John's Blog: Transforming Globalism (Part 5 of 8)
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Transforming Globalism (Part 5 of 8)
Highlights from the Friday evening worship and dramatic presentation
We processed in singing "Siyahamba" from the UCC hymnal (#526), in 3 languages -- Zulu, English, and a Spanish translation someone had done. (Okay, without the hymnal in front of me I had to hum through the Zulu and Spanish.) The call to worship was Psalm 150, the "praise God with trumpets, cymbals, etc." one.
The unison prayer was a poem by Julia Esquival, as follows:
O Holy and haunting Presence whose spirit moves quietly but surely in the sound and fury of the world and of my life. You know me as rushing water knows the rock and releases its beauty to reflect new light.Open me to the insistent abrasiveness of your grace, for I often trivialize love by abandoning the struggles which accompany its joys and rejecting the changes which lead to its fulfillments.
Release me from the dark fury of assuming I am unloved when the day calls for sacrifice and the night for courage.
Release me from the ominous fear of thinking some sin or failure of mine can separate me from you when life demands hard choices, and the battle, high risks.
Release me from the dangerous illusions of independence when the human family summons me to the realities and promises of interdependence among races, sexes, nations.
Relase me from being possessed by riches I do not need and grievances that weary me when you call me to share my very self with neighbors and to reflect for the world the light of the kingdom within me.
After the service, there was a performance of a theatre group called the "Just Peace Players". They presented a series of 1-10 minute skits which especially excelled at juxtaposing the gospel message with modern day people and events, or just revealing the absurbity of certain aspects of our insular North American lifestyle. Certain of the skits brought tears to my eyes through their powerful storytelling, and some were just light-hearted but with a point. There was also some traditional songs with new justice-centered words, which I have to admit I was not enamoured of, musical snob that I am, but others seemed to appreciate them. :-) Just Peace Players may be contacted through Rev. Fran Bogle, (508)877-1217.
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