leaders and community organizers. The nickel mine company - trying to develop the world's largest nickel mine, which could ultimately strip mine much of the area around El Estor - was recently bought by a larger Canadian company: Hudbay Minerals. Write the following Hudbay executives and ask that they suspend development of the mine until they have settled land claims of Q'eqchi' communities, that they reveal any ties to the paramilitary groups apparently behind some of the killings, and that they cooperate with any investigations: Peter R. Jones, Chief Executive Officer, or Michael D. Winship, President and Chief Operating Office, Hudbay Minerals, Dundee Place, Suite 25011 Adelaide Street. East Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2V9, CANADA.

-- Perry

English classes promotion

Publicity efforts for the joint Crescent Hill-James Lees-Covenant Community English as a foreign language ministry - which seems destined to serve a lot of Guatemalan Americans - continued, with a sign going up in front of James Lees/Covenant Community (above) and Pastor Jane and Ada going Sunday afternoon with flyers to an apartment complex near Jane's home in which a lot of the residents are Spanish-speaking. This publicity is none too soon, since I think the first week of classes/registration is supposed to be in eight days (we still need to develop registration procedures/materials).

-- Perry

Saturday conversation

Carlos reported - to the bilingual Sunday school class - that he and Pastor Gerardo spoke by phone Saturday. While Crescent Hill folks fasted and prayers, the Estoreño Presbytery did indeed meet last weekend. They talked about the issue of ecumenism – church unity – about which they and Crescent Hill folks had communicated. Use of the word ecumenism troubled them initially partly because of its association the rebels during the civil war. They decided that ecumenism might have a secular, analogical connotation, as the rebels – they decided – used the term to describe efforts to unite different rebel factions. The presbytery also incorporated an 11th local group, a New Dawning congregation with half a dozen Presbyterian families that have moved to the Izabal area. Leaders of the now 11 congregations pledged that their churches would pray for Crescent Hill church every Sunday. Reciprocally, Pastor Gerardo also asked Crescent Hill folks to pray for him, his health, and his ministries and for leadership development for the whole presbytery. Apparently Gerardo will turn 63 next week and he’s feeling tired from the weight of pasturing two congregations, advising the presbytery youth and women’s groups, and representing the presbytery on the national level and he’s concerned about who will take his place as his slows down. (Keep in mind that Gerardo’s father recently died also). Crescent Hill folks are to share with Estoreño folks their thoughts on ecumenism also (hopefully further enriched by the content of the CBS piece about “Christian unity” – in general and in Louisville – that some 100 Crescent Hill folks viewed Sunday after church. No word on their response to news of Crescent Hill church's fast and vigil and larger Guatemala Mission Weekend.

-- Perry

What's next?

The Guatemala mission task force will follow up on Guatemala Mission Weekend by:

- Finding out about decisions at the Estoreño Presbytery annual meeting that the fast and vigil coincided with (including probably the incorporation of a new mission church into the presbytery).

- Participating in the Presbyterian World Mission Celebration in Cincinnati.

- Planning new parallel Bible and theological studies with Estoreño folks.

- Considering possibilities for Guatemala-U.S. travel.

-- Perry

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who participated in Guatemala Mission Weekend, September 19-21, especially to:

- Ada, Ana, and Andrea (and Doug and Lowell), who put together the Saturday morning fast and vigil.

- Speakers Delia Leal (who preached Sunday morning) and Dennis Smith (who spoke Monday evening), both of Guatemala City’s Central American Evangelical Center for Pastoral Studies.

- Ellen, who landed Crescent Hill church the two speakers; Pastor Jane, who arranged for hospitality for the speakers; and Soni, who set up for the Dennis Smith talk.

- The two dozen people who participated in the vigil and Dennis Smith talk (and others who fasted and prayed from afar) and the hundred plus people who watched, listened to, and welcomed Pastor Leal at church that Sunday.

- The half a dozen people who started the new Sunday school year in the bilingual class that is exploring the “What Is Ecumenism?” piece Crescent Hill folks sent to Estoreño Presbytery leaders.

- The half a dozen plus Crescent Hill folks who gathered after church that Sunday to brainstorm about how to do outreach about the joint Crescent Hill-James Lees-Covenant Community English as a foreign language ministry to Spanish-speaking residents of the Clifton Heights neighborhood, many of whom turn out to be from Guatemala.

-- Perry

He's back!

One of the newest bits of news Dennis Smith discussed with folks who asked questions Monday night was the news that Honduran President Zelaya - ousted in a coup this summer that some Guatemalans wished the Guatemalan military would emulate - had snuck back into the country and was holed up in the Brazilian embassy. Dennis Smith argued after his talk that in an ironic way he coup leaders needed Zelaya to return to give the November election some kind of legitimacy. Smith also said the U.S. government has been gently pushing the coup leaders, revocking their visas so the coup-installed president and Supreme Court justices cannot travel in the United States. The coup-installed Honduran government is demanding that Brazil turn over Zelaya, have imposed a 24-hour curfew, blocked access to the capital by road and air, and is said to have begun attacking pro-Zelaya activists who have stayed near the embassy. Supporters of democracy in Honduras have called on U.S. folks to contact your Congresspeople (Congressman Yarmouth at (202) 225-5401) to urge them to push the Obama Administration to discourage the Honduran military and police from using violence against activists and to reinstall Zelaya as president. Please also pray for the leaders and people of Honduran, that they might find a peaceful, but just resolution to this conflict.

P.S. The crackdown against Zelaya supporters has grown even more ruthless, and now I would call Congressman Yarmuth (202-225-5401) and Secretary Clinton (202-647-6575) and urge them to persuade the Administration to recall the U.S. ambassador to Honduras and cut U.S. mlitary ties to Honduras.

-- Perry

Dennis Smith talk

Longtime Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Guatemala mission worker and Central America Evangelical Center for Pastoral Studies educator and communicator Dennis Smith told three particular memorable stories at his Monday evening Fireside Room talk. All three were true stories (though he admitted that the first one was a composite):

- Let’s say you’re a sugar cane grower with a very small airstrip in the Izabal area. A man comes and offers you $25,000 if he and his colleagues can use your airstrip one day. All you have to do is not be there. There’s a catch: If you go to the local drug enforcement agents, who may or may not be working for this man and his colleagues – well, they know where your children go to school.

- A couple who had formerly belonged to the church pastured by Sunday’s guest preacher, Delia Leal, switched over to a megachurch in town where a local drug lord was a prominent lay leader. Through their church connections a bank connected with the drug lord offered this couple a loan so they could buy a house – a house they’d never be able to afford to buy otherwise, since they had no collateral. They went to the megachurch pastor – essentially Leal’s rival – and asked the pastor what they should do – whether they should take the money. (If they didn’t, they would certainly have to make the payments, given that through his backing of them the drug lord was on the line.) The pastor prayed over the check with them and encouraged them to go ahead.

- The nephew of a woman whose extended family lived in a neighborhood controlled by a gang was killed. Everyone knew who killed the nephew. Often in situations such as this the police or paramilitary or even government officials would have the man killed – both as a cause and a result of the inadequacy of the formal law enforcement and criminal justice system – and a tattooed young man would show up on the outskirts of time. This time, because the woman had relatives who worked in the Attorney General’s office, they asked her first whether they should have the man killed. The woman said No. As a Christian, I can’t condone this sort of killing. It won’t bring my nephew back, and it’s not right.

Smith explained how more than 100 years ago a Guatemalan president invited U.S. Presbyterian missionaries to Guatemala to develop a counterweight to the power of the Roman Catholic Church, which was sometimes at odds with the state. He explained that a majority of Guatemalans are either Protestant Pentecostals or Catholic charismatics. A Pentecostal leader, noting this fact, conceded not only Guatemalan Christians but also Pentecostals and Charismatics in particular – since they’re in the majority – must share some responsibility for the country’s violent, lawless culture.

Smith also reviewed history of the long civil war (now classified in some official international circles on a campaign of genocide against the indigenous Mayan population), the fall 2007 election and its aftermath (which could include the subsequent election of the current term-limited president’s wife as the next president), and the Honduran coup and its aftermath.

Smith explained that Rio Dulce and Izabal sit in the middle of a swath of land that goes from the Honduran to Mexican borders, that has become a transshipment belt for cocaine going from Columbia to North America.

Major economic actors in Izabal today would be: drug traffickers, operators of the nickel mine (and, elsewhere, extractive industries, which often use cyanide, in general), and large farmers (particularly of sugar cane and African palm trees, grown for their oil, which both produce export products).

Guatemala’s traditionally most powerful institutions, the military and the Roman Catholic Church, are both less powerful before. The shrinking power of the military is good in many respects, but the power vacuum – which gangs and drug traffickers have partly filled.

Smith recommended the following reading options:

On late 1800s Guatemala, The Divine Husband, by Francisco Goldman (who went on to write the nonfiction The Art of Political Murder)

After the talk, Smith said several other things that surprised me a little:

- The government is building a major highway that will go apparently go from Rio Dulce to Coban and beyond (running, coincidentally, through the drug transshipment belt, and probably swinging slightly north of El Estor, but still opening up the whole area quite a bit – probably both for better and for worse).

- Smith believes that the Izabal Presbyterians’ focus on evangelism and church growth is partly a product of this dangerous political, cultural, and economic situation, in which building up these places of comfort and solaces is a kind of resistance. The churches in our partner presbytery might have people who work for drug traffickers (indeed, Smith’s nephew delivers pizza for a pizza place that is a front for a drug operation), but it’s unlikely they would make a drug lord a lay leader (as at the Coban megachurch). Still, Smith says he thinks that Guatemala needs Guatemalans enhancing civil society, building religious and secular organizations and raising issues for discussion and debate – and, while our partners are building religious institutions, they are not raising issues for discussion and debate.

- Domestic violence against women is a problem, probably all the more so in rural areas of Guatemala, and it is a problem among church people too, where men might justify it as part of husband’s responsibility for disciplining his family.

- Ironically, the coup-installed Honduran govenment needed President Zelaya to return, in order to restore any kind of legitimacy to the elections later this fall. I'm not sure if Smith would still say this after the curfew, cut utilities to the Brazilian embassy, and bloody crackdown on Zelaya supporters. Smith also said pressure from the Obama Administration and European Community countries was beginning to faze the coup government, and it can no longer be so clear that that is the case.

-- Perry

Delia Leal's message of peace

CITO UNA ALABANZA: TU REINO ES VERDAD, TU REINO ES AMOR, TU REINO ES JUSTICIA, TU REINO ES PAZ, VENGA TU REINO.

LUCAS 19:41-42
CUANDO LLEGO CERCA DE JERUSALEN, AL VER LA CIUDAD, JESUS LLORO POR ELLA, DICIENDO: SI EN ESTE DIA TU TAMBIEN ENTENDIERAS LO QUE PUEDE DARTE PAZ. PERO AHORA ESO TE ESTA ESCONDIDO Y NO PUEDES VERLO.

A ALGUNAS PERSONAS NOS PASA, PERDEMOS LOS LENTES Y DESPUES BUSCAMOS CON DESESPERACIÒN, NOS DAMOS CUENTA DE QUE LOS TENEMOS PUESTOS. BUSCAMOS MEDIA HORA EN EL ESCRITORIO EL PAPEL CON LOS APUNTES QUE LLEVAMOS EN EL BOLSILLO.

PASA CON LA PAZ, BUSCAMOS LO QUE PUEDE DARNOS PAZ EN TANTAS PARTES EQUIVOCADAS.

EN MI PAIS GUATEMALA SE FIRMO HACE 13 AÑOS LOS ACUERDOS DE PAZ, 1996, TODO QUEDO EN PAPEL, A ESO SE LE LLAMA PAZ MUERTA, SEGUIMOS SIENDO UNO DE LOS PAISES MAS VIOLENTOS, LLEVAMOS 600 MUJERES MUERTAS HASTA AGOSTO DE ESTE AÑO, MUEREN DIARIAMENTE ….HEMOS SUPERADO LA CANTIDAD DE MUERTES EN EL CONFLICTO ARMADO QUE LLEGO A MATAR A 200,000 PERSONAS Y MAS DE 40,000 DESAPARECIDAS, ALGUNOS ANTROPOLOGOS LLAMAN A ESE ANALISIS HISTIRICO UN GENOCIDIO INDIGENA, ESO DURO 36 AÑOS.

LA VIOLENCIA DURANTE EL PERIODO POST ACUERDOS DE PAZ NO HA CAMBIADO MUCHO, EL DOLOR LA INSEGURIDAD, LA FALTA DE PAZ CADA AÑO EN GUATEMALA MUERE APROXIMADAMENTE 6,000 PERSONAS POR MUERTE VIOLENTA.

DE AHÍ QUE DESPUES DE LOS ACUERDOS DE PAZ, LOS SOCIOLOGOS DICEN LO SIGUIENTE: CUANDO UN PAIS O UN GRUPO SE OPONE A LAS ARMAS, A LAS GUERRAS Y AL EJERCITO ACTIVO, Y QUEDA EN ESO EN OPOSICIÒN ES UNA PAZ PASIVA.

PERO CUANDO EN LA BUSQUEDA DE LA PAZ SE MEJORA LA SALUD, LA EDUCACIÒN, LAS OPORTUNIDADES COMO SE BUSCABA EN LOS ACUERDOS DE PAZ EN MI PAIS SOLO ENTONCES ES UNA PAZ ACTIVA, LA PAZ ACTIVA, ES AQUELLA QUE OFRECE SALUD, EDUCACION, VIVIENDA, LA QUE DEVUELVE LA DIGNIDAD A LAS PERSONAS, LA QUE COMBATE LA POBREZA, LA QUE REPARTE LA TIERRA Y LOS RECURSOS CON EQUIDAD, LA PAZ QUE INCLUYE A LOS INDIGENAS O A LOS QUE SON DIFERENTES A NOSOTROS; LA PAZ QUE DESARROLLA UN SISTEMA QUE DA OPORTUNIDAD DE VIDA , A TODOS Y TODAS.

LA PREGUNTA ES ¿QUE PAZ BUSCAMOS, O BUSCAMOS AQUELLO QUE NOS DA PAZ?

BUSCAMOS LO QUE PUEDE DARNOS LA PAZ EN TANTAS PARTES EQUIVOCADAS: EN EL DINERO, EN LA DIVERSION, EN LAS VACACIONES EN LA PLAYA, EN LA TELEVISIÒN, EN EL CONSUMO AFANOSO DE LA ULTIMA NOVEDAD, EN LAS COMIDAS DE CHATARRA, QUE AL FINAL DE CUENTAS SON UNA FRUSTRACIÒN MÀS, PORQUE AL DIA SIGUIENTE SEGUIMOS BUSCANDO PAZ EN LAS MISMAS COSAS.

Y JESUS LLORA PORQUE NO PODEMOS VERLO, PORQUE ESTA ESCONDIDO A NUETRA MIRADA, ESTAMOS TAN DISTRAIDOS/DAS, DE MUCHAS COSAS QUE NUESTRA MIRADA NO ESTA EN JESUS.

LA PAZ QUE SOLO EL PUEDE DARNOS, QUE NO ES LA MISMA QUE LAS COSAS DEL MUNDO DA, ESTA ESCONDIDA A NUESTRA MIRADA LA PAZ QUE REALMENTE NECESITAMOS.

JESUS LLORA AMARGAMENTE, PORQUE A AQUELLO QUE NOS ROBA LA PAZ, NOSOTROS LO LLAMAMOS PAZ.

¿QUIEREN PAZ?, ¿QUIERES PAZ? ¿SI? ENTONCES BUSQUEMOLA DONDE ESTA LA VERDADERA PAZ, PERDONA A TU HERMANO, AYUDA AL DEBIL. AMA AL NECESITADO, AGRADECE EL PAN DE CADA DIA.

ALEGRATE EN LA VIDA Y EN LA MUERTE. NO TENGAS MIEDO A LO QUE EL HOMBRE PUEDA HACERTE, PORQUE ESTAS EN MEJORES MANOS.

SOBRE TODO NO TEMAS A LA MUERTE QUE NOS CHANTAJEA CON SU PODER, QUE NO PUEDE OTRA COSA QUE MATAR.

JESUS EN CAMBIO NO PUEDE OTRA COSA QUE DAR VIDA Y VIDA EN ABUNDANCIA Y DECIRNOS ESTE DIA. VE EN PAZ.

Guatemala weekend pictures

Getting ready

Half a dozen Crescent Hill folks gathered in the sanctuary late Friday afternoon to follow up on what Jane, Patti, Henry and others had already done to get ready for Saturday morning's 8-12 fast and prayer vigil (to coincide with the start of Day 2 of the Guatemalan presbytery's annual meeting). Ada, Ana, Andrea, Doug, Lowell, and Perry helped lay Guatemalan fabric around the sanctuary, set up the 13 prayer stations, lay out instructions, and put down tape arrows to direct people around the main labyrinth and the perimeter labyrinth. They were following up on planning done a couple of weeks ago. Now: we're ready! See you tomorrow!

-- Perry

Find out more about Guatemala today

Dennis Smith, long-time Presbyterian mission co-worker in Guatemala and educator and communicator for the Central American Evangelical Center for Pastoral Studies (CEDEPCA) will speak on “The Current Situation in Guatemala,” at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 21, at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church, at 142 Crescent Avenue, in Louisville, KY 40206. Dessert and child care will be provided. Sponsored by the Crescent Hill church’s Guatemala Mission Partnership Task Force. For more information, contact (502) 896-8561.

Fast and pray on your own

Want to participate in the Saturday morning, September 19 fast and prayer vigil but won’t be able to make it to the sanctuary?

Participate at home or elsewhere by doing the following: Skip eating Saturday morning until 12 noon. Be sure to drink water and engage only in light activities. At some point during the morning, clear away 20 minutes for prayer. We ask you to light a candle (if you’ve got one available) and pray with the same three presbytery-wide groups and 10 local congregations, in the same order, that folks at the sanctuary will pray with. Those groups, with links with information about them, are:

1. Q’eqchi’ Estoreño, Izabal Presbytery Executive Committee: Pablo Sacul Chub, Luis Botzoc, Gerardo Ich Pop, Ramiro Quib Caal, José Domingo Xo Ical, Raul Contreras, and Benjamin Sacul Tiul: http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/04/monday-morning-march-30-dialogue.html

2. Q’eqchi’ Estoreño, Izabal Presbytery Presbyterian Women, Executive Committee President Maria Coc Tiul, and other Executive Committee members: http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/04/mujeres-y-jovenes.html

3. Q’eqchi’ Estoreño, Izabal Presbytery Youth and Young Adults, President Armando Chub Quib, and other Executive Committee members: http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/04/mujeres-y-jovenes.html

4. Peniel Church in Boqueron, Pastor Fidel Juc and spouse Jesus, and members, deacons, and elders: http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/03/iglesia-peniel.html

5. Familia de Noe church in El Estor’s Sinai neighborhood, Pastor Benjamin Sacul Tiul and spouse Carlota, and members, deacons, and elders: http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/04/iglesia-familia-de-noe.html

6. San Jorge church in the El Estor’s Esperanza neighborhood, Pastor Mario Xo Ical, and members, deacons, and elders:
http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/04/iglesia-san-jorge.html

7. La Union mission church; pastors Pablo Sacul Chub, Robert Caal, and Antonio Tec; and worshipers:
http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/04/iglesia-puerta-del-cielo.html

8. El Chupon mission church, Pastor Gerardo Ich Pop, and worshipers:
http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/04/evangelacion-en-el-barrio-el-chupon.html

9. Arca de Noe church in El Estor, Pastor Gerardo Ich Pop, and members, deacons, and elders: http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/04/iglesia-arca-de-noe.html

10. Altar de Noe church in El Estor’s Los Cerritos neighborhood, Pastor Raul Contreras, and members, deacons, and elders: http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/04/pastor-raul-of-iglesia-altar-de-noe.html

11. Espiritu Santo church in El Estor’s San Marcos neighborhood, Pastor José Domingo Xo Ical, and member, deacons, and elders: http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/04/iglesia-espiritu-santo.html

12. Monte Sinai church in the San Carlos El Porvenir community in the Puerto Barrios area, Pastor José Sub, and members, deacons, and elders: http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/04/pastor-jose-of-iglesia-monte-sinai.html

13. Livingston church, Pastor Abelino Tec Chub and spouse Seraphina, and members, deacons, and elders: http://crescenthillguatemala.blogspot.com/2009/05/pastor-abelino-of-livingston-church.html

You might say the following prayer 13 times, once each for each group:

God, We want to lift up for your blessing our brothers and sisters in [church or organization name] and their leader(s) [name(s)] [and members/worshipers]. Like us, they are building up the Body of Your Son, Jesus, in the form of the [church/organization]. Be with them and us in this time of political conflict, natural disaster, and economic difficulty. And help us set into motion your vision of a partnership between them and us that crosses the ocean and builds your Kingdom in Izabal, Louisville, and beyond. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Crescent Hill church folks are undertaking this fast and vigil in solidarity with our partners in Guatemala’s Q’eqchi’ Estoreño, Izabal presbytery, as they join together this weekend in their annual presbytery meeting. Estoreño leaders will begin the second and final day of their meeting on Saturday morning, while we fast and pray.

Engaging in fasts and prayer vigils is a regular tradition for our Estoreño partners. By fasting, we empty ourselves so that we might open ourselves and focus on God’s presence and God’s voice.

We thank you in advance for participating in the fast and prayer vigil. We’d love it if you could tell us that you’re participating. Contact Ana at anitag_1491@hotmail.com, Andrea at andrea.trautwein@insightbb.com, or Perry at perrydchang@gmail.com.

Guatemala mission weekend

On the third weekend of September, at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church, join us at:

- 8:00 a.m.-12 noon, on Saturday, September 19: fast and prayer vigil, at the sanctuary, to coincide with Day 2 of the Q’eqchi’ Estoreño, Izabal Presbytery’s annual meeting in El Estor, Guatemala (which will take place in the Espiritu Santo church pictured above). For information on how to participate from home, go to the "Fast and pray on your own" blog post above. Join us for a short service at 11:40 p.m. or at lunch at the Havana Rumba restaurant at 12:15 p.m.

- 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m., on Sunday, September 20: Delia (DEE-lee-uh) Leal (lee-AHL), a Guatemalan Nazarene pastor, will preach as part of the regular Crescent Hill Sunday service.

- 7:00-8:30 p.m., on Monday, September 21, in the Fireside Room: Dennis Smith, longtime Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission worker in Guatemala and expert on Guatemalan politics, history, and religious life, will give background information about Guatemala and address recent issues. Desssert and child care will be provided.

September 12 gathering

Crescent Hill folks interested in the Guatemala mission partnership gathered Saturday morning at Perry, Stephanie, and Vincent’s in St. Matthews for cheesecake, conversation, and partnership planning. Ellen reviewed the situation in Guatemala: President has declared a state of “calamity” because of a drought that – coupled with rising inequality and the global depression – has widespread hunger threatening Guatemalans – but the Guatemalan Congress has so far rebuffed. The individuals apparently responsible for killing the critics of the president have been identified – but it’s still not clear who was really behind the killing. And Guatemalan courts actually convicted some Guatemalans involved in paramilitary groups during the civil war for some killings of indigenous peoples during that time.

(Ellen noted that Church World Service and Heifer international are apparently two groups doing hunger relief and development work in eastern Guatemala, which might be recipients of Crescent Hill folks’ benevolence. The Central American theology institute – with which visitors-to-be Delia Leal and Dennis Smith are both connected – known by the acronym CEDEPCA – may also take up some development work soon.)

The group talked about next weekend’s Guatemala mission weekend, including the Saturday, September 19 fast and food vigil. Ana, Andrea, and Perry will be meeting at 5:30 p.m. Friday afternoon at the sanctuary to tape out the labyrinth course for the vigil. Participants will have the option of going back and forth through the pews, an easier course going through aisles, or sitting quietly and praying. Folks started signing up last weekend for 20-minute time periods. Ana et al. will be setting up 13 stations – one each for each of the Estoreño presbytery’s 10 churches and one each for the presbytery executive committee, women’s group, and youth and young adult group. Each station will have a photo, a piece of Guatemalan cloth, and a candle. Perry had distributed written information for people interested in participating in the fast and prayer vigil at home. This will be available in the Narthex on Sunday.

(Jane asked folks Sunday to make sure the sign-up sheet, the vigil at home info sheet, and the other Guatemala mission paraphernalia is back in the Narthex/Gathering Room, since some have been removed for Krysta and Ryan’s wedding.)

Perry asked about putting together an information similar sheet for in-the-sanctuary participants.

Folks then talked about the events to follow: the sermon by Delia Leal, for whom Ellen will translate during Sunday worship, on September 20; and the talk that Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission co-worker Dennis Smith will give – about “The Current Situation in Guatemala,” – or perhaps “The Church and the Current Situation in Guatemala” (or "The Current Situation in Guatemala (and the Role of the Church)." Perry and Stephanie will bring dessert for this event, and Patti has arranged for child care. Jane and Soni talked about arriving early to help make coffee and set up. Ellen also suggested Perry talk with Patti about asking that the Fellowship Hall be set up too, in case there is a big crowd (the talk is scheduled to be in the Fireside Room, which fits about 20.) Very late in the gathering Soni also volunteered to work with Perry to try to get the word out about the Sunday and Monday events – Reverend Leal’s sermon and Dennis Smith’s talk – to external folks. Martha had also suggested a possible Bellarmine contact.

(Afterwards, Stephanie and Perry made a reservation for lunch at Havana Rumba for after the vigil and ordered a cake for during the Dennis Smith talk. At the tail end of the vigil will be a short (10-minute?) service. Thanks to Men’s Breakfast for postponing for a week to Saturday, September 26!)

Ellen also spurred folks to think about helping host, transport, and entertain the two speakers. Reverend Leal will arrive at 4:45 p.m. Saturday at the Louisville airport and Jane may stop on the way back from the presbytery meeting to greet her. Carlos, Nora, and Ana may eat lunch with Reverend Leal after worship. Jane may go out to lunch Monday with both Leal and Smith. Ellen wasn’t sure when Smith was flying into Louisville from Canada. Leal will stay with Alice Winter at the Furlough Home. Smith may stay with Perry, Stephanie, and Vincent. Jane is going to see additional hosting/entertaining/transporting help from other CHPC folks. More on this later.

At several different times Crescent Hill folks talked about communicating with Estoreño folks by e-mail. Ellen had found a short Spanish-language piece on ecumenism which Carlos helped edited, and then Carlos, Ana, and Perry worked on a statement about Crescent Hill/Louisville news (fast and prayer vigil, other weekend events, Shannon’s illness and Annie’s incarceration, flooding). After Carlos and Ellen e-mailed these to El Estor, Rene e-mailed back that they had received these. Crescent Hill folks reviewed a little of the joint scripture studies: In April reps from the two groups decided both would jointly study Acts 2. Crescent Hill folks had sent some materials about Acts 2, which includes the story of Pentecost. In the relatively long phone conversation between – mainly – Carlos and Gerardo – at the August gathering, Carlos mentioned that seeing the word ecumenism made them wonder, since some Guatemalan evangelical leaders (and others) have targeted this word – which is supposed to describe church unity – as no good. That motivated Crescent Hill folks to e-mail attach the ecumenism information.

When Carlos (pictured below, holding the phone) called Gerardo – this time on a speaker phone so everyone at Perry, Stephanie, and Vincent’s could hear – even though this time Carlos surprised Gerardo, who was warned in advance about the call in August – Gerardo said Estoreño folks would talk about this text at the meeting (which apparently – like the any Mid-Kentucky Presbytery meeting like the one next Saturday during and after the vigil and lunch) will include not only the presbytery executive committee, but at least one pastor and one elder from each congregation. Youth and young adult reps but not women’s reps might be there. The meeting will be at the Espiritu Santo church, the church that both the 2007 and 2009 Crescent Hill mission teams stopped at last, among Izabal churches. Apparently at this meeting the presbytery will officially with a new church that seven evangelical Presbyterian families that recently moved to El Estor started a new church called New Dawning (?). Apparently the presbytery will formerly incorporate this new congregation at the meeting. Work on constructing a building for the new church has begun, with the search for materials (including money to buy materials) always paramount. Gerardo also mentioned that his father died two weeks ago. He asked about whether would be visiting soon (more on this later). Asked about the drought, he said they are expecting rain very late , which apparently throws off their planting (and may include getting too much rain – flooding? – later). Discussing future theology statements, Carlos and Gerardo talked about some of the church unity-related scripture passages about which the Crescent Hill group had talked before: John 17, Ephesians 4, Galatians 3, Romans (?). (Later some Crescent Hill folks asked that others translate the (relatively short) ecumenism text that Estoreño folks were to discuss at their presbytery meeting this coming Friday and Saturday (posted on this blog, earlier on, in the Spanish-language original) so that all Crescent Hill folks could understand it.

Crescent Hill folks bid Gerardo adieu and followed up on several issues: Jane said that an intergenerational mission trip to El Estor – like the one in 2007 – was probably a year and a half off – partly because the Presbyterian Triennium is this coming summer, and it was a lot for Crescent Hill young people to go to both. Jane raised an option that Crescent Hill folks have discussed among themselves, but not with Estoreño folks – the possibility of sponsoring a joint retreat/study in or near Guatemala City – at the Mennonite seminary then staff partly by Soila and Jeff, where the spring mission team stayed before and after visiting El Estor or, suggested Ellen, at the Lake Amatitlan camp that held the November 2008 Guatemala mission network gathering that reunited Ellen, Stephanie, Gerardo, and Pastor Pablo and helped inspire the Crescent Hill-Estoreño partnership. Jane thought it would be easy to raise money from Crescent Hill folks, who could help sponsor Estoreño folks to travel and attend such a retreat. Jane also mentioned the possibility of a “reverse” mission trip of Estoreño folks to Louisville, which we have discussed vaguely before. Jane also mentioned another possibility previous discussed: sending someone – a la Luke going to Alaska as a Young Adult Volunteer this school year – to El Estor for an extended period – perhaps a summer, perhaps longer.

Perry reported that the Crescent Hill Outreach Council has recommended to the Stewardship Council and Session that the Guatemala mission partnership get its own church budget line item in 2010, but the council wanted the task force to ask for a specific amount. Folks at the gathering suggested $1,000, which – because of the nature of the church partnership fund – would hold over to help fund trips in future years if need be.

Carlos, Nora, and Ana invited folks to a monthly meal at James Lee Memorial Presbyterian Church with some Spanish-speaking people who might be among the students at the joint James Lee-Covenant Community-Crescent Hill English as a foreign language ministry, running for six weeks – with a meal and children’s activities – on Monday and Wednesday evenings, 6-8 p.m. – James Lee, at 7 p.m. later Saturday. Stephanie and Perry also invited folks to the Fiesta Latina, at New Albany’s St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church at 6 p.m.

Not discussed was when and where the next Guatemala mission task force gathering would be. Possible dates are 9:30 a.m. Saturday, October 10, October 17, or October 24 – important to do it relatively soon if we’re trying to ask Estore o folks about a possible study retreat and then arrange it with them in Guatemala this coming spring, summer, or fall – possibly, again, at Brad and Soni’s – or, perhaps even better, rotating at someone else’s place. Any volunteers?

-- Perry

You're invited!

Join us at 9:30 a.m. this Saturday, September 12, at Stephanie, Vincent, and Perry’s at 3928 Kennison Avenue, behind Heine Brothers on Chenoweth Lane in St. Matthews, for a gathering of Crescent Hill’s Guatemala mission task force. We’ll – among other things - do last-minute planning for the September 19-21 Guatemala mission weekend and muse about possible future U.S.-Guatemala travel. Everyone is welcome!

English as a foreign language ministry

Plans continue for the joint Crescent Hill-James Lees-Covenant Community English as a foreign language ministry - part of a network of Mid-KY presbytery English ministries - to start the first week of October, with six weeks of Monday and Wednesday classes - with dinner 6-7 and classes - plus homework help for school-age kids and child care for younger kids during classes - at the James Lees/Covenant Community campus. Folks involved met this past Tuesday. Crescent Hill folks continue to be involved in all four committees. The publicity committee hashed out flyers and sign text and began thinking about registration procedures. The teaching committee pondered curricula and teaching materials. The children's activities/child care committee looked carefully at the 2nd-floor facilities at James Lees/Covenant Community. The food committee has assigned Wednesday night cooking to Covenant Community, which already had a meal at that time, and gave Monday night to Crescent Hill and James Lees, to alternate. A Crescent Hill food coordinator must still be found.

-- Perry

Jane's Sept. 6 sermon on fasting

Matthew 6:16-18
16 ‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.*

I don’t know if you caught it or not, but in these words of Jesus that we just heard, the one little word that catches me up is his use of the word ‘when.’ Jesus says “WHEN you fast . . .” Not “IF you fast . . .” but WHEN.

I feel a little, shall we say ‘disingenuous’ today as I plan to talk to you about fasting—a spiritual practice that I, admittedly, have only even tried a few times. (And, fasting before a blood test doesn’t really count.)

I should, I suppose, be embarrassed to even admit that I have tried this so little. It is, after all, one of the most common of biblical spiritual practices. Fasting is right up there with giving and praying. In fact, in his sermon on the mount, that’s right where Jesus places it: right after talking about giving and praying—Jesus talks about fasting.

But, for some reason—or many—I find myself avoiding this practice. Even, I’ll admit, avoiding writing a sermon about it—found myself instead, interestingly, going to the farmer’s market, having a second breakfast, eating one more Popsicle.

I know that I am not the only person here who has avoided this particular spiritual discipline. Reasons abound: some of which are legitimate, I might add. If you have any sort of eating disorder or heart condition or diabetes, or are pregnant, you don’t have any business practicing a full fast from food. But, for the rest of us, maybe it is worth considering—and at least trying.

Which many of you, I know, do. Several of you responded to the Presbyterian Church’s call last year to regular monthly fasts in solidarity with hunger issues. You have joined others on the first weekend of each month—like this one—to fast and to be in prayer, specifically for the world’s hungry.

But, many of us still need a bit more nudge to participate, practice ourselves. Or at least try it. And our Guatemalan partners have given us that nudge, that invitation. Last spring, six of us were sitting around along table in a simple, concrete block sanctuary on the outskirts of El Estor, Guatemala. We were talking with leaders of the Estoreno presbytery about the nature of a partnership between their presbytery and our church.

I think these new friends were pretty clear what we brought to them: Our presence for one thing. There we were—we could afford to travel there. And they like that—really appreciate our being there as their extremely gracious hospitality showed. They are also aware that we have resources—financial, skills, knowledge even—that we bring to the table so to speak.

I think they weren’t so sure about what they had to offer us in this two-way partnership. But we knew. It doesn’t take long, being around these folks before you get the sense that they live trusting Something bigger than what’s around them—because what’s around them is so obviously limited. Their faith is real—along with a great desire to share it—something else we can learn. And it is obvious that a rich prayer life is feeding all of that. So, prayer became an important thing that we put into our partnership agreement. Praying regularly for one another is at the top of the list of how we are in partnership together. It’s why every Sunday we pray for another of the churches in Estoreno presbytery. That’s also why you all awhile back were invited to take a photograph of someone from Guatemala and let that be a reminder to pray for them. (I think there are still photos in the back if you don’t have one yet.) And, I am confident that they in turn are holding us up in prayer as well.

The commitment to prayer isn’t a huge stretch for us as a congregation because we too value and practice prayer ourselves regularly. But, there still seems to be something else our Guatemalan sisters and brothers ‘have’ on us in this regard. Sheets of paper on the walls of every church we visited offer a clue to what that is. Those papers are announcements and sign ups for prayer vigils and fasts. There might be one coming up specifically about the women’s ministry, or for the youth group, or in regards to the new church they want to start in the next town. Or for the upcoming presbytery planning meeting. Especially at times when they are seeking God’s guidance.

Prayer vigils—with accompanying fasting—are obviously a practice for these friends. A biblical spiritual practice that they take seriously—and engage in regularly—seeking not just God’s guidance, but also seeking God. And, that day around the table, the six of us who were there on your behalf, took that as a challenge for us—but not just a challenge—we also received it as one of the gifts these partners have to offer us. And so we committed that day to a prayer vigil and fast on their behalf, to coincide with their presbytery meeting this month—the weekend of the 18th and 19th.

So, you see why I felt I needed to preach about this. I’m helping prepare myself—as well as you—for that weekend.

Another thing that is interesting in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is that after talking about fasting, Jesus goes on to talk about things that get in the way of trusting God: earthly treasures, trying to serve both God and wealth; excessive worrying, judging others, profaning the holy.

Hmmm, maybe this part of his sermon points to why fasting is important—or maybe he’s suggesting some of what we could fast from: earthly treasures, other masters, worry, judging, disrespect, profaning the holy.

There are things—plenty of things—besides food that we can fast from. In a chapter on Fasting, Marjorie Thompson suggests we ask ourselves: “What is consuming me? Possessing me? What do I do to excess?” (Marjorie Thompson, Soul Feast, Westminster John Knox Press, July 1995.

Whatever that is, chances are that it is getting in the way of a relationship of trust with the Living God. And there might be real spiritual value in refraining for a time from using or doing those things that has control over you. That could be anything: information, the internet, catalogs or shopping malls, work, gadgets, television, video games, noise, frenetic activity, a packed calendar, personal opinions, fast food. We live in a culture that is “obsessed with consumption, where affluence and addictions are prevalent.” It really doesn’t take much of a leap to figure out how fasting might be a helpful discipline. Especially when it is “considered in terms of its inner dynamic—abstinence.” (Marjorie Thompson)

There are, for each of us, very particular things or habits that it would help for us to abstain from—which might provide a bit more room for God to slip in. I encourage you to really consider what those things might be.

But, our Guatemalan partners are inviting us to partner with them in the physical abstinence from food. Jesus said that “one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” As someone else has said, it’s hard, maybe even impossible, to learn that truth “between fistfuls and mouthfuls of food.” (Mark Buchanan, Christian Century)

There really is something about eating nothing—or at least eating less—that makes one pay attention to what one IS eating. And why. Ya begin to realize how much—and how often—you eat—when you don’t even really need to. Surrounded as we are by an abundance of abundance, we often indulge simply because we can. Not because we need something or even maybe desire it. But simply because it’s thee. We’re used to having what we want. Thinking we deserve it even. Or, maybe worse, not even thinking about it. Like Jesus in the wilderness we are often tempted to serve other gods . . .like the gods of abundance and gratifications.

I read once that someone will feel hunger pains or discomfort after just a few hours of fasting, but that is not real hunger. Our stomachs have been trained through years of conditioning to give signals of hunger at certain hours. “In many ways the stomach is like a spoiled child,” Richard Foster wrote in his Classic Celebration of Discipline, “and spoiled children do not need indulgence, they need discipline.” (Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, HarperCollins Publishers, December 2002)

Fasting is one form of spiritual discipline. And it’s a form that really gets at something—maybe because it forms an actual, physical emptiness—and that emptiness can make us more aware of what we mindlessly try to fill ourselves with.

This is very related to what has traditionally been one of the main purposes of fasting: for confession and repentance. A way of discovering—uncovering really—what is in our hearts. It’s like what happens in a bowl of water that is left out. After the water evaporates, a residue of some kind is usually left in the bowl.

One of the results of a fast is often the exposure of the residue of ‘stuff’—maybe anger, resentment, greed, jealousy, fear. Stuff we can and do cover up with food, drink, activity, possessions.

And accompanying this is a heightened sense of justice; the awareness that most people of the world, like our Guatemalan friends, do not live with so much. So a few hunger pangs (even false ones) can become reminders to pray for people who actually do know what hunger is. This is why fasting is not just a discipline for personal spiritual transformation—but, like most true spiritual practices, has a social dimension of transformation as well.

It was the intentional that the Presbyterian Hunger program chose the first weekend of each month to encourage people to fast together. That is because many churches, like ours, celebrate communion on the first weekend of the month. This means that people can break fast with this holy—and communal—meal. Just imagine how this simple meal tastes to those who haven’t eaten much if anything for the past two days.

If your heart and mind and body are not stuffed, if your taste buds not numbed, then just a little morsel of bread or a tiny taste of juice has a chance of being savored. Noticed. Of being holy. God has a chance of being noticed.

Our Guatemalan friends know this—and they are inviting us to discover it too. Maybe you will want to join other Presbyterians around the country in a monthly fast, but I at least challenge you to start with a few hours on September 19.

It’s our invitation into a deeper relationship of trust with the God who loves us.

Because only when we have been made empty can we truly be filled by the presence and love of God.

Take time to be holy: Ellen's Aug. 30 message

A number of years ago when I was preaching every Sunday, to the same congregation and could not use “recycled sermons,” I decided early on that it was best to be guided by the lectionary in choosing a Scripture passage for the sermon. Otherwise I spent hours going through Scripture,
looking for just the right text.

So when I found this passage from James in the lectionary for today, I thought, great…short, simple,we are to listen to God’s Word and then live it out!

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 You must understand this, my beloved:* let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. 21Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves* in a mirror; 24for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Simple and direct commands - “Look after orphans and widows” - Expand on this to volunteer at the community center, serve on the board of the homeless shelter, go on a mission trip, teach an ESL class, build a house with Habitat - This
- Feeds my love of lists and organization
- Something for everyone to do.
- Opportunity for me to affirm the life and mission of this congregation, who hear God’s word, and act on it.

However, as I read and re-read the passage, I began to feel a bit uncomfortable
- The danger of a “look at me” faith – look at what I or my church has done
- The danger of believing that we are blessed by what we do - if we write a check, volunteer, serve, go, we will be blessed,
But, if we do not do those things? Is there no blessing?
- The danger of reducing our faith to a list of things to be done, our accomplishments
- The danger of individualizing our faith, when the heart of the gospel, of Jesus’ life is community, life together.

Of course, this passage, with its short, direct instructions fits nicely into our “bullet point” culture, which places great value on no waiting, instant communication, multi tasking. But is the Christian community intended to fit neatly into the culture that surrounds it?

I don’t think we need to discard this passage but to see it in a larger context of the gospel where we hear other voices from Scripture.

Psalm 131 (or another person to read, a mother)
Mark 3:13-15

There is the doing, acting out our faith - we hear in James words and we are good at that.

There is the speaking about our faith, and we are fairly good at that.

There is the being with Jesus, the Holy One - We hear in the words of the Psalm and Mark, and we are not so good at being - with ourselves, others, God.

Perhaps learn something about being from community of those who were with, accompanied Jesus (Spanish translation of word).

What did it mean for that community (men, women, children) to accompany Jesus? To be with Jesus?

We use our imagination and we see walking dusty, rock- strewn paths, climbing hills, crossing the Sea of Galilee
- Sharing meals
- Listening to Jesus’ stories of a shepherd who went searching for one lost sheep and a woman who rejoiced at finding her lost coin
- Watching as Jesus healed the man born blind, people crowded around Jesus to be healed, feeding of 5000, with some loaves of bread and a few fish
- Wondering at the way Jesus reached out to and accepted women as real people, and played with children waiting as Jesus went into hills to pray, early morning, late evening,

A busy time, yet peace, purpose.

Instead of the violence, injustice, fear in their world shaping and forming their lives, their lives were shaped by Jesus’ words and stories and very being.

Learn from our sisters and brothers in places like Guatemala being with one another.

Very busy people, working in the fields and kitchen from long before the sun rises, to late evening hours;

Hard, physical labor; few of the conveniences that we have -
There is little that is “automatic” “instant” or disposable” –
No one I know thinks about a day off or a week vacation.

There is always work to be done.

Perhaps it is because of this constant stream of things to do that people are generally willing to take time out.

Rather than being completely focused on the task at hand, striving to finish everything on the to- do list as quickly as possible in order to relax later on -

Daily life is filled with times of relaxation and conversation -

Always time to enjoy a cafecito with a friend or to greet a neighbor or colleague with a kiss on the cheek;

Virtually any time or place provides a good opportunity to converse with friends and acquaintances.

Work is never considered more urgent or important than human interaction.
Guatemalan Christians live out the psalm – they give their worries, anxieties, needs, problems – as well as their praise and thanksgiving to God,
and rest in God’s care for them
as a child rests in her mother’s arms, been fed, dry, safe.

How are we to be with, to accompany Jesus?

We cannot walk the dusty, rock-strewn pathways of Nazareth with Jesus or share meals with that community, but we do have the stories of Jesus; we have his words, the parables. We know of the life of Jesus.

We can allow those stories, that life to fill and shape and mold our lives instead of the violence and strife that is all around us.

We do not live in Latin America or Africa where life just seems to be lived at a slower pace,
but we can decide at what pace to live our lives.

We can decide that some things do not need to get done, and so carve out a space to simply be.

We can focus not so much on our list of things to be done, but on the people around us.

We can give our anxieties to God, and rest in God’s love for us.

We will continue to have our list of things to do - help build a house with Habitat, donate our goods and time, serve a meal, teach an ESL class, visit a shut-in -
Living, acting out the Word – and we are called to do that!

Can we also hear other voices (in Scripture?)?

A Guatemalan sister, or a colleague, who says, come and sit a while with me.

The psalmist holding before us the image of a child resting content in her Mother’s arms, and says we can rest in God’s care.

Jesus saying to us, come and be with me.

Our lives may be shaped and formed by, not byso that our going and serving and giving grows out of that time and relationship.

Benediction:
Go now to into your world, be about the work that God calls you to do
And be still, entrusting your life and the lives of all you love, into God’s care.

Labor Day message from Rene

Hermana Ellen- Gracias por el correo y ya el documento lo tiene el Hermano Gerardo y este nuevo mensaje la tengo impreso que Dios le Bendiga y saludes a todos los hermanos y hermanas de su iglesia. Atentamente. Rene

What is ecumenism? - e-mailed to Gerardo

Qué es ecumenismo?

El origen etimológico de la palabra ecumenismo es, del griego, oikoumene. Esta palabra pertenece al campo semántico de la vivienda, asentamiento. Oikus significa casa o sea hogar. Y concretamente oikoumene habla del mundo habitado. Originalmente, oikoumeme, hacía referencia al imperio romano, o sea, al mundo conocido. Tras la caída del imperio deja de tener las connotaciones políticas con las que nació y pasa a tener exclusivamente el sentido eclesiástico.

Con la división las Iglesias (empezando por nestorianos y monofisitas, pasando por la ortodoxia hasta llegar al Calvinismo, Luteranismo o Anglicanismo y tantas otras) el término se refiere al movimiento de re-unión entre las Iglesias Cristianas. El ecumenismo, desde esta perspectiva, busca representar en forma real a la Iglesia única y universal, en la cual todos sus miembros están unidos mediante el amor de Cristo.

Así definimos ecumenismo como el movimiento suscitado por el Espíritu Santo que pretende la re-unión en auténtica unidad de las Iglesias cristianas.
Juan 17: 20-26
Efesios 4:1-6
I Corintios 1: 10-17
Gálatas 3:28

El símbolo del Concilio Mundial de Iglesias es:
Una cruz y un barco, símbolos de la iglesia primitiva, significando fe y unidad. Jesús llama a sus discípulos alrededor del lago de Galilea y callo la tormenta y los discípulos tuvieron miedo. Y Jesús les dijo: “Yo soy; no temáis.” Mt. 14: 22-27, Mr. 6:45-52, Jn 6: 16-21.

Crescent Hill news e-mailed to Gerardo

Saludos en el nombre de Jesucristo. Quisiera comunicar a cada uno de Ustedes, nuestros hermanos y nuestras hermanas, sobre nuestro trabajo de misión para con Ustedes en Izabal.

La mañana del Sábado, 19 de Septiembre, los hermanos y las hermanas de la Iglesia Presbiteriana Crescent Hill vamos a ayunar y a venir juntos para orar por el comité Ejecutivo de su presbiterio, por las mujeres de su presbiterio, por los jóvenes y las señoritas de su presbiterio, y por cada una de las iglesias y los campos de evangelización en su presbiterio. Personas van a venir a la iglesia entre las 8 y las 12 horas de la mañana y van a caminar en la iglesia participando en un laberinto teniendo las fotografías de sus iglesias y personas de sus iglesias y van a orar por las iglesias y por las personas. A las 8 horas en Louisville son las 6 horas en Guatemala. Por la mañana otras personas van a orar con nosotros y por Ustedes en sus casas.

Las Vigilias y el ayuno son nuevas prácticas espirituales para nosotros. Vamos a aprender sobre una nueva cosa. Esa va a ser una muy buena experiencia para Ustedes y para nosotros, vamos a estar orando juntos al Señor en la mañana del 19 de Septiembre.

Después de la vigilia, el sábado y el lunes dos personas de Guatemala van a venir a Louisville para hablar con nosotros sobre Guatemala. También la Pastora Elena va a hablar en la iglesia ese sábado.

Ahora la Pastora Juanita y 20 personas de nuestra iglesia y dos de otras iglesias Presbiterianas planean un taller con otras personas quienes vienen a los Estados Unidos de México, de Tejas, de Guatemala, y de otras países y quienes viven cerca a los barrios de Crescent Hill y Clifton, ellos hablan Español y aprenderán como hablar, escuchar, leer, y escribir Ingles.

Quisiera decir a Ustedes que la esposa de nuestro hermano Benjamin (Shannon) – Benjamin de Louisville – continua enferma pero esta mejor ahora. Y la hermana de Douglas, Anna, un de los jóvenes que fueron al El Estor en 2007 (Anna), esta en la cárcel también ella esta mejor. Gracias a Dios por estas cosas y gracias a Ustedes por orar para Shannon y Anna.

Miembros de nuestra iglesia y otras personas en Louisville e Indiana continúan recuperándose de la inundación dos semanas pasadas. Entendemos que no hay lluvia ese mes en Izabal. Gracias a Ustedes por orar por nuestra recuperación y nosotros oramos por ustedes en Izabal.

Note e-mailed to Pastor Gerardo and colleagues Friday, September 4

Saludos!

Es un privilegio saludarlos y enviarles estos dos documentos para su informacion y entendimeinto de nuestra relacion y nuestras proximas actividades. Este es el tema sugerido por ustedes y espero que juntos aprendamos de eso. Si hay alguna pregunta, hazmela saber. Dios les continue Bendiciendo.

Carlos Lara