World Council of Churches - songs and Prayers for their 70th Anniversary
The WCC's 70th anniversary is a time to give thanks for the achievements, ask for forgiveness for any shortcomings and implore God’s guidance and assistance in any future endeavours. As the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit wrote in a letter to the member churches inviting them to contribute prayers and songs for this anniversary year: “'praying together' has been the source of our inspiration and of all our energy in 'walking together' and in 'working together'.”
Click on the link below to find a collection of such prayers rising from the heart of those who had the privilege of participating – and sometimes even leading – the common Pilgrimage.
https://www.oikoumene.org/en/wcc70/prayers-and-songs/prayers-and-songs?searchterm=Prayers+70th+anniversary
Published 25|05|2018
Christmas Eve Service
If you cannot make it to a Christmas Eve church service, click on the link below on December 24 at 5:00 PM (CST). You will see (via livestreaming) the Milwaukee Latvian Trinity Church’s Christmas Eve service led by archbishop Lauma Zušēvics.
https://m.facebook.com/milwaukeedraudze/
Published 24|12|2017
A Prayer for the victims of the Las Vegas tragedy
Dear Sisters and dear Brothers in Christ,
Gradually the peace of the morning was transformed for all of us as news of the tragedy in Las Vegas became clear. It was not at all clear what we could possibly do in the midst of so much horror and loss. I started to pray. Let us all pray.
Your sister in Christ,
+ Lauma
Dear Lord,
In a place where thousands gathered together to experience something good, horror changed countless lives as one chose to do immeasurable evil and hard. Lord, please, we pray for all who have suffered and continue to suffer. Once again our hearts are torn apart by the pain of so many. We do not understand, Lord, but pray you help us find the faith to continue to affirm life and good in the midst of death and evil. Heavenly Father, comfort all who not only mourn the loss of their loved ones, and all who are still desperately searching for those from whom they have not heard. Hear their prayers, and ours.
Lord Jesus, we pray for all who suffer in this world. Please, Lord, grant peace. Never let our hearts stop hurting for those who cry, or are struggling between life and death. Lord, you taught us to cry with those who are crying and mourn with those who are in grief. Lord, hear our prayers. Only you can transform prayers into strength for those who so suffer and sense your presence, and learn, they are not alone. We are with them and seek to do what we can to be part of the healing this world so needs....please let us not conclude with Amen, for it so often signifies the end of our prayer. Let us continue...
Published 03|10|2017
Arch.
Lauma Zušēvics
Joint Commemoration
Geneva, 24 October 2016
Respected church leaders, dear sisters and brothers -
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I write this email to you a week ahead of the Joint Catholic - Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation to take place in Lund and Malmoe (Sweden) on October 31.
[...]We are encouraged to receive news of so many places where preparations are being made to follow the live-stream of the commemoration. Please note that on the night from the 29th to the 30th of October the clocks in Sweden will be set back by one hour. Check whether your plans have duly taken this detail into account. A very easy way to do this is using the following web-based server
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html Insert the date, your place and "Lund/Sweden" and you will know your local time. Please remember, the common prayer starts at 14:30 in Lund (CET).
I want to also encourage you to visit the website for the Joint Commemoration
http://www.lund2016.net/ which has been prepared for the live streaming of the joint commemoration. You can also download graphic materials (posters) if you want to use them locally.
Please help us distribute this information within your church, particulalry in those places of which you are aware that live-streaming is being prepared.
We pray for God's presence during the joint commemoration so that Catholics and Lutherans find strength and inspiration to walk the journey from conflict to communion.
Published 28|10|2016
General Secratary
Martin Junge
Tragedy in Nice, France
LELCA stands united in its grief with all who have so suffered in Nice, as children, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, grandparents, and friends were torn from their hands and hearts. We pray for each who struggles for their lives. The innocent suffer, they had gathered with no weapons. We know that there will be horrible consequences not only for those who are in mourning but for each that has witnessed that which no one should ever see. What can we say to those in Nice who have experienced such terror? At this time, let us acknowledge that we lack for words that would bring any real meaning. Far too often we have witnessed such atrocities, in Dallas, Orlando, and not that long ago in Paris, elsewhere. We have prayed, we must pray again - individually and in our congregations. We must pray God grants them all strength to endure. Let us pray individually and in all of our congregations, that God strengthen all those who have so horribly suffered. Let us pray as well for those that stand with them and lovingly care for one another. Let us give thanks for each that ran to help and still is doing all they can to help. Let us thank God for the countless good people, who offered their shoulders, so that another might cry and cry in their arms. Christ is in their midst. He is there, where we are not. He cries and stands with them, He comforts and consoles – through our prayers as well. May you be gently blessed this day as so much good must be done to counter so much pain.
Yours in Christ
+ Lauma
Published 15|07|2016
Arch. Lauma Zušēvica
Vandals target St. John's Lutheran church in Aizpute
On June 22, 2016 we received news from Aizputes St. John's pastor Rev. Varis Bitenieks that someone had dragged a mattress up against the doors of the Church, doused it with gasoline, and set it ablaze. The doors of the sanctuary started to burn. This was done after those caring for the Church building had left. The burning mattress was seen by three who were passing by. They called the police and the firefighters arrived. Due to those swift actions, the damage was contained. Latvia's police experts concluded that the mattress was purposefully ignited.
The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad and its Church Council condemns this action and hopes that those responsible will soon be found and brought to justice.
Lauma Zusevics
Archbishop
Latvian Ev. Luth. Church Abroad
Published 24|06|2016
Dear Friend
Thank you very much for your partnership resettling refugees. Our shared history has provided support for people who cannot go home and welcome to over 500,000 refugees. Through LIRS you walk alongside refugees helping them to thrive in welcoming communities in the United States.
[...]
This year, we face the largest refugee crisis since World War II in Syria. More than 4.5 million Syrians are registered as refugees and 75% are women and children. We also see the hope and strength of newcomers. As members of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, you know the importance of being in a community that not only welcomes newcomers to the United State but also offers safety and the opportunity to rebuild their lives with hard work.
Lent begins with a solemn call to fasting and repentance as we journey to the glory of Easter. We ask you to keep the journeys of the stranger in your prayers and to help provide refugees with the opportunity to below to a thriving community. Please walk with refugees by supporting LIRS with a donation.
Thank you for prayerfully considering a gift as part of your Lenten journey to the cross and resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning. Your gift will help the newcomers as they begin their new journey in the United States.
Yours in faith,
Published 29|02|2016
LIRS President
Linda Hartke
Porvoo Church Primates’ Meeting, Edinburgh, Scotland, 20-22 OCTOBER 2015
COMMUNIQUÉIn the
context of the crisis in the Middle East, Europe is facing one of its greatest
challenges since World War II.
The Primates
and Presiding Bishops of the Porvoo Communion of Churches met in Edinburgh for
their regular biennial meeting, and reflected with urgency and compassion on current
geo-political and social challenges as well as ways to further strengthen their
relationships and work together towards building a confident and missional Church
in an increasingly secular and pluralistic Europe.
On a daily
basis people risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean sea; people walk long
distances to cross into Europe because they do not have any other choice; also in
parts of Europe, for example, houses have been set alight, so that refugees do
not find a home; and there is a rising anxiety in some parts of Europe that democracy
is being eroded by intimidation towards strangers seeking refuge and security
The Primates
and Presiding Bishops were unanimous in reiterating that we should not stand
back and remain silent, but must both speak and act, remembering the words of
Jesus; ” For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matt. 25:35). They
were also unanimous in their concern and prayers for Christians and other minority
groups threatened by extinction in the Middle East.
[...]
A number of
Primates and Presiding Bishops spoke of practical initiatives already underway
in churches and communities in consultation with governments. Primates
acknowledge the complexity and difficulty of the crisis unfolding also in
Europe. They recognise that many countries have made and are making enormous
efforts in hospitality, aid and finance. Accepting the pressure on political
leaders they called for prayer and support for them and for those who resist
the destructive calls of extremist groups that reject all support for the
migrant stranger and those seeking refuge.
Churches continue
to have a critical role:
- They are called to understand and evaluate what is happening and
to provide spiritual and pastoral leadership. For example, when those who are
already vulnerable are on the frontline of receiving those who are even more
vulnerable than themselves, the churches must act to encourage and support such
communities to meet the challenge facing them.
- Churches are called to witness to the distinctive Christian values
of mercy, forgiveness, justice, reconciliation and human dignity. This
testifies to the essential dignity of the human person and recognises that
refugees arrive in an alien place traumatised with their experiences. One
example of this witness is showing solidarity with those whose genuine needs
and aspirations are diminished and who are stigmatised as enemies.
- They are called to promote a vision of relationships and
reconciliation beyond the immediate conflicts and challenges. This is needed
because the world should not become locked into a situation where powerful
nation states compete for assertion and dominance, leading to hopelessness and
despair. In Jesus barriers are overcome, giving opportunity for the mature
and compassionate recognition of difference. Power and dignity to the victims who seek protection,
comfort and support as well as to the perpetrators who dare to change their
action and dare to ask for forgiveness
and reconciliation.
The Primates
also discussed the report of the Porvoo consultation on Perspectives on Economics and Ethics – Behaviour Under Scrutiny.
They thanked the Porvoo Contact Group for a document containing key biblical
and theological insights, important sections on human rights, engaging with the
economic system and reflections on, for example, the Jubilee imperative that
points us to ethically based economic principles and behaviour, the question of
who is our neighbour and our relationships as God’s gift to us, so that there
is life and the world may believe. Primates recommended that the document be
widely circulated as an additional resource to churches to reflect upon and use
as appropriate.
The Primates
took note of the successful Porvoo Pilgrimage from Porto to Santiago de Compostela
and requested the Porvoo Contact Group to explore ways of replicating this
pilgrimage model to enable mutual learning and sharing inter-generationally. The value of pilgrimage remains an essential
part of the spiritual life of the churches.
The Primates
meeting was rooted in the Celtic spirituality of worship and prayer as a way of
living with God, creation and our neighbours. It was hosted by the Scottish
Episcopal Church that provided the meeting with insight into the aspects of
national identity, the issues around Scottish independence and Scotland’s relationship
to the European Union. The Primates expressed their gratitude for their warmth
and hospitality.
The presence
of Primates from all Churches of the Porvoo Communion was indeed a sign of the
gift of unity given in Christ being joyfully received. Primates were keen to
encourage the Porvoo Contact Group to carry the Porvoo vision of being together
in mission and ministry into the 20 year Porvoo anniversary meetings in 2016.
The Porvoo
Communion of Churches is the result of the single most important ecumenical agreement
that brought together a wide range of Anglican and Lutheran Churches who have
been sharing a common life in mission and service for the past 19 years. The
Presiding Bishops of the churches of the Porvoo Communion meet every other year
to discuss matters of mutual concern, receive reports of activity within the
Communion and to guide the future shared work of the churches. The Churches of the Porvoo Communion, based
mostly in Northern Europe, are Lutheran and Anglican Churches that have signed
an agreement to “share a common life in mission and service”. The name Porvoo
comes from the Finnish diocese and city in whose Cathedral the Eucharist was celebrated on the final
Sunday of the conversations in 1992 leading to the Common Statement and thus to the Porvoo Communion of Churches.
The Bishops
closed the meeting with a commitment to meet again in two years in Lithuania,
hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania from 12-14 October 2017.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of
participating Primates and Presiding Bishops:
Rt Revd Peter
Skov-Jakobsen, Bishop of Copenhagen, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark
Most Rev’d Justin
Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Church of England
Most Revd Urmas
Viilma, Archbishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia
Most Revd Kari
Mäkinen, Archbishop of Turku, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Rt Revd Martin
Lind, Bishop, Lutheran Church in Great Britain
Rt Revd Agnes
M Sigurðardóttir, Bishop of Iceland, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland
Most Revd Richard
Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Church of Ireland
Most Revd Dr
Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland, Archbishop of Dublin
Most Revd Jānis
Vanags, Archbishop of Riga, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Most Revd Lauma
Zusevics, Archbishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia Abroad
Rt Revd Mindaugas
Sabutis, Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania
Most Revd Helga
Haugland Byfuglien, Presiding Bishop, Church of Norway
Rt Revd Jorge
Pina Cabral, Bishop, Lusitanian Church, Portugal
Most Revd David
Chillingworth, Primus, Scottish Episcopal Church
The Rt Revd Carlos
Lopez-Lozano, Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain
The Rt Revd
Ragnar Persenius, Bishop of Uppsala, Representing the Archbishop of Church of
Sweden
Most Revd Barry
Morgan, Archbishop, Church in Wales (could not attend).
The website
of the Porvoo Communion of Churches is at http://www.porvoocommunion.org/
Published 29|10|2015
Porvoo Communion of Churches
Thoughts on commemorating and scattering seeds
A sermon preached at the 2015
Greater Cleveland Baltic Committee June 14th Prayer Service Commemoration
[Jesus] also said, 'The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the graiin is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.
He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.' (Mark 4:26-34)
* * *
Gracious and loving God, remind us this day of your constant presence in our midst. Remind us that you were present to those suffered at the hands of evil; remind us that you are with us today. Embolden us to proclaim the gospel in the face of all that objects and give us the courage to seek justice, to cherish freedom and to live in your love – towards you and towards one another. Amen.
* * *
Imagine for a moment the scatterer of the seeds. Let a picture form in your mind. Perhaps a image of a solitary figure tossing seeds as they walk the land takes shape. Maybe a woman hunched over a row in her garden dropping seeds into the cultivated soil. Or a big machine shooting seeds into the air letting gravity and chance take charge.
To scatter means to “throw in various, random directions without a particular plan or structure.” Random and directionless but with hope. There is a hopefulness to the seed throwers action – a hope that most of the seed will fall into cultivated so that it may lead to something more.
With this idea of scattering in mind, then those who left messages on scraps of paper by the railroad tracks on the night of the deportations could also be considered “seed scatterers”. The word “scattered” was used to describe what someone saw on the evening of June 14th 1941. “Scattered along the railroad tracks were farewell notes writtern by the deported to their families.” Scattered attempts to notify others of what has happened, scattered papers filled with emotion toward loved ones, scattered notes of hope. Pieces of paper thrown in various random directions without a particular plan or structure – but with a purpose. Thrown in the hope that the note will come to reach a family member.
Both the sower and the sufferer scattered the seeds they had in a hope that something fruitful would result.
* * *
[...]
This past week, in a conversation with a colleague and friend living in Latvia, I heard a comment that at first made me think and then made me concerned. My friend, a minister in Riga, said that fewer and fewer churches across all denominations in Latvia were planning on dedicating worship time to commemorate the events of June 14, 1941 and subsequent genocide of the Baltic people. Worship communities on this Sunday would mention the tragic events in prayer sermon illustrations but fewer churches would dedicate all their worship time to commemoration.
My friend explained that there has been a distancing from the tragic past; a distancing in time, place, and familiarity. As life today consumes more of our attention the interest in the past dwindles and unless there is a direct link or relation, there is diminshing interest and apparent need to commemorate.
This made me wonder. Could it be that we choose not to worshipfully commemorate events of the past not because of a growing distance from the events but because we are seeking a way to keep God isolated from our own lives.. I wonder if this distancing is an indication of our own, present day relationship with God. We choose not to worship not because of the loss of a direct connection to the past but because we do not want to allow God into our present. In other words, we are attempting to keep ourselves from being more open to God's active presence in our lives today. Keeping God distant so we may disregard the invitation to participate in the work of God's kingdom or to dismiss the challenge to scatter seeds of the Gospel in our own lives, communities, and world.
* * *
The growing concern is that it seems as God's children we think we no longer need God. We have grown more confident and comfortable in our own abilities -we plan, we coordinate, we organize. By our actions we are choosing to ignore God; ignore God's presence in past events and ignore God present in our lives today.
This choice to ignore God is evident in the decision within the Baltic communities to not commemorate the events of the past and also in the way the community decides when to let God in.
Unfortunately, the overall number of faithful seem to be holding God at a distance by not allowing God to be active and present to us in our daily lives. Perhaps this is because we see God as the supplier of only blessings to those who deserve them, or the dispensor of harsh justice to the unfaithful that comes from a sense that God has let us down in the past. Or maybe our distancing from God grows from poor theology within a faith communities that stresses that God is only concerned with the soul's future or that the sacred responds on to those who are faithfully exceptional.
Whatever the reason may be, we faithful find ourselves living our lives trusting in our own abilities and skills, while keeping God at a distance. We think of God as something that stands off afar and blesses, or judges, or picks and chooses, or simply leaves us to our own devices. In any case we are living by ourselves and for ourselves.
* * *
The effects of ignoring God, or intentionally shutting God out of both the joys and sorrows of our daily lives can be seen. On this day when we focus our attention on the Baltic states the impact of our brothers and sisters ignoring a God who seeks to initiate God's Kingdom through personal, intimate and meaningful relationships with all of creation is evident.
A simple Google search offers the evidence. The most recent Gallup poll indicates that only 14% of Lithuanians, 7% of Latvians and 4% of Estonians participate in some type of worship or faith community on a regular basis.
I would argue that that choice to not worship the sacred has resulted in the following statistics, which are both staggering and sorrowful. The Baltic people are not happy with life as a survey indicates since only 59% of Latvians consider themselve to be “happy” (making it the unhappiest country in the world). Latvia recognizes itself as a country where people feel alone, forgotten and unsupported. And it gets worse.
All Baltic countries have a higher death rate than birth rate; emmigration rates continue to rise; Latvia ranks first among all countries in single parent homes and first in teen-age pregnancy rates; all three baltic nations rank near the top in alcohol consumption world-wide. Latvia is near the top of the list of countries with the highest suicide rates - a list that Lithaunia is at the top of.
Our people, our families, our friends - our homelands are killing themselves.
* * *
Heaven forbid we would allow for the possibility that faith in an incarnated, risen God would help. Think of this: close to two hundred thousand people attended the May 9th pro-communist festival in Riga last month whereas in the beginning of June, on a Friday evening when all churches in Latvia where invited to open their doors for a “night at church” (like the European “night at the museums), only 35,000 people across the entire nation chose to step foot into a house of worship for a concert, fellowship or simply silent prayer. This choice of what to support while Russian fighter jets fly over the Baltic Sea, parts of Ukraine are being reclaimed without barely a voice raised, and the Baltic people living in a constant state of unstated anxiety and worry about their future.
Considering all of the potential destruction of freedom and life that is progressing in the world I wonder if our gathering on this day offers not only the opportunity to commemorate but also to accept God's challenge to take part in scattering the seeds of God's kingdom. For this is a time to “scatter” even more; to pray fervently, to love with more commitment, to hope with greater honesty, to cherish with deeper purpose. For today we not only remember but we also are invited rededicate ourselves to scatter the seeds of faith in a world that is longing to experience God's merciful and gracious presence.
* * *
Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God. In the parable we heard Jesus say that God's kingdom is as if someone scattered seed and then would go about their normal business, living their life, and the seed would sprout and grown. These are images and thoughts that church people have heard before – seeds, scattering, growing. But did you notice that what Jesus says about the person who scattered the seeds that ended up sprouting and growing? Jesus said the scatter of the seeds “doesn't know how” it all happened. Yes, seeds were scattered, but what happened after that is a mystery.
Thinking about God's work as a mystery is a challenge to us today. We are people who like to be in control. We plan, we design, we work, we analyze. For example, the deportations of June 14 were the result of a highly designed strategy clearly detailed in the Serov instructions. Human nature, in both its good and most evil forms, plans strategies for certain outcomes. The human beings wants to know and there is an inherent in the human nature to seek power and control.
So we may be skeptical when we hear Jesus talk about a kingdom that mysteriously comes into being. And the kingdom Jesus is proclaiming grows in a way that is completely opposite of the way we would consider to do things. A seed is planted, it sprouts, it grows, it produces fruit and we don't know how it happens. In the same way, God's way is initiated for it also grows and produces fruits of compassion, righeousness, forgiveness. But how it all happens remains a mystery to us.
* * *
Yet Jesus continues to invite us into this mystery. But to accept this invitation we need to be willing to allow God to do things God's way. Not only does that mean allowing God to create and build in our midst a kingdom founded in grace and love, but it also means allowing God to interact with God's creation as God desires. To be present: to forgive; to love; to rejoice; to suffer along side. Living in the mystery of the kingdom means that we allow God to be present to us in whatever condition we find ourselves in, and to allow God to form deeper, meaningful, life-transforming relationships with each and every one of us.
This is unique. It is different. Jesus knows it will be a challenge to us to let God be God in God's way and not according to the way we would plan, organize and develop something. Jesus knows that thinking about God's nature and way of life is different from ours. That's why he tells another parable.
Jesus talks about the kingdom of God being like a mustard seed that is planted and grows to become the greatest of shrubs. This isn't an ordinary seed and Jesus is specific that its a mustard seed. A mustard seed will produce a shrub that, if allowed to, will overgrow everything else in the garden. So, if its an organized garden that you want don't plant a mustard seed.
Jesus may be reminding us again that if the regular old way of living is what you want then God's kingdom may not be for you because its grace-filled nature will take over your life. If you seek control, power and authority then God's way will be a challenge to accept. But if you are lost or confused; alone and abandoned; feeling unworthyi and unloved; unforgiven and despondent – then God's loving, grace-filled can overtake you.
Throughout his ministry Jesus is helping all who will listen see that God and what God is doing is different and unique; it's not the same old human way of hurt, evil and destruction. God's way is a life of love, grace and hope.
These are the seeds we are invited and challenged to scatter. To randomly throw in various directions with no control or set system but with a hope that the scattered nature of God's kingdom will create something better.
* * *
So today we have gathered to commemorate the tragic events in our Baltic countries history's. But more than simply remembering and honoring we also are invited to intercede and pray that our Baltic brothers and sisters may allow the ever-present God to help them in their struggles.
And, on this day we are challenged to scatter, to throw in all directions seeds of God's kingdom. To love, to seek justice, to be merciful. To proclaim that as God's children we trust, hope and place our faith in God and God's kingdom.
We are challenged to scatter seeds with hope; participatiing in ways that may be unexplainable and out of our control, trusting that God will cultivate our seeds of love, justice and mercy to sprout, grow and produce fruits that is of the nature and character of God's Kingdom.
Published 15|07|2015
Rev. Pauls Barbins
LELCA sends letter to Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (LELCA) and it’s congregations across the U.S. are joining in prayer with their African Methodist Episcopal brothers and sisters after June 17’s deadly church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.
As a people of faith we are committed to social justice and opposed to gun violence and racism, we grieve the lives lost and destroyed by this horrendous act of violence. The true reality is that we are all impacted by the horror that occurred in your place of worship. LELCA offers our deepest sympathies to your faith community in this difficult time.
Let us remember the words of the prophet Isaiah that offer support: “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.
In God’s love we join with all of our Latvian congregations around the world to pray for you during this time of healing.
Rev. Gunars Lazdins
President
Lauma Zusevics
+ Archbishop
Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad
Rev. Dag Demandt
Director of Information
Published 27|06|2015
