prepared by the regional women’s committee of wscf asia ... · international women’s day...

Prepared by the Regional Women’s Committee of WSCF Asia Pacific

InternationalWomen’sDayLiturgy–RWC,WSCFAP 1

INTRODUCTION

March8thisknownasInternationalWomen’sDay(IWD)acrossthenations.Itisadayofhope, a day of courage, of celebration for women who fought for equality, justice andpeace.Itisalsoatimetoreflectonprogressmade,tocallforchangeandtocelebrateactsofcourageanddeterminationbyordinarywomenwhohaveplayedanextraordinaryroleinthehistoryoftheircountriesandcommunities.UnitedNations(UN)hasmarkeditasadayforWomen’sRightsandInternationalPeacesince1977.InternationalWomen’sDay first emerged from the activities of labourmovements at theturnofthetwentiethcentury inNorthAmericaandacrossEurope.OnMarch8th,1857 itmarkedthedaywhenoneofthefirstorganizedactionsbyworkingwomenanywhereintheworldtookplace,wherehundredsofwomengarmentandtextileworkerswentonstrikeinNew York City protesting against low wages, long working hours and inhuman workingconditions. Again onMarch 8th in 1908, fifteen thousandwomenmarched throughNewYork City demanding shorter hours, better pay, voting rights and an end to child labour.Theyadoptedtheslogan“Breadandroses”withbreadsymbolizingeconomicsecurityandrosesabetterqualityoflife.OnMarch25th1911,itmarkedthedaywhenmorethan140workinggirlsmostly ItalianandJewish immigrantsdied inthetragicTrianglefireaccident,anevent thathada far-reachingeffecton labour legislation in theUSA. WhileonMarch19th,1911manyralliesandorganizedmeetingssuccessfullytookplaceinAustria,Denmark,Germany and Switzerland to mark the inauguration of International Women’s Day. TheMarch 19th date was chosen because it commemorated the day that the Prussian kingpromisedthat to introducevotes forwomen in1848.Thepromisegavehopeforequalitybut itwasapromise thathe failed tokeep.Thedate for InternationalWomen’sDaywasthenmovedtoMarch8thin1913.TheUnitedNationshasmentionedthatuntilnownowhereintheworldwomencanclaimtohaveallthesamerightsandopportunitiesasmendespitemuchprogresstoprotectandpromotewomen’srighthavebeenmadeinthesedays.

Womenrepresentalmosthalfofthe244millionmigrantsandhalfofthe19.6millionrefugees as per the report of the Secretary-General at the UN General Assembly (2016)entitled “In safety and dignity: addressing large movements of refugees and migrants”.Governments and aid agencies are failing to provide even basic protections to womenrefugees traveling fromSyriaand Iraq.NewresearchconductedbyAmnesty Internationalshows that women and girl refugees face violence, assault, exploitation and sexualharassmentateverystageoftheir journey, includingonEuropeansoil.Somewomentookextrememeasuressuchasnoteatingordrinkingtoavoidhavingtogotothetoiletwheretheyfeltunsafe.Today,50percentoftheworld'srefugeesarewomenandgirls[6].Yetasper theUNOCHA (2015)World Humanitarian Data and Trends report, only 4 percent ofprojectsinUNinter-agencyappealsweretargetedatwomenandgirlsin2014,andjust0.4


percentofallfundingtofragilestateswenttowomen’sgroupsorwomen’sministriesfrom2012to2013. TheWorldEconomicForumpredictsthegendergapwon'tcloseentirelyuntil2186.This is too long to wait! International Women's Day provides an important opportunityaround the world, for groundbreaking action that can truly drive greater change forwomen. TheRegionalWomen’sCommitteeof theWorldStudentChristianFederationAsia-Pacific(WSCF AP) chose the theme Hospitality towards Stranger: Remembering andStandinginSolidarityWithTheRefugeesfortheIWD2017,asanexpressionandacalltostand in solidaritywith the refugees particularly themost vulnerable ones –women andchildrenrefugees.WeasaChristianfaithcommunitybelieveandupholdthatHospitalityisthecorevalueofChristianity.AsJesussaid,“ForIwashungryandyougavemesomethingtoeat,Iwasthirstyandyougavemesomethingtodrink,Iwasastrangerandyouinvitedme in, I needed clothesandyou clothedme, Iwas sickandyou lookedafterme, Iwas inprisonandyoucametovisitme………TrulyItellyou,whateveryoudidforoneoftheleastofthesebrothersandsistersofmine,youdidforme.’(Matthew25:35-36and40).Maythisliturgyinspireandempoweralltobeahospitablecommunitytoourneighbors!GreetingsandWishingyouallahappyandmeaningfulIWDcelebration!

RegionalWomen’sCommittee

WorldStudentChristianFederationAsia-Pacific


ORDEROFWORSHIP

Music:(musiccanbeplayedaccordingtoyourlocaltraditiontopreparefortheworship)CalltoWorship

Leader:WegatherheretocelebratetheInternationalWomen’sDay.MayGod’sspiritand

DivineWisdomtouchus so thatweare renewed to singanewsongof liberation for the

humanity

All: God, the Liberator,we invite you in ourmidst to realize your vision in our response

towardsliberatinghumanityforenvisioningatransformedworld

Leader:Wegatherhere,tohearthevoicesandstoriesofourneighbors-voicesofrefugees,

asylum seekers, migrants whose lives have been uprooted by war, famine, violence,

calamitiesandeconomicinjustices.Westandinsolidaritywiththemintheirsearchforanew

life,anewhome,anewpromise.

All:Godtheenergizingspirit,igniteusandopenoureyessowemayseeyouinstrangers;

openourearssowemayhearandrecognizetheirvoices;openourmouthsowemayspeak

thetruthtotheworld;openandtransformourheartssowemayshareloveand

compassionwiththestrangersinourmidst.


Song

ConfessionandAssuranceAll: God,whomademeinYourimage,teachmetolovemyselfasYouloveme.

God,whomademeinYourimage,allowmetoshowthatimagetotheworld.God,whomademeinYourimage,helpmetoseeYourimageinallthoseImeet.God, who made me in Your image, teach me to conserve and protect all Your

creation.God,whomademeinYourimage,bless,protect,andkeepmeandallYourchildrensafe.


L: TheOnewhobreathedlifeintoourlungscontinuestobepresentwithus.God,whohasmade us reflective ofGod’s own image, has forgiven us all andmade us newcreations.Therefore,sinceoursinsareforgiven,letusgoforthwithloveandpeace,honoring andupholding the dignity of allwemeet, knowingwe see reflections ofGod’simageallaround.

All: ThanksbetoGod.Song

1.WillyoucomeandfollowmeifIbutcallyourname?

Willyougowhereyoudon'tknowandneverbethesame?

Willyouletmylovebeshown?Willyouletmynamebeknown,

willyouletmylifebegrowninyouandyouinme?

2.WillyouleaveyourselfbehindifIbutcallyourname?

Willyoucareforcruelandkindandneverbethesame?

Willyouriskthehostilestareshouldyourlifeattractorscare?

Willyouletmeanswerprayerinyouandyouinme?

3.WillyoulettheblindedseeifIbutcallyourname?

Willyousettheprisonersfreeandeverbethesame?

Willyoukissthelepercleananddosuchasthisunseen,

andadmittowhatImeaninyouandyouinme?

4.Willyoulovethe"you"youhideifIbutcallyourname?

Willyouquellthefearinsideandneverbethesame?

Willyouusethefaithyou'vefoundtoreshapetheworldaround,

throughmysightandtouchandsoundinyouandyouinme?

5.Lordyoursummonsechoestruewhenyoubutcallmyname.

Letmeturnandfollowyouandneverbethesame.

InYourcompanyI'llgowhereYourloveandfootstepsshow.

ThusI'llmoveandliveandgrowinyouandyouinme.


BibleReadingandReflectionThemassive refugeemovements worldwide have been a result of people fleeing

fromwar/conflict,extremepoverty/devastationintheharshsocial,economicandpoliticalrealities of their own situations and countries. According to the UNHCR any refugeepopulationhasapproximately50percentofwomenandgirls.Theyfacetherigorsof longjourneyswhere they faceofficial harassmentor indifferenceand frequent sexual abuse–even after reaching a place which is apparently safe. The UN report also show that 60percentofpreventablematernaldeathstakeplaceinhumanitariansettingsandatleast1of5refugeesordisplacedwomenareestimatedtohaveexperiencedsexualviolence.s

SometheologianshavereflectedontheissueofglobalrefugeecrisisbyrelatingittotheflightofMary,Joseph,andJesus.TheymakereferencetoMatthew2:13-18(NIV):13Whentheyhadgone,anangeloftheLordappearedtoJosephinadream.“Getup,”hesaid,“takethechildandhismotherandescapetoEgypt.StaythereuntilItellyou,forHerodisgoingtosearchforthechildtokillhim.”14Sohegotup,tookthechildandhismotherduringthenightandleftforEgypt,15wherehestayeduntilthedeathofHerod.AndsowasfulfilledwhattheLordhadsaidthroughtheprophet:“OutofEgyptIcalledmyson.”16WhenHerodrealizedthathehadbeenoutwittedbytheMagi,hewasfurious,andhegaveorderstokillalltheboysinBethlehemanditsvicinitywhoweretwoyearsoldandunder,inaccordancewiththetimehehadlearnedfromtheMagi.17ThenwhatwassaidthroughtheprophetJeremiahwasfulfilled:18“AvoiceisheardinRamah,weepingandgreatmourning,Rachelweepingforherchildrenandrefusingtobecomfortedbecausetheyarenomore.”

GodfreyChigumira says “Escape toEgypt (Matthew2:13-18)– thedistance fromBethlehemtoEgyptisover200miles.Byapplyingthehermeneuticsofsuspicion,intuition,andvision,onecouldsaybecauseofHerod,Mary left Judea inemotionalagony,distress,sorrow,andfear.Shesufferedonthejourney,strugglingforfood,water,andshelterinthedessert.

Does the manger scene of Jesus’ birth 2000 years ago cause you to think aboutmillionsofhomelesspeoplewhoareseekingrefugefrommultipleformsofsocio-economicrealitiesandpoliticaloppressiveregimeandanyotherharshconditions?Wheredid/dotheyfleetoandwhogave/givethemshelter?Whatwere/aretheharshsocio-economic-politicalconditions?Whatweretheharshandbrutalconditionsthat forcedMary, Joseph,andthenewbornJesustofleefromtheBethlehemmangertoEgypt?

DoestheflightandjourneytoEgyptrecall/reflectwhatmisplacedwomenandgirlrefugeesarefacinginescapingorhiding,inseekingforrefugeorexile?

(In solidarity with the refugee, we invite you (individually or group) to reflect on thestrugglesandchallengesofrefugeestodayandmakeacommitment,aprayerorwritealetterfortherefugee.)


IntercessoryPrayer(Preparecandlestolightbeforesayingtheprayer)L:WelightthiscandleandpraytoGodwhocallsusbynameandwereaffirmthatweallarecreated inGod’sownimageandlikeness.Mayourfaith inspireandmotivateustodojusticeforthelowandtheoppressed.Todaywerememberandupholdthewomeninourprayers aswe celebrate the internationalwomen’s day thismonth.Weespecially upholdthose millions of women, girls, and children who are suffering and experiencing variousformsofviolenceanddiscrimination.Response: OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x)Whenwecallanswerus OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x),comeandlistentousL: We light this candle to remember the refugee women and men, victims of humantrafficking,migrantsanyonetornawayfromherfamilyduetowar,violence,calamitiesandeconomic injusticesandsurviving inaforeign land.Maythepeaceforwomenuplift themoutofpoverty, stabilize theirgovernments,and free them frommilitary interference intotheirhomesandlives.Maytheyfindanewhome, anewcommunity inanewcountrytocelebratelifetogether.Response: OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x)Whenwecallanswerus OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x),comeandlistentousL: We light this candle to remember all the members of the World Student ChristianFederation and Student Christian Movements. Help us to continue to respond to thechallengeswewitness inourworld today.Mayyoustrengthenandempower thestudentcommunity to be prophetic in the present time. May you lead and guide this uniquefederationtocreatetheinclusivecommunityandbecomingawelcomingcommunitytothestrangers.Response: OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x),Whenwecallanswerus OhLord,Hearourprayer(2x),comeandlistentous(participantscanaddmoreprayersforthepeople)

Lord’sprayer(basedonIs46:3-4withthestructuretakenfromMat6:9-13)ByDekkerY.Mauboi)

OurMotherWhoartinheaven,hallowedbeThylove.Thymercycome.Makethisuniverseapendulumoflife.Pouruponusthisday themilkuponThybreast, nourishmentforalllife, sothatwemayliveasnewcreation, forgivingeachother,whatmore, lovingandservingeachother


onearthLeadusgentlytowardlove,truth,justice,andpeace.Salvation,fulloftranquality,isonyourlap,sohugustheretightlyinorderthatwemaybedeliveredfromcorruptionandmisfortune.

OGod,Motheroflife, allgoodthings,allgloriousthings– lifeandlove–areThine nowandforever.AmenSongRefrain:Jesu,Jesu,filluswithyourlove,showushowtoservetheneighborswehavefromyou.

Neighborsarerichandpoor,variedincolorandrace,neighborsarenearandfaraway.

RefrainThesearetheonesweshouldserve,thesearetheonesweshouldlove;alltheseareneighborstousandyou.Refrain

PrayerforRefugeeandAsylumSeeker

ByPopeFrancis(PopeFrancisonLesbosPrayer2016)Merciful God,we pray to you for all themen,women and childrenwho have died afterleaving their homelands in search of a better life. Thoughmany of their graves bear noname, to you each one is known, loved and cherished. May we never forget them, buthonourtheirsacrificewithdeedsmorethanwords.Weentrust to youall thosewhohavemade this journey, enduring fear,uncertainty, andhumiliation,inordertoreachaplaceofsafetyandhope.JustasyouneverabandonedyourSonashewasbroughttoasafeplacebyMaryandJoseph,sonowbeclosetothese,yoursonsanddaughters,throughourtendernessandprotection.Incaringforthemmayweseektheworldwherenoneareforcedtoleavetheirhomeandwhereallcanliveinfreedom,dignity,andpeace.MercifulGodandFatherofall,wakeusfromtheslumberofindifference,openoureyestotheirsuffering,andfreeusfromtheinsensitivitybornofworldlycomfortandself-


centeredness.Inspireus,asnations,communities,andindividuals,toseethatthosewhocometoourshoresareourbrothersandsisters.Maywesharewiththemtheblessingswehavereceivedfromyourhand,andrecognizethattogether,asonehumanfamily,weareallmigrants,journeyinginhopetoyou,ourtruehome,whereeverytearwillbewipedaway,wherewewillbeatpeaceandsafeinyourembrace.

ClosingSongDrawThecircle,drawthecirclewideDrawthecircle,drawthecirclewidenoonestandsalone,standingsidebyside,drawthecircledrawthecirclewide.Drawthecirclewide,drawitwiderstill.Letthisbeoursong,noonestandsalone,standingsidebyside,drawthecirclewide.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Source:

CRWRCRefugeeKitLiturgyDayofPrayerforRefugeesandMigrantsLiturgyNotesbyNewZealandCatholicConferenceRefugeeWomen,UNHCR,RegionalRepresentation,TheUNRefugeeAgencyforCentralEurope,http://www.unhcr-centraleurope.org/en/who-we-help/women.html.http://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/in-focus/women-refugees-and-mi grants.UNHCRhttp://www.unhcr.org/en-us/women.html.UNOCHA(2015)WorldHumanitarianDataandTrends,p.23.UnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCouncil(2014)Genderequalityandtheempowermentofwomeninnaturaldisasters,ReportoftheSecretary-General.InternalDisplacementMonitoringCentre(2015).GlobalOverview2015,Peopleinternallydisplacedbyconflictandviolence.SereneJones,TheOriginalChristmasStoryIsReallyAboutRefugees,Dec21,2015.http://time.com/4155651/christmas-story-refugees.GodfreyChigumira,“MaryasanInspirationfortheEmpowermentofSouthernAfricanChristianWomenDisproportionatelyInfected/AffectedbyHIV/AIDS”,athesissubmittedtoTheUniversityofBirminghamforthedegreeofDOCTOROFPHILOSOPHYDepartmentofWomenandReligionCollegeofArtsandLawTheUniversityofBirmingham,December2011.Pages180-182.http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/3307/3/Chigumira_12_PhD.pdf.CharlotteAlfred,“WhatHistoryCanTeachUsAboutTheWorstRefugeeCrisisSinceWWII”h t t p : / /www.hu f f i ng tonpo s t . c om/en t r y /a l e xande r - be t t s - r e f ugee s -ww i i _u s_55 f30 f7 ce4b077ca094edaec MoreLightPresbyteriansRetreat&MissionWeekendNewOrleans,LA,2006inWorshipResourcesfortheWelcomingChruchMovementofInstituteofWelcomingResourceCoverpagepicturestakenfrom:https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/holy-family-refugees-mary-joseph-donkey-334973072http://www.theamericanmirror.com/tampa-fl-syrian-refugee-count-jumps-over-1300-since-last-year/http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-accept-syria-refugees-wolf-20151116-story.html

prepared by the regional women’s committee of wscf asia ... · international women’s day...

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