Professional Documents
Culture Documents
anul XXXII
Parish priest
CHRSTMAS 2007 PEACE AND HARMONY Reverend Dr. Doru Costache
The secular, Christless, Xmas cannot last. The mystery of Christmas brings
to the receptive souls the ineffaceable joy of renewal as sons and daughters
of God, by the presence of Christ’s Holy Spirit, the one who enables us
to call God ‘Father’. What is it that we celebrate?
pg. 2
In December 2007 a delegation of nine Australian Church leaders visited Jerusalem and the Holy Land to:
• meet with and express friendship and support for Christians in Palestine and Israel ;
• meet with Jewish and Muslim faith leaders and representatives of the Israeli Government and the Palestinian
Authority; and help Australians more fully understand and respond to the situation in Israel and Palestine .
It was a profound privilege to visit Palestine and Israel. We felt very welcome and safe, and greatly appreciated
the friendship and hospitality extended to us. We consulted widely, visiting the Old City of Jerusalem, West and
East Jerusalem, Hebron , Jenin, Ramallah, Bethlehem , and refugee camps where churches are providing
humanitarian support. We met with Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, Israeli government and Palestinian
National Authority representatives, and civic and human rights leaders.
We have been encouraged by international efforts toward a just peace renewed at Annapolis, and by the desire
for negotiations between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian National Authority.
We were distressed to hear Palestinians, both Christian and Muslim, relate the suffering and fear experienced
daily by large numbers of their people. We saw and heard evidence of systematic harassment, physical and
psychological oppression, widespread unemployment, poverty, and economic deprivation, resulting directly or
indirectly from Israeli military occupation of the West Bank . Their suffering compels us to respond, and we
assure Palestinians of our compassion and concern.
We visited Yad Vashem and laid a wreath in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. We heard of Israeli grief
and pain resulting from violent attacks and continuing fear of terrorist activity. We condemn all acts of terrorism
and assure Israelis of our compassion and concern.
We recognise the complex nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We strongly affirm the right of both Israel
and Palestine to political autonomy, security and self-determination. We join with a large majority of the people
of Palestine and Israel in longing for a just and lasting peace. We understand the reluctance to make concessions
or to trust those who are the source of fear and oppression, but the time for courageous and inspiring leadership
has come.
In the light of what we have seen and heard during this visit, we support actions to enable Israel and Palestine to
negotiate just outcomes on borders, settlements, water, refugees, prisoners, Jerusalem, and security.
We are particularly concerned by the imprisonment of teenagers, mothers with dependent children, and those
detained without trial for long periods. We encountered the debilitating effects on the Palestinian economy and
impacts on daily life of the segregated road system, the proliferation of checkpoints and road blocks throughout
the West Bank, restrictions on movement of people and goods, and the effective isolation of Palestinian
communities from one another. We were repeatedly told that these matters stand in the way of a just peace.
We are heartened by important signs of hope in the face of persistent difficulties. The emergence in Jerusalem
of the Council for Religious Institutions promises greater understanding and cooperation among Jewish,
Christian and Muslim leaders and communities. Human rights organisations in both Palestine and Israel
undertake significant and sometimes dangerous work with courage and passion. Vibrant educational and
cultural initiatives are evident in oppressed communities and refugee camps.
• pray for a just and lasting peace for Jerusalem and the Holy Land ;
• encourage the Australian Gov. to take more action to support a just and lasting peace for Israel and Palestine ;
• hear the stories of the suffering and oppression, perseverance and hope of the people of the Holy Land ;
• sponsor aid and development projects in the West Bank and Gaza ;
• support the status of Jerusalem as an open city for all faiths and peoples;
• encourage Australian Christians to visit the Holy Land and foster relationships with Palestinian Christians;
build stronger relationships with Jewish and Muslim communities in Australia.
Our common humanity and legitimate desires for security and freedom can drive the peace process forward. We
are confident that a just and lasting peace for Palestine and Israel can be realised. As Christmas approaches, we
look to the future with hope, confident in God’s promise of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace!” (Luke 2:14 NRSV)
Bethlehem,
12 December 2007
+ Archbishop Phillip Aspinall
Primate, Anglican Church of Australia
Archbishop of Brisbane
I looked over all the literature and one small piece, In learning to stand still and let the Great Surgeon
printed on goldenrod paper, grabbed my attention, operate on me, the mirror thing happens in my life. I’m
standing out among the others. In reading it, I noticed not hiding so much anymore, but able to stand the pain
that it was Russian Orthodox literature and had an of my own grossness and receive the beauty of God
advertisement for an Orthodox bookstore printed on the without feeling the need to escape the intensity of the
back. Now, how unlikely could it be to find a Russian emotion. It’s the same in caring for my mother, I am
Orthodox pamphlet in a Roman Catholic church? And, able to stand the pain and somehow it becomes a
it was the only copy! healing compassion for us both. Little by little, through
learning to live as an Orthodox Christian, I begin to
Of course, I was intrigued and took it with me. On the cooperate with God’s grace which transforms through
drive home I began to think that I should visit this the Liturgy.
bookstore and so turned around and headed to the larger
city where it was located.
world?’ Over the last 237 years since Lt. James Cook
arrived, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
have been denied a proper place within our own
country. Just like Jesus’ family on returning to their
home country we also have not been able to find a
proper place for ourselves in our own land.
“No Room at the Inn” we, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, were not
part of Federation, were forgotten about as the new
wave of Immigrants came from the Mediterranean
An Open Letter to the Australian Nation during the post war years and were not on the radar
until the 1967 referendum. Except, of course, when we
from the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
were allowed to lose our lives fighting for this country,
Ecumenical Commission of the National Council of
or when we were seen as strange curiosities of a bygone
Churches in Australia
era. Mostly, we were labelled as a troublesome few
dissidents who should not expect the same rights as
11 December 2007
everyone else.
At this time of the year, as we turn our minds to Children were removed from their families because it
Christmas and reflect on the year that was (and what a was perceived that they were not being cared for to
year it was) and look forward to the year to come, I acceptable western standards. Or they were taken away
cannot help but think of many of my Indigenous simply so they could be given the ‘western makeover’
brothers and sisters. This season of peace, hope and joy to fit better into western society. The only problem was
leads me to ask, ‘what peace, hope and joy will be given that they still had a different colour than those holding
unto us with the coming of the Christ Child into the up the bar of mainstream society.
This brings me to the question of an apology. The
former Howard Government was against any apology as
it was seen that the mainstream should not be held
accountable for the past, and such an apology could
hold the State open to litigation. It’s an interesting
irony that in this corporate world we live in, mainstream
Australia will hold accountable corporations for their
past organisational failings, and yet the nation cannot
live up to its own corporate responsibilities. As for the
apology itself, the Nation is either Sorry or it’s not.
Putting provisos on it (we regret etc.) is not an apology.
If we are going to move forward then it is very
important that the Nation says Sorry and accepts any
consequences that might result. The present Rudd
Government must take the lead on this and soon.
Graeme MUNDINE
Executive Secretary EL GRECO
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander THE ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS
Ecumenical Commission 1596-1600
National Council of Churches in Australia oil on canvas (346 x 147 cm)
Mob: 0419 238 788 National Museum of Art of Romania - Bucharest
TEXTS
FOR THE FEAST
OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
Troparion: Thy Nativity, O Christ the womb of the Virgin, O Christ, and has carried at thy bosom God
our God, hath shined upon the world and as drops of rain that fall upon the incarnate Word. We cannot
the light of knowledge; for thereby, the earth. Ethiopia and Tarshish and fathom this mystery: but by faith
they that worshipped the stars were the isles of Arabia, the kings of alone we all glorify it, crying with
taught by a star to worship Thee, the Saba, of the Medes and all the earth, thee and saying: O Lord past all
Sun of Righteousness, and to know fell down before Thee, O Saviour. interpretation, glory to Thee! O
Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Glory to Thy power, O Lord. come, let us sing the praises of the
Lord, glory be to Thee. Mother of the Saviour, who after
A Hymn of the Nativity: How is He bearing child still remained Virgin.
Kontakion: Today the virgin giveth contained in a womb, whom nothing Rejoice, thou Living City of God
birth to Him Who is above all being, can contain? And how can He who the King, in which Christ has dwelt,
and the earth offereth a cave to Him is in the bosom of the Father be held bringing to pass our salvation. With
Whom no man can approach. Angels in the arms of His Mother? This is Gabriel we sing thy praises; with
with shepherds give glory, and magi according to His good pleasure, as the shepherds we glorify thee,
journey with a star. For our sake is He knows and wishes. For being crying: O Mother of God, intercede
born a Young Child, the Pre-eternal without flesh, of His own will has for our salvation with Him who
God! He been made flesh; and He Who Is, took flesh from thee!
for our sakes has become that which
First Canon of Canticle Four: Rod He was not. Without departing from First Ode of the Canon of the
of the root of Jesse, and flower that His own nature He has shared in our Nativity: Christ is born, glorify
blossomed from his stem, O Christ, substance. Desiring to fill the world him. Christ is from heaven, go to
Thou hast sprung from the Virgin. on high with citizens, Christ has meet him. Christ is an earth, be ye
From the Mountain overshadowed undergone a twofold birth. lifted up. Sing to the Lord, all the
by the forest Thou hast come, made earth. Sing out with gladness, all ye
flesh from her that knew not Praises (Lauds) of Nativity: Make people. For he is glorified.
wedlock, O God who art not formed glad, O ye righteous; greatly
from matter. Glory to Thy power, O rejoice, O ye heavens; ye
Lord. O Christ, whom Jacob foretold mountains, dance for joy. Christ is
in the days of old, calling Thee the born, and like the cherubim the
Expectation of the nations, Thou Virgin makes a throne, carrying at
hast shone forth from the tribe of her bosom God the Word made
Judah, and Thou hast come to flesh. Shepherds glorify the new-
plunder the strength of Damascus born Child, magi offer the Master
and the spoils of Samaria, turning gifts. Angels sing praises, saying: 'O
their error into faith, O beautiful Lord past understanding, glory to
God. Glory to Thy power, O Lord. O Thee!' It was the good pleasure of
Master who hast risen as a Star out the Father: the Word became flesh,
of Jacob, Thou hast filled with joy and the Virgin bore God made man.
the watchers of the stars, who A star spreads abroad the tidings:
interpreted wisely the words of the Magi worship, the shepherds
Balaam, the soothsayer of old. As stand amazed, and the creation is
the first fruits of the Gentiles were filled with mighty joy. O Mother of
they led unto Thee, and Thou has God, Virgin who hast borne the
openly received them, as they Saviour, thou hast overthrown the
brought Thee acceptable gifts. Glory ancient curse of Eve. For thou hast
to Thy power, O Lord. As dew upon become the Mother of Him in
the fleece hast Thou descended into whom the Father was well pleased,
addressing