SANIBONANI GOOD DAY OUT THERE: Greetings from Vienna, Austria today we depart for Durban via Dubai at 10pm.AT RELIGIONS FOR PEACE: 9TH WORLD ASSEMBLY 20 TO 22 NOVEMBER 2013, WE LEARNT: that although we differed in religious persuasion, we can have dialogue; develop friendships and cooperate around social justice issues, with those who are other. I have developed friendships with Muslims from Nigeria & Zambia; with some Bahai from Seychelles; Hindus from London; Jewish rabbis and Anglican priests from Jerusalem; Palestinian Bishops; observed how a Native American uses his feather to pray. The more I engaged with others the more my own faith as a Wesleyan-Christ-follower was affirmed and enriched. LAST NIGHT I WAS INVITED TO ATTEND A SYNAGOGUE IN AN AREA WHICH WAS THE PLACE WHERE THE NAZIS UNDER HITLER, ‘HERDED’ 200000 AUSTRIAN JEWS INTO A GHETTO, 650000 OF THESE JEWS WERE EXTERMINATED IN THE NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS. It was a solemn moment for me when I looked at the neighbourhood and could almost hear the cry of God for the suffering of people in this way, then and now. In the Synagogue, we sang songs and Psalms in Hebrew with the most beautiful Judaic tunes. Our ‘sermonette’ was by a Rabbi from Jerusalem who was part of a movement that brought together Israelis and Christian/Muslim Palestinians in small groups to enable them to discover and welcome the other through relationship building. He said peace-making was for the diplomats they were Peace-building at grassroots – to last, at grassroots. THE MYRIAD OF INTERACTION WITH THE OTHER MADE ME REALISE ONCE AGAIN HOW BLESSED WE ARE IN DURBAN, BECAUSE THIS KIND OF MULTI-FAITH; MULTI-CULTURAL EXPERIENCE IS PART OF OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. We could become a leading city of example of cooperation, respect and caring those who are other in faith and cultural expression. I close with verses from Psalm 95 which we sang last night: “OH, COME LET US SING TO THE LORD (ADONAI), LET US MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TH THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION. LET US COME INTO ADONAI’S PRESENCE WITH THANKSGIVING….” Peace and Blessings be upon you. Shalom Bishop Mike (23/11/13)
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 06:52:30 +0000
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