GuidelinesforWorldAIDSDayWorshipServiceCompiledandDistributedbyCABSA

(adaptedfrommaterialdistributedin2012)

Sunday29November2015

Focustext:Luke21:25-38

TheKingdomofGodisNEAR

BackgroundandPreparation1DecemberisWorldAIDSDay.ThroughouttheworldthisdayisusedtoincreaseawarenessaroundHIVandAIDSandtoencouragepeopletobepartofthesolution.Themulti-yearthemeis“GettingtoZero”.ThislinkstotheUNAIDScallforzeronewinfections,zeroAIDS-relateddeathsandzerostigmaanddiscrimination.

Weaschurch,ascommunityofbelievers,isinextricablypartofthisworldboweddownbytheimpactofHIVandAIDS.Thisiswhyweaschurcharealsocalledtobepartofthesolution.

ItistruethatHIVisnotasvisibleorexperiencedasdirectlyinallchurchesorcongregations,but,howeveritmaybe,1Cor12:12-31helpusunderstandthat:

“Justasabody,thoughone,hasmanyparts,butallitsmanypartsformonebody,soitiswithChrist(12)...Evensothebodyisnotmadeupofonepartbutofmany(14)...ButinfactGodhasplacedthepartsinthebody,everyoneofthem,justashewantedthemtobe.(18)...Asitis,therearemanyparts,butonebody.(20)...Theeyecannotsaytothehand,"Idon'tneedyou!"(21)...Onthecontrary,...(22)Ifonepartsuffers,everypartsufferswithit;ifonepartishonored,everypartrejoiceswithit.(26)”

Forthisreasonwecannotbeblindedbythecontextofourowncongregation,butneedtolookwideranddeliberatelychoosetoidentifywiththeHIVpositivebodyofChrist.

AfewstatisticscanbeusedtoemphasizethatHIVisaninextricablepartoftheSouthernAfricancontext:

AccordingtoUNAIDSandtheWorldHealthOrganisationanestimated6.8millionpeopleinSouthAfricawerelivingwithHIVin2014.Usingtheacceptedfigureof15-49yearolds,moreorless18.9%oftheSouthAfricanpopulationislivingwithHIV.Ifwethinkoftheparents,partners,children,families,friends,carersandcolleaguesofeachoftheseindividuals,itisclearthattheimpactofHIVisfeltveryfaranddeepinourcommunities.

FormoredetailsabouttheprevalenceofHIVindifferentagegroupsandprovinces,theDepartementofHealthreportcanbedownloadedathttp://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/media-briefs/hiv-aids-stis-and-tb/sabssm4-launch.Newreportsareoftenmadepublicatthistimeofyear–reportswillbehighlightedontheCABSAwebsite.(www.cabsa.org.za)

Forothercontextsandcountries,youcanaccessthemostrecentUNAIDSstatisticsfromhttp://www.unaids.org/en/dataanalysis/datatools/aidsinfo/)

AsAfricansandSouthAfricans,HIVandAIDSispartandparcelofoureverydaycontext.Althoughlessprevalentinsomeotherpartsoftheworld,nocountryisimmuneandHIVisanissuethatshouldreceiveourattentionthroughouttheyear.

However,ontheSundaybeforethe1stofDecember,weaskyouascongregationtomaketheissueofHIVvisibleinaverypracticalway.AschurchweneedtoidentifywiththeHIVepidemicandbewillingtobepartofacommunitythatrespondstoitwithcompassionandresponsibility.

WorldAIDSDayalsofallsinthe16DaysofActivismagainstGender-basedViolence,whenattentionisalsogiventoanumberofotherissueswhereourpropheticvoiceshouldbeheard.

Formoreinformationaboutthiscampaign,visithttp://www.cabsa.org.za/content/16-days-activism-against-gender-violence

ThefollowingVideoclipsmaybedownloadedfromYouTubeandusedindifferentplacesduringtheservice:

Pleasewatchthevideosandmakesurethatyouarecomfortablewiththecontentbeforeyouuseit.

WordsandActions(canbeusefulascalltoactionattheendoftheservice))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGi7EwWX_b0&feature=endscreen&NR=1or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=vGi7EwWX_b0

HIVinfectionsfalling(canbeusedtohighlightstatistics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFnaLXenRn0&feature=endscreen&NR=1

7000 infections per day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNZVwJU0nlw

Ipredict

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEUIQd9kk0Y&feature=list_other&playnext=1&list=SP9407AE8E2E8EEB4

Don’tturnyourback(canbeplayedreeatedlyasthecongregationleavesthechurch)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coPEVTSuw8o

Liturgy

Welcome

ToGodtheFather,ourSaviourJesusChrist,whobecamehumanandwasborninahumblestable,andGodtheSpirit,wholivesinusandturnsourheartstowardsYouandwhoremindsusofthetruelivinghopebroughtbyChrist’sdeathonthecross:ToYournamebethepraise,thehonourandtheglory.Foreverandever.Amen

Blessing:

"Blessedarethepoorinspirit(thosewhoknowhowdependenttheyareonGod),fortheirsisthekingdomofheaven."Mat5:3

PraiseandWorship

(ChooseoneormoresongsdedicatedtothegloryofJesus.)

Suggestions:

• Holy,Holy,Holy!LordGodAlmighty

• Majesty

• Alleluia,Alleluia.

PrayerandCandleCeremony

LightingofthefirstAdventcandle:

(Preparation:Beforetheservice,placeawhitecandle,largeenoughtobevisibletothecongregation,inaprominentplace.Ensurethatmatchesareavailableaswellasaredribbon,+/-60cmlong)

Preacher:TodayisthefirstSundayofAdvent.AlthoughshopsandadvertisementshavebeentrumpetingaboutChristmas,AdventisthetimewhenweaschurchstartlookingforwardtoandpreparingtocelebratethebirthofJesusChrist.

ThisiswhywelightthefirstAdventcandletoday–andthiscandleburnsasasymbolofHOPE.ThiscandleburnstodaytoremindusthatourhopeisanchoredinthelivingandHolyGod,ChristJesus,whobecamehumanandlivedamongstus,Immanuel,Godwithus.

(Lightthecandle,orinviteacongregationmembertodothis.Youcouldarrangeaheadoftheservicethatsomeonedoesthis.)

Preacher:Inseeminglyshrillcontrastwiththemessageofadvent,thestartofadventcoincideswithWorldAIDSDay,whichwascelebratedyesterday.ThisremindsusoftheharshrealitiesoftheworldweliveinandthemanymillionsoflivestouchedbytheHIVpandemic.

Hereinchurchwealsoneedtoremindeachotherofthepresenceoftheepidemicinoursocietyandinourfaithcommunity.AndthereisalsocomforttodayinknowingthatthecandleofhopeisawitnesstothehopeinChristforeveryhouseholdandfamilywhoselivesaretouchedbytherealityofHIVorAIDS.

(TiearedribbonaroundtheCandleofHope,orarrangeinadvancethatacongregationmemberdoesthis).

Askthecongregationtojoinbyprayingthefollowingprayertogether:

Jesus,Yougiveuslifeandhope

Youwhobecamehuman,whocametoliveamongstus,

Whoknewtheloveofahumanfamily,

Andthecomradeshipofyourdisciples,

Evenonthecross,yourmotherandsomeofyourfriendswerenearYou.

Immanuel,Godwithus,

WecometoYouspecificallytoprayforthoseamongstandaroundus

LivingwithHIVandAIDS;

Mayeachonebeblessedwiththeloveandcareoffriendsandfamily,

MayYourpresenceandhopebetangibleforeachone–especiallyindifficulttimes,

Mayeachone’sphysicalandspiritualneedsbemet

Andnonefeellonelyorrejected.

Lord,mayeachonefeelsafeandathome,andbesafeinourmidst

Andteachustotocarryeachother’sburdenswithcompassionandunderstanding,

ButalsotorejoicetogetherinYou,ouronlytruehope.

Amen

ScriptureReading

FocusText:Luke21:25-38

ThekingdomofGodisNEAR.

Sermon

(ThesesuggestionsarebasedontheAfrikaanssermonguidelines“2Desember2012,EersteSondaginAdvent,Preekstudie–Lukas21:25-38inWoordenFees”.Wehighlightthefollowing4mainthoughts.)

1. WearestillwaitingforthereturnofJesus

Wearefirstofallremindedthattheimpressive,majesticsecondcomingwhichwereadaboutinv27hasnottakenplaceyet.WhenLukewrotethisgospel(85-90AC),heusedthegospelofMark,whichwaswritten20yearsearlier,assource.Luketriestomakesenseofthefactthatitis20yearslaterandJesushadnotreturnedyet.

Andtoday,2000yearslater,thequestionisevenmorerelevant,becausewearestilllivinginexpectationofthereturnofourLord.Thiscanbringustoask–howshouldwewaitonthereturnofChrist?

2. ItmayevenfeelasifGodisabsenttoday.

Inverse25-26wereadofalarmingsignsinnaturewhichspreadfear,terroranddesperationamongstthepeopleoftheworld:

“Peoplewillfaintfromterror,apprehensiveofwhatiscomingontheworld,fortheheavenlybodieswillbeshaken.”(v26)

Ifwethinkabouttherealitiesofourcontext,wecanalsosaythatthechallengeswefacemakeusfeelthatGodandHiskingdomareveryfarfromoureverydayworld.

Wehumansfaceavarietyofcrises.Weareawareofregularnaturalcatastrophes;justthinkofthechaosandupheavalcausedbytheSuper-stormSandyandtheeffectofclimatechange.Thereisalsotheeconomicrecessionwhichinfluencesallofus,buthasaparticularlycripplingeffectontheoldestablishedeconomiesofEurope,thereispoliticalinstabilityintheMiddleEast,butalsoinotherpartsoftheworld.Andthenwehavenoteventouchedonpovertyandthefactthataround34millionpeopleworldwidearelivingwithHIVorAIDS.

InSouthAfricathesituationisnotmuchbeter.WeareallawareoftheMarikanatragedy,theprolongedstrikesparticularlyintheminingindustry,widespreadcorruption,unemployment,therisingcostofliving,violence,intoleranceandmistrust.Inadditiontoallthis,wearethecountrywiththehighestnumberofpeoplelivingwithHIV–around5.57million.Justthinkoftheincredibleimpactthishasonsomanyaspectsofoursociety.

Wecouldindeedask“whereisGod,then?”ArewewaitinginvainforJesustoreturn?

3. Seethesigns,liftupyourhead!

ButwhatdoesLukesay?HechallengesustoLIVEfromthehopethatwehaveinJesus,whenhesaysinverse28“Whenthesethingsbegintotakeplace,standupandliftupyourheads,becauseyourredemptionisdrawingnear."

WeareremindedthatourhopeisanchoredinthelivingChrist.Thesethingswilpass,butwedreamofanewJerusalem!Wearereminded,evenmore,wearecallednottolosecourage,buttostandupstraight.

Lukegoesevenfurther,saying:“Evenso,whenyouseethesethingshappening,youknowthatthekingdomofGodisnear.“(V31)

Why?Becausethesethingsareasign:

- Likeatreewhichbeginstobudisasignthatsummerisnear,

- LikethebrightdecorationsintheshopsareasignthatChristmasisnear,

- LikeChristmasisasign,areminder,ofGod’sgiftoflovetous,

- LikethebirthofJesusisasignoftheredemptionwhichGodbroughtaboutforus...

InthiswaythethignsthatthreatentofrightenandoverwhelmusareasignthatthekingdomofGodisnear.

4. Butwhataboutthisin–betweentime?

HowcanthekingdomofGodbenearwhenitfeelssofar?Whenwearesurroundedbysomuchpainandsuffering?

Thetroublesoftheworldhavetheabilitytodragusdown,andthefactthatittoowillpassisnotenoughconsolationforourdailyexistence.Therealityisthatweknowthatthislifewillcometoanend,butwhilethenewbeginninghasnothappened,howdoweliveNOW?

Dowewaitforthekingdomtoarrivefromheaven–ordowebringthekingdomofGodtoourcurrentcontext.OrisitratheramatterofhowweseeGod’skingdominourselvesandaroundus?

ThepersonconfrontedwithaHIVpositivediagnosistodaywilldefinitelynotfindimmediateconsolationinthefactthateveryonewilldiesomeday.Afterall,theonlylifeeachofusknowsisthisone,theonewearelivingnow.Andifwearetotallyhonest,veryfewofactuallywanttodietoday!Wehavedreamsandplansandpeoplehereinourearthlyexistence.Andwhileweareherewecertainlytrytogivemeaningtoourlives.ThereforitiscertainlylogicalthatthoseofuslivingwithHIValsostilldreamofameaningfullife,ofseeingourchildrengrowupandofgrowingoldwithourlovedones.

Afterall,Godcreatedthisearth.Andifourlifeonthisearthwassoinconsequential,wouldHehavebeensoconcernedtoreconcileustoHim?Whydowenotallpassontotheideallifeinheaven?

DrRonellBezuidenhoutwrites:

“Whenlifeisupsidedown,youlookforanescape...peopleinthissituationclingtohope.Thisofcoursecompelsus,whenthingsaregoingwellwithus,tosupportthosewithwhomitisnotgoingwell!Thosewhoseheadsarehanging,whosetroublesarepullingtheirshouldersdown.Weneedtoalsolifttheveilforthem....becausetheonethingwehavetorememberisthatweonlyhavethe‘now’tolivein...thistimeisnot“near”becauseithasnothappenedyet,butnearby...nextto...closeby...around...soclosetous,becausethetimehasinfactalreadydawned!”

JesusalreadybroughtaboutourreconciliationwithGod.ThisiswhywelivenowandwhyeachofuscanholdontoGod’spresenceinour‘today’.

AndiftheKingdomofGodisnear,maybeweshouldthinkoftheword“near”notonlyasindicatingtime.Theword“near”afterallalsoreferstoposition.The“thekingdomofGodisnear”thereforalsomeansthatitisclose,closetoMYbodyandclosetoMYreality.

WhetherIamHIVPositiveornot.WhetherHIVdirectlytouchedmyhouseholdornot.WhetherIhavelostlovedonestoanAIDSrelateddeathornot...whetherIsecretlyworryaboutmyownHIVstatus...orlivewiththeguiltthatIamnotalwaysfaithfultomypartner...theonethingweallhaveincommon,isthis–Todayweallhavetodaybeforeus.

Wedon’tknowabouttomorrow.Wedon’tknowwhenJesuswillreturningloryontheclouds,butwhatwedohaveistoday.Todayisnear.Todayisreal.HowcanwelivetodaytomakethekingdomofGodrealandvisiblearoundme,nearme.

Thewaitingreferredtointhetextisnotpassive...weread:“Standupandliftupyourheads(v28)... Becareful,(v34)... Bealwaysonthewatch,andpray(v36)”

TheSpiritandthebridesay,"Come!"Andlettheonewhohearssay,"Come!"Lettheonewhoisthirstycome;andlettheonewhowishestakethefreegiftofthewateroflife

Rev22:17

Because“TodayinthetownofDavidaSaviorhasbeenborntoyou;heistheMessiah,theLord.”Luke2:11

InvitationtoCongregation:

Preacher:DearCongregation,whilewearewaiting,whilewearepraying,thecandleofhopeisburningtodayforeachofus,andremindsusthathopeisnotonlyfor‘oneday’.WelivetodayinthewonderfulknowledgethatGodisalreadypresentinandconcernedwithourlives.Wealsoknowthatthroughourpresence,webringGod’spresencetoeachother’slives.LetusthereformakeourcompassionforeachotherandforeachonewhoselifeistouchedbyHIVandAIDSvisiblealsointhisservice.

(Chooseanyofthefollowinginvitationstothecongregation:)

Option1

Preacher:Ifyouwouldliketocommityourself,yourpartner,achild,abrotherorsister,afriend,acolleagueoremployerwhoislivingwithHIVtotheLord,pleasecometothefrontandlightacandleforthem.

(Asongorsoftmusiccanbeplayedinthebackgroundwhilecongregantshavetheopportunitytocometothefront.)

(Prepareenoughsmallcandlesinbaskets.Thefirstfewpeoplecanlighttheircandlesatthecandleofhope.Thereaftertheycanalsolighttheircandlesfromeachother’scandle.)

Option2

Preacher:Ifyouwouldliketocommityourself,yourpartner,achild,abrotherorsister,afriend,acolleagueoremployerwhoislivingwithHIVtotheLord,pleasecometothefrontsothatwecanpraytogether.

(Asongorsoftmusiccanbeplayedinthebackgroundwhilecongregantshavetheopportunitytocometothefront.)

Option3

Preacher:Ifyouwouldliketocommityourself,yourpartner,achild,abrotherorsister,afriend,acolleagueoremployerwhoislivingwithHIVtotheLord,pleasestandjustwhereyouare.Whenwestand,wedeclareoursolidaritywitheachotherandweadmitthatthebodyofChristislivingwithHIV.

(Giveenoughtimeforthecongregationtothinkaboutthisandthenpraythefollowingprayer)

PrayerinResponsetoHIVandAIDS(shortenedversion)

(Thecongregationcanbeaskedtostandandpraythefollowingprayertogether)

Preacher: OurFather,westandbeforeYouinaweandworship.WepraiseYou,LordJesusthatyoucameintoourworld,sothatwemaybecomechildrenofGod–heirstoeternallife.HolySpiritwethankyouasourComforterandStrength...

Congregation:...foryourlovingkindnessisforever.

Preacher: MercifulGod,werememberbeforeyouallwhoaresickthisday,andespeciallyallpersonswithHIVorAIDS...

Congregation:...foryourlovingkindnessisforever.

Preacher: Givethemcouragetolivewiththeircondition.Helpthemtofaceandovercometheirfears.Bewiththemwhentheyarealoneorrejected.ComfortthemwhentheyarediscouragedandtouchthemwithyourhealingSpiritthattheymayfindandpossesseternallifenowandforever...

Congregation:...foryourlovingkindnessisforever.

Preacher: Holyandlife-givingGod,fillourheartsandthoughtswithyourloveandcompassionforeachother.Removefear,stigmaandjudgmentfromourheartsandteachustolookateachotherwithYourheart...

Congregation:...foryourlovingkindnessisforever.

Preacher: Heavenlyfather,forgiveourfailuretorespondadequatelytotheHIVpandemicandthecriesofthosewhoneedourhelp.FilluswithyourloveandcompassionandmakeuschannelsofYourhope...

Congregation:...foryourlovingkindnessisforever.

Amen

Hymn

(ChooseasongorhymnreferringtothecomingofthekingdomofGod):

SuggestedHymns-TheNewJerusalem,SilentNight

Blessing:Letusgofromherecommittedtobecarriersofhope,withourheadsheldhighintheknowledgethatGodandHiskingdomisindeednear.

ProvidedbyCABSADevelopedbyAnelehFourie-LeRoux

Basedonthe“WoordenFees-PreekstudiesenLiturgieseVoorstelleGebaseeropdieKerklikeJaar2013”,Bybel-Media.

ScripturetakenfromtheHOLYBIBLE,NEWINTERNATIONALVERSION®.Copyright©1973,1978,1984,2011byInternationalBibleSociety.UsedbypermissionofZondervanPublishingHouse.Allrightsreserved.

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