Thank you for the Indian church; thank you Lord for the Christians we met yesterday, in the nearby State of Andhra Pradesh
The wonderful welcome...
The wonderful welcome...
Their exuberance in faith, including through the dance after the service.
The roughly 100 who gathered for worship (women and younger children on one side, men and some at least of the older boys, on the other, reflecting the general practice in all aspects of life. Roughly 50% of the village are Christian. There seemed to be roughly the same number as men as of women. Presumably whole families attend.
The liveliness, the vibrancy, of their singing (cities have Hymns, and villages tend to have Lyrics (songs)).
(From what had been described I had expected something like Morning Prayer. In fact, it was lively singing for around half an hour, then the scriptures were read (one in Telagu, one in Tamil, one in English), and then I spoke, with translation, for just over 30 minutes.) We concluded with prayers including, I think (!) the Lord's Prayer.
(From what had been described I had expected something like Morning Prayer. In fact, it was lively singing for around half an hour, then the scriptures were read (one in Telagu, one in Tamil, one in English), and then I spoke, with translation, for just over 30 minutes.) We concluded with prayers including, I think (!) the Lord's Prayer.
Their evangelism. The Diocese pay around 120 evangelists who spend their time with non-Christians. The two we met yesterday visit the Hindus of the village and those of surrounding villages.
Their ministry and the dedication of the ministers. Jayaseleen ministers in 4 churches. Previously he had oversight of 42 village churches. A minister seeks to ensure each church has communion once a month (weekdays of Sunday not possible). Catechists take services other weeks. They have a key and vital unpaid ministry. Their role sounds not unlike that of Readers.
Praise God for the missionaries who established this church in the 19th century (the baptistery was made from the 'altar' in the original church) and all who minister.
Their ministry and the dedication of the ministers. Jayaseleen ministers in 4 churches. Previously he had oversight of 42 village churches. A minister seeks to ensure each church has communion once a month (weekdays of Sunday not possible). Catechists take services other weeks. They have a key and vital unpaid ministry. Their role sounds not unlike that of Readers.
Praise God for the missionaries who established this church in the 19th century (the baptistery was made from the 'altar' in the original church) and all who minister.
Their devotion to the scriptures (I note that there is only one obvious commentary. Books are very expensive, around £50 as far as I can tell. Why are they so much; can we not provide cheaper in these days of Amazon etc?)
The desire for prayer...
(for some, hospital is too expensive)
(for some, hospital is too expensive)
For their hospitality
The service of God's people by their elders
Their sacrifices of service. We had a "conventional" offering but earlier there had been one of rice (shown), grown locally.
For the contentedness of their lifestyle. Most work in the fields. There is chicken for lunch. I presume it had been killed especially.
Pick Your Own 'tender coconuts' Indian style. The milk from each filled a glass.
I base my talk around Psalm 110:1, seeking to keep concepts very straightforward. The other passages set have complexities like baptism and sacrifice and I am unsure what I will be heard to say if I stray into complex territory. As a structure I adopt the different levels of the caste system. I take a bit of a risk, speaking of Christ who allowed people to touch him (most are of the Untouchable caste) and who makes the first last and the last first.
[Wikipedia: The Indian caste system is a system of social stratification and social restriction in India in which communities are defined by thousands of endogamous hereditary groups called Jātis.
The Jātis were hypothetically and formally grouped by the Brahminical texts under the four well known categories (the varnas): viz Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (kings, warriors, law enforcers, administrators), Vaishyas (agriculturists, cattle-herders and traders), and Shudras (menials, Artisans, labourers, craftsmen, service providers). Certain people like the chandalas (who dealt with disposal of the dead) were excluded altogether and treated as untouchables. Although identified with Hinduism, in the past (1883 year data) the caste-like systems were also observed among followers of other religions in the Indian subcontinent, including some groups of Muslims and Christians, most likely due to common cultural elements.
In 2001, the proportion of Dalit population was 16.2 percent of India's total population. The Dalit population of India is officially recognized and protected by Indian government as Scheduled Castes. The term Dalit includes all historically discriminated lowest castes of India such as Shudras and Untouchables.]
I speak of Christ who is more bigger, wiser, etc than anyone, supreme over all, yet who shows to us a new greatness, the greatness that is greatest of all and that conquers even death: that of servanthood, and the final greatness, that of being last of all in this word, for Christ makes the last first.
Ramila was an excellent translator. Plus I thought I'd better prove I did something!...
[Wikipedia: The Indian caste system is a system of social stratification and social restriction in India in which communities are defined by thousands of endogamous hereditary groups called Jātis.
The Jātis were hypothetically and formally grouped by the Brahminical texts under the four well known categories (the varnas): viz Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (kings, warriors, law enforcers, administrators), Vaishyas (agriculturists, cattle-herders and traders), and Shudras (menials, Artisans, labourers, craftsmen, service providers). Certain people like the chandalas (who dealt with disposal of the dead) were excluded altogether and treated as untouchables. Although identified with Hinduism, in the past (1883 year data) the caste-like systems were also observed among followers of other religions in the Indian subcontinent, including some groups of Muslims and Christians, most likely due to common cultural elements.
In 2001, the proportion of Dalit population was 16.2 percent of India's total population. The Dalit population of India is officially recognized and protected by Indian government as Scheduled Castes. The term Dalit includes all historically discriminated lowest castes of India such as Shudras and Untouchables.]
I speak of Christ who is more bigger, wiser, etc than anyone, supreme over all, yet who shows to us a new greatness, the greatness that is greatest of all and that conquers even death: that of servanthood, and the final greatness, that of being last of all in this word, for Christ makes the last first.
Ramila was an excellent translator. Plus I thought I'd better prove I did something!...
I make reference to heroes, drawing on what I have learnt of the Ramayana.
Wikipedia: "The Ramayana... is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon (smṛti), considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata. It depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal father, ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king.
"The name Ramayana is a tatpurusha compound of Rāma and ayana ("going, advancing"), translating to "Rama's Journey". The Ramayana consists of 24,000 verses in seven books (kāṇḍas) and 500 cantos (sargas), and tells the story of Rama (an avatar of the Hindu preserver-God Vishnu), whose wife Sita is abducted by the demon king of Lanka, Ravana. Thematically, the Ramayana explores human values and the concept of dharma.
"Verses in the Ramayana are written in a 32-syllable meter called anustubh. The Ramayana was an important influence on later Sanskrit poetry and Indian life and culture. Like the Mahābhārata, the Ramayana is not just a story: it presents the teachings of ancient Hindu sages(Vedas) in narrative allegory, interspersing philosophical and devotional elements. The characters Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Hanuman and Ravana are all fundamental to the cultural consciousness of India and Nepal."
The Tamil version is known as the Ramavatharam. Wikipedia again:
"Ramavatharam is different from the Sanksrit original in many aspects - both in spiritual concepts and in the specifics of the story line. This historic work is considered by Tamil scholars as well as the general public as one of the greatest literary works in Tamil literature...
The epic is quite well known, both in the Tamil literary world and in the Hindu spiritual world, for the colorfulness of its poetry and for its religious value."
Incidentally, the Indian Superstars of the day are also well know. One of the dances after the service is based on I guess a video.
Wikipedia: "The Ramayana... is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon (smṛti), considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata. It depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal father, ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king.
"The name Ramayana is a tatpurusha compound of Rāma and ayana ("going, advancing"), translating to "Rama's Journey". The Ramayana consists of 24,000 verses in seven books (kāṇḍas) and 500 cantos (sargas), and tells the story of Rama (an avatar of the Hindu preserver-God Vishnu), whose wife Sita is abducted by the demon king of Lanka, Ravana. Thematically, the Ramayana explores human values and the concept of dharma.
"Verses in the Ramayana are written in a 32-syllable meter called anustubh. The Ramayana was an important influence on later Sanskrit poetry and Indian life and culture. Like the Mahābhārata, the Ramayana is not just a story: it presents the teachings of ancient Hindu sages(Vedas) in narrative allegory, interspersing philosophical and devotional elements. The characters Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Hanuman and Ravana are all fundamental to the cultural consciousness of India and Nepal."
The Tamil version is known as the Ramavatharam. Wikipedia again:
"Ramavatharam is different from the Sanksrit original in many aspects - both in spiritual concepts and in the specifics of the story line. This historic work is considered by Tamil scholars as well as the general public as one of the greatest literary works in Tamil literature...
The epic is quite well known, both in the Tamil literary world and in the Hindu spiritual world, for the colorfulness of its poetry and for its religious value."
Incidentally, the Indian Superstars of the day are also well know. One of the dances after the service is based on I guess a video.
Lord Jesus, help me to learn. There is much to reflect on, not least that the pattern of ministry (ie not having sacramental leadership in each congregation is) not one that commends itself to me for the English church. Yet here I see it working effectively and missionally.
And may I remember to pray for them, as they asked, and as I agreed.
Amen
And may I remember to pray for them, as they asked, and as I agreed.
Amen
On a lighter note, enjoying seeing Indian Palm Squirrels.
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