I have always known that the initiative
below, worked at in prayer and enacted so radically at a time in our history
when taking to the streets to process religiously was considered foolish, was
powerfully significant. How foolish
indeed of those who think there is any other way to heal a wound so deep. I am delighted to be able to put this on our
web-page for your study and contemplation.
Many ministers and priests and even organisations in searching for an
answer to Community Relations have since
tried to use an adaptation of this model or re-invent a different wheel but I
ask always .......Why not go again with this first effort and release again the
power that it generates.
GOOD FRIDAY
REPENTANCE SERVICE
EASTER
1985
ISSUED BY
COLUMBA COMMUNITY
11,
Telephone No. 02871 262407
RECONCILIATION IN
One of the aims of our young community is to further Reconciliation and to make that real. During the past five years running Prayer Meetings in prison and counselling individual prisoners it has been so clear the key concept is Reconciliation, That which happens when we experience healing, love, mercy and forgiveness. Nor does the Lord require this healing between family members only. He desires nations to be involved in Reconciliation, in seeking justice and peace. He requires much more from us than platitudes and gestures at charismatic meetings and during the church unity octave each year. It was with this in mind that Rev. David Armstrong, Rev. Alan Harper, Rev. Liz Hewitt and I formed the Christians Together movement.
The first of our monthly meetings took place in November ‘84. These consisted of prayer, praise, scripture sharing, a teaching and small group discussions.
On St. Columb’s Day (June 9th) some 400 people stood in silent prayer outside the Guildhall, many with a hand raised in prayer for non-violence in our city. The absence of any guns or tanks in the vicinity was a welcome response to our public request for St. Columba’s Day for non-violence. Many churches rang their bells to remind the people of the city to join us in prayer of petition.
For me the prayer was one of gratitude also. Gratitude because since Good Friday when we processed through the city carrying a cross and took part in a Repentance Service, there had been no violence in our city. The service culminated with the three accompanying Confessions.
Protestant
The first was entitled “The Confession of the ‘Protestant Community” and it was read out by a local Protestant:
“Heavenly Father, as a member of the Protestant Community I confess and ask forgiveness on behalf of many for the past and present sins in our community, especially for:”
“The blasphemy of using your name in pursuit of political or military advantage.”
“The misuse of the democratic process by Gerrymandering and threatened use of force.”
“Perpetuating in religious bigotry by discrimination in jobs and housing.’
‘Supporting in moral or practical ways the men of violence who have murdered in our name.”
“The failure of our clergy and people to challenge injustice and bigotry.”
“A slavish devotion to past victories and an elitist attitude to our faith.”
“On behalf of many Protestants, who would confess these sins, and many more, I ask forgiveness and make a commitment to work for the Glory of God through Christ our Lord”
Each groups
confession was immediately followed by intercessory prayer by the other two
groups.
Gaelic Irish
The second prayer was entitled “The Confession of the Gaelic Irish” and it was read out by a local Catholic:
“As a representative of the Gaelic/ Irish I confess and ask forgiveness for:”
“The centuries of unresolved
anger which have produces atrocities both here in
“For professing to follow Christ yet failing to really forgive our enemies.”
“For
glorifying violence and seeking first not the
“Lord, before you and one another we ask pardon for the pain caused to people in mixed marriages. Reveal to us,we pray you, practical ways of eliminating such pain.”
“For contributing towards the rapid breakdown in values and break up of marriages, by our failure to recognise and expose unchristian values in our city.”
“We confess these things and ask pardon from God and you our Christian brothers and sisters and resolve at any cost to contribute to Christian standards.”
Each groups
confession was immediately followed by intercessory prayer by the other two
groups.
British
The third prayer was entitled “British Confession of Sin’ and it was read out by an Englishman:
“I repent of present and past sins of the British people against Irish people of both traditions, and especially the sins of pride leading to coercion.” “The sinfulness of laws which declared that an Irish-born person living among the Irish should be considered an evil person in the eyes of men and the law (ref. to legislation) and the whole attitude in mind exemplified by such laws, that has poisoned the centuries and that denigrates the Irish people.”
“The action of armies and governments that killed and dispossessed Irish people many of them living entirely peaceful in their land.”
“The acts of Church and State in seeking to curtail the religious freedom of Irish people, Catholic and Protestant.”
“The sins of neglect that ignored intolerance and discrimination in government and employment.”
“The economic
and social neglect of
Each group’s confession was
immediately followed by intercessory prayer by the two other groups.
As we processed through the City in Silence with the cross, the sense was that God would honour this sincere decision and would protect the City from violence, death and destruction for many months to come. Praise God! It should be emphasised that we attribute this lull in violence in our City to God’s power and not to any military strategy.
Our question now is this:- Why cannot every town, every city, indeed the whole nation have such a Repentance Day. It demands a lot of meeting together, honesty, trust and prayer so that we can get to know what is really hurting the other and what we can be happy to repent of and be forgiven for.
Then and only then have we begun to sow the seeds for peace in this land. We would suggest to ministers, priests and people that you prepare for such a service in your locality on
Good Friday
We would hope one day to see
such Repentance Services take place in
With good wishes and prayers from the Christians Together Group
based at Columba House.
Yours sincerely in Jesus Christ
Fr. Neal Carlin
(Director)
Good
(Fr. Neal Cariin - Columba House, Rev. David Grey - Presbyterian Minister,
Rev. Alan Harper -
THOUGHTS OF A
In the spring of last year, while on retreat with the rest of the community, I felt compelled to ask God this question.
Lord , why do you continue to allow your people to be oppressed by evil? I want to be part of your solution. What can I or we do?
I put this to Fr. Neal and I
remember him mentioning something about processing through the streets of
Could it be
Can it be
That Jesus Christ who died for me
Who died to set all mankind free
Is longing once again to be -
The centre of our daily lives
The one we seek since all else fails
to fill the void, to kill the fears
to heal the wounds, to dry the tears
of those whose hearts
no longer stirred by anything that men can say
Are searching silently
even yet unknowingly
To find out what the answer be
Can it be that it is He?
Ann McCay