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Salaam and grace to you from Jerusalem, the City of Peace SEMPER REFORMANDA: The Reformation Continues Reformation Day is celebrated in style here at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. Each year Lutheran Pastors from all traditions - Palestine, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and USA - conduct a joint, multi-lingual service to commerorate our heritage and continued commitment to the Reformation tradition. Then, as now, we are constantly renewing, repenting and reshaping to communicate better the heart of the gospel. Bishop Younan spent Reformation Day at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, at the Faith, Reason and World Affairs Symposium on "The Future of the Reformation Church." The conference opened with a joint Lutheran-Catholic service that marked the 5th anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. It took over 500 years and extensive dialogue for Lutherans and Catholics to agree on common ground and heal the bitter divide that had occurred over doctrines and beliefs. Catholic and Lutheran bishops from the region read brief excerpts from the document, and all confessed together:
The
Bishop was asked to speak about the future of the reforming
church from a Palestinian Christian Lutheran perspective. The
following is an excerpt. The full text is available at:www.holyland-lutherans.com FAITH,
REASON AND WORLD AFFAIRS While
he was a professor at Wittenberg University, Martin Luther devised
a seal that he declared was meant to be 'expressive of his theology.'
This variation, created by nationally recognized liturgical
artist David J. Hetland, Concordia Class of '69, Fargo, N.D.,
was designed as a stained-glass window. It represents Hetland's
organic interpretation of 'Luther's Rose' by depicting it as
vibrant and animated. The black cross within the heart represents
Luther's desire to place himself in the mindset 'that faith
in Christ crucified saves us.' The heart is fixed upon the center
of a white rose to show that faith causes joy, consolation and
peace. This rose is set against a sky-colored background to
suggest that such joy of faith in the Spirit is the beginning
of a heavenly joy to come. The surrounding golden ring signified
that such bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than
all the joys and treasures of earth. From Bishop Younan's Address at the Faith, Life and Conference at Concordia College The essence of Martin Luther's theology was his experience of justification by grace through faith, of being set free from his bondage by the love of God in Christ so that he could live to serve God and others in joyful freedom. The question that drove him, and others of his day, was "How do I find a merciful and gracious God." Though that question, of course, remains, we are aware that there are also other questions. Where is God in a world torn apart by violence, war and injustice? Will we ever live in justice and peace, reconciled to God and one another, as equal human beings despite differences in faiths, privileges and politics. What
does justification by grace look like to people who live under
occupation and oppression? What does justification by grace
look like for people whose whole lives are captive to fear in
our present age where extremism, terrorism and xenophobia are
haunt our mentality? What are the questions of today from the perspective of this Palestinian Christian? How
do we live together in tolerance, peace and justice? Justification today must go beyond the freed and forgiven individual, to bring God's liberation and healing to communities trapped in oppression, injustice and fear. Justification today must go beyond eternal salvation, to set free and to restore right relations in this world. Justification today is about healing and reconciling this broken world with the grace of God's forgiving and saving love. Justification today means realizing the Biblical message of shalom and salaam which the Risen Christ brought to the disciples locked in their upper room behind doors of fear. The Biblical message today must speak to us in our locked rooms of dehumanization, oppression, demonization and perversions of truth…. Is there a future for the Reformation tradition in the Middle East? I would quote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Love is the most durable power in the world. This creative force, so beautifully exemplified in the life of our Christ, is the most potent instrument available in humankind's quest for peace and security. Hundreds Mourn Former ELCJ Bishop Naim Nassar Hundreds of people from all over the West Bank came together Friday, October 29, for the funeral of former ELCJ Bishop Naim Nassar. Heads of churches and representatives from partner churches offered greetings and condolences. Pastor Ibriham Azar from the Church of the Redeemer brought a message from Bishop Munib Younan, who was away on a speaking tour in the US. Pastors Jadallah Shihadeh and Mitri Raheb also assisted in the service. Bishop Nassar served for almost 15 years as the 2nd bishop of the ELCJ. Born near Nazareth in 1932, he studied at the Schneller school in Jerusalem until 1947, when he moved to Bethlehem as a refugee of the Israeli-Arab conflict. He studied theology in Neuendettelsau and Hamburg, Germany, and was ordained in 1964, where he served as pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem for over 20 years. He was elected synod president in 1978, bishop in 1986 and retired in 1998. As the ELCJ youth pastor for 10 years, he focused on working with youth activities, conferences and exchange programs with European youth groups. He was a leader in helping church and community. During his service, he helped found various institutions:
A busload of family members from Nazareth joined the funeral at Augusta Victoria's Ascension Church and the procession through the Bethlehem checkpoint to the cemetery. Hundreds of former parishioners, who were refused permits to go to the funeral, met them on the other side. Bishop Nassar is survived by his wife, Georgette; daughters Hala and Helen; many grandchildren and other family and friends. He died on Tuesday, Oct. 26, the Nasser's 41st wedding anniversary. We pray that the Risen Lord may grant comfort to his family and to the ELCJ.
Just as a church needs honest reflection, repentance and renewal to stay true to its course and roots, so it is with people and communities. We Palestinians – and Israelis - stand at a crucial juncture in the path for a just peace. Transitioning to new leadership is never easy in the best of circumstances, and these are far from the best of circumstances given the occupation and the spiral violence under which we live. It is a good time for us as Palestinians to re-think and re-evaluate, to discern again the heart and core of who we are and what we want to stand for. This can only happen when each of us commits to walk in the way of peace, healing and reconciliation. We ask you to uphold the Middle East and its people with your prayers as we pass through difficult times. We also pray for wisdom and strength for the Palestinian people and leadership that they may be united for just peace and reconciliation. Noted
by Rev. Julie Rowe |
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