The English-Speaking Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Geneva 20, Rue Verdaine / 1204 Geneva, Switzerland. Volume 02/2018 Summer Pope Francis- Ebenezer, Rock of Help “Jesus Christ is By George Arende state of Shock, Rebecca quickly walked into her our oxygen” November 14th last year, was house and dashed into the not a normal day like any bedroom where she safely others for Rebecca. Her hus- kept one of her favorable band, Peniel who works with gifts - a wedding necklace the World Council of Church- known in her language as es was on work travel in Tai- Mangalasutra [Literally pei and Rebecca remained In ‗wedding chain‘ which in Inside this issue: Geneva with their sons. some South Indian traditions That morning, Rebecca pre- a groom ties around the ―I felt unsafe, I was shaken, pared their sons Ebenezer bride‘s neck during marriage Rock of Help 1 didn‘t know what to do or (10 yrs) and Cleon (6) for symbolizing the bonds of where to start as Peniel was school and left for work at marriage]. This was a neck- away‖ she says. Book of Revelation 1 the Lutheran World Federa- lace given to her by Peniel‘s tion. Little did she know that parents during her wedding I Saw God through my son some people had been trail- in 2004. Pastor Column 2 ing all her family move- ―The entire house was up- Rebecca stayed numb as mul- ments. side down, they had pulled tiple thoughts crossed her On return home that evening everything down, things mind. Unaware of what to do Cultural Soiree 3 at around 18.30, she insert- were scattered, computers or procedure to follow, she ed the keys as usual to open on the floor, glass from the sat on the stairs con- the door. Unlike other days, broken door splintered all fused. ―Mama, let‘s call the Ski Outing 4 the entire lock unit came over,‖ she narrated to Gene- police and Vanita [a member out. Someone had intruded va Lutheran. The wedding of our congregation]‖, mur- into her home. ―Mama, necklace was missing as well mured her son. Outside and New Geneva Law 5 someone must have broken as other valuable items. Bur- in confusion, ….Cont Pg 8 into our house‖, said glars had struck and robbed Ebenezer. Confused and in a her off her sense of security. Literacy Tips 6 Reflection on the Book of Revelation Pope‘s Visit 9 mor and various videos By Patrick Fleury tion. She stressed the im- (including a Chevrolet Super Martin Luther questioned if portance of the different Bowl commercial!!!) through the book of Revelation letters to the seven In Clay Jars 10 the daunting imagery of the should be part of the Bible Churches of Asia, and how woman, the dragon and the and John Calvin commented their message is still rele- child, and the Beasts from the whole Bible except Reve- vant today to assess the the Sea and the Earth. The Service Learning 11 lation. It is therefore with vitality of our church com- imagery of the fall of the anticipation that I decided to munity. Her wit, humor and city of Babylon was heavily join this eight week Bible dedication gave us the nec- discussed by the partici- Announcements 12 study. The first four sessions essary elements to pursue pants and made us ques- were lead by Miriam Deffen- with the symbolic imagery tion what we could change baugh who was able to com- of the Book. Pastor Andy in our life in order to be ment with passion and illus- lead the four final sessions. closer to God. Pastor Andy trate the historical and cul- Andy guided us also with ….Cont Pg 8 tural background of Revela- theological depth and hu- Pastor’s Column: New Opportunities in Children’s Ministry By Andy Willis week is the time at home— been the general experience Page 2 time spent in conversation of churches that have tried It‘s no secret that there are about faith, reading the Bible something similar. Generally, lots of children around our together, singing songs, or when children are in a place congregation these days. On praying as a family. How can where they can see, they are any given Sunday, we see up our congregation better sup- much more engaged with the to 30 children of Sunday port families in fulfilling their experience of worship—and if school age, plus several more baptismal promises to raise anything, the volume level in under age 3. their children in the faith? This the service goes down. Sum- “ Children The presence of so many is a key question for our com- mer could be a great time for young ones brings us to some munity and one we can pay us to experiment with a space can begin to wonderful and important much more attention to. of this sort in our sanctuary. questions: How are we cur- Worship is one of the key There are pros and cons to rently passing on Christian internalize ways children learn the our current church school faith to the children of our faith. time; it may be worth try- much of the community, and are there ing a new time. changes we might make to do Church school certainly has an Christian this in a more whole and faith- important role to play in intro- Our current model—where ful way? ducing children to Bible stories children are present for the faith simply and themes of Christian life; beginning and ending of wor- To help us think through these but it is no substitute for par- ship and attend church school by being questions, a congregational ticipating in worship. In a wor- for the middle—certainly isn‘t forum was held after worship ship, children are exposed to a bad. It gives children both present ” on 17 June. I want to take this multisensory experience—the some experience of worship opportunity to share a few of sights of others praying and and some class time, and it the key themes from our time serving one another, the clearly works for us logistical- together. smells of bread and wine, the ly. But what would happen if Children’s ministry is both sounds of a community sing- we made some small changes about what happens at ing together. No matter how to the worship space (making church and what happens young, children can begin to it more welcoming for chil- at home. internalize much of the Chris- dren) and the worship service tian faith simply by being pre- (shortening it a bit and maybe Sometimes we can imagine sent regularly for the experi- including more regular direct that the only way children‘s ence of worship. involvement of children) and ministry happens is through then moved the time of church the classroom time of church We can experiment with school so that children could school. But the formation of a our worship space to make attend the whole service with child‘s faith is about much it more welcoming to chil- their families? Church school dren. could either take place before Physical space can greatly the service (during the adult affect children‘s experience education time) or after of worship. The area current- (during coffee hour). I person- ly designated for children in ally think this could be a great our sanctuary is squeezed opportunity to introduce chil- under the stairwell at the dren—from a young age—to back of the room and has the whole sweep of worship, space for no more than three and it could help them feel kids at a time. Now may be a that they have a place there good time to revisit both the from the very beginning. size and placement of this This is an ongoing conver- area. sation in our community Children light candle ahead of the Churches in many places are now, and I hope you’ll join worship. experimenting with creating in as you’re able! children‘s spaces that are Forum audio is available on more than that. Tim Fieldsend much larger, more visible, and our website. The presence of noted that if a child attends closer to the ―action‖ of wor- so many children in our com- church school every Sunday ship. While we might imagine munity is a wonderful gift, and we offer it in a given year, she that putting a larger carpet we have the opportunity now will have been in class for the closer to the altar and bring- to embrace the task of passing equivalent of two to three full ing in some children‘s chairs, on the faith in some new and school days. It‘s a very short exciting ways. Thanks for be- amount of time. cushions, books, and quiet toys would make the sanctu- ing part of this ministry to- Far more significant than ary much louder, that‘s not gether. those 25 or 30 minutes a Multi-Cultural Soiree By Jonathan Frerichs Cynthia Wilburs-Muturi provid- as much a part of the program ed answers to vexing inter- as the various acts offered. Page 3 Good memories come in part cultural questions brought to from having something to re- them by children and grown- member. The Icelandic World ups. Various anxieties were 9 cultural ―treasures‖—stories, skits, Cup Clap is that something assuaged, and heads nodded songs and sagacity from this event. Everyone during a testimony about how had a chance to use it, start- 21 nationalities important it is to make friends ing with a haunting Viking with local citizens in this city 26 delectable dishes Ballads sung by Kristin To- of transient foreigners.