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On Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27, I attended a conference at Old South Church in Boston, of Friends of Sabeel-North America, of which I am a member. Sabeel (Arabic for the Way) is an international peace movement initiated by Palestinian Christians who seek a just peace based on two states- Palestine and Israel as defined by international law. The conference was titled “The Apartheid Paradigm in Palestine-Israel. 900 attended from 30 U.S. States and five countries. The Conference drew far more than expected with some people needing to be turned away. Desmond Tutu was the keynote speaker. The event drew opposition from pro-occupation and pro-Zionist groups in the wider Boston area, but was supported by Jewish Voice for Peace.

I have posted in the Gallery a copy of Tutu's address. He spoke out against the violence exhibited today by both Palestinians and Israelis and called Israel to exhibit the values that are part of her heritage: “Thanks be to God for the many, many Jews who know what their divine calling is and who want the Israeli Government to live it out. We believe in a two state solution of two sovereign, viable states each with contiguous borders guaranteed as secure by the international community. We condemn acts of terrorism by whoever they are committed.”

Here on Long Island I participate in a Middle East study group with three Presbyterian pastors and two Elders. I am convinced that until a fair and just arrangement in Israel-Palestine is achieved with US and UN strong support, the US will continue to find Arab resentment and acts of violence throughout the Middle East.

“The great work now, as we move into a new millennium, is to carry out the transition from a period of human devastation of the Earth to a period when humans would be present to the planet in a mutually beneficial manner.

This great work is not a role that we have chosen. It is a role given to us, beyond any consultation with ourselves. We were chosen by some power beyond ourselves for this historic task. The nobility of our lives depends upon the manner in which we come to understand and fulfill our assigned role. The most valuable heritage we can provide for future generations is a sense of this great work that is before us of becoming participating members of a comprehensive Earth Community wherein all living beings are subjects, and not objects, and each a mode of divine presence.

Only recently has the deep pathos of the Earth situation begun to sink into our consciousness. The industrial economy has let loose awesome forces disturbing the life-systems of the planet. We must seek and find a new energy to guide us for the Great Work that is before us, to move into the Ecozoic Era, a period of mutually enhancing Human-Earth relations.”

Rev Thomas Barry, shared by Catherine Kellogg

Posted on our bulletin board is an educational piece titled “Sudan: At War With Its People” which provides a historical context for the present conflict in Darfur, as well as a summary of the work of The Sudan Advocacy Action Forum (SAAF) – a Christian grassroots effort that advocates for a just and lasting peace for Sudan, including steps that can be taken to get the United States more involved in addressing this issue.

Recently a documentary film titled “Darfur Now” (which has played in New York and Los Angles) has attempted to make vivid the Sudanese sponsored mass murder of that country's civilian population. The United Nations has estimated that by 2007, 200,000 people had been killed and 2.5 million displaced from their rural villages in Darfur

The American Guild of Organists Region VII (Southwest) Convention last summer was addressed by Dr. Blair R. Monie, pastor of the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Monie spoke on the importance of music in the worship service. Reference was made to Job: 38 (often referred to by our own Pastor Tom), where God reminds Job of the glorious beginnings of creation “when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy.”

It is the duty of the church musician to bring this joy to the parishioners through music. I often select preludes based on old, familiar hymn tunes. There is something comforting about hearing these old tunes which remind us of happy times, perhaps Sunday School Days or perhaps more carefree times. In this time of turmoil, we need to be reminded that times can be happier, just as Job needed to be reminded.

It is my hope that the prelude will prepare you mentally for worship, putting aside the cares of the day for a while. The offertory is just a short, reflective piece and the postlude should say, “Go forth and share what you have learned!”

Dr. Monie also said, “Each Sunday I preach, it is the anthem that preaches to me.” With this in mind, I have chosen, with great care, anthems for the Advent/Christmas season. All are fresh and new and at the reading of their message the choir will have begun to work diligently on them. I do so enjoy the choir rehearsal, not only for the music, but also the camaraderie which we have. It is a true blessing.