Friday, September 9, 2011

Jerusalem and Arad

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (Luke 10:2).

Since Fall of 09, I have been living in Jerusalem, Israel and I have been working on my Masters Degree at Jerusalem University College. I just handed in my final project and am now focusing my energies on my Thesis, which I hope to get done by the end of the semester. The scene in Jerusalem is full of progress and sureties in question. The new light rail is up running through the center of town as more and more tourists and potential citizens flood its streets hoping to make sense of their love of this historic city. The September UN-vote - anticipating the formation of a Palestinian state - continues a long-standing drama centered around land-rights here; hence, the "progress" and tension.

I am also working for the school. I have worked myself into an Assistantship under our Campus Manager for which I am chiefly responsible for the grounds and gardens on campus. Even though the pay is meager, it has been a lot of fun working the gardens, especially because so much of the work has a correlative in the biblical text. We are on the front end of pomegranate and almond season, our roses are in full bloom and the grapes have been enjoyed already by the new group of students who arrived last week. All kinds of biblical images can be seen and thought about from a walk through our garden from the pomegranates, almonds, and figs, to the olives, netzers and (poppies) "lilies of the field".

I have been here for almost 2 years and I feel as if I am only beginning to understand how needy and spiritually interested Israel travelers are. I volunteer on the weekends in Arad at a beautiful ministry called the Olive Branch Institute. They have a number of engaging compassion-ministries including orphan care, single mothers programs, English classes, Bedouin integration. Most of my students are Sudanese refugees who came to Israel by foot having fled violence in their home-land and seeking a refuge in Israel (finding refuge in Israel - ring any bells?). Its has been a wonderful experience for me. God knows that this kind of ministry is very near to my heart - engaging people where they are! Your prayerful support is extremely important to me as I look to follow where the Lord leads.

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The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.


http://www.creeds.net/ancient/nicene.htm

Symbolum Nicaenum A.D. 325

Πιστεύομεν εις ΄ενα Θεον Πατερα παντοκράτορα, πάντων ορατων τε και αοράτων ποιητήν.

Πιστεύομεν εισ ΄ενα κύριον `Ιησουν Χριστον, τον υ΄ιον του θεου, γεννηζέντα εκ του πατρος μονογενη, τουτέστιν εκ της ουσίας του πατρός, θεον εκ θεου αληθινου, γεννηθέντα, ου ποιηθέντα, ΄ομοούσιον τωι πατρί δι οϋ τα πάντα εγένετο, τα τε εν τωι ουρανωι και τα επι της γης τον δι ΄ημας τους ανθρώπους και δα την ΄ημετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα και σαρκωθέντα και ενανθρωπήσαντα, παθόντα, και αναστάντα τηι τριτηι ΄ημέραι, και ανελθοντα εις τους οθρανούς, και ερχόμενον κριναι ζωντασ και νεκρούς.

Και εις το ΄Αγιον Πνευμα.
Τους δε λέγοντας, ΄οτι ΄ην ποτε ΄ότε οθκ ΄ην, και πριν γεννηθηναι ουκ ΄ην, και ΄οτι εξ ΄ετερας ΄υποστάσεως η ουσιας φάσκοντας ειναι, [η κτιστόν,] τρεπτον η αλλοιωτον τον υ΄ιον του θεου, [τούτους] αναθεματίζει ΄η καθολικη [και αποστολικη] εκκλησία.

Martin Luther - 16th century

"O Lord, we are not worthy to have a glimpse of heaven, and unable with works to redeem ourselves from sin, death, the devil, and hell. For this we rejoice, praise and thank you, O God, that without price and out of pure grace you have granted us this boundless blessing in your dear Son through whom you take sin, death, and hell from us, and give to us all that belongs to him."