Tag: Worship

Church in northern Arabia longs for ‘place to worship’

By Adelaide Mena

Washington D.C., May 30, 2013 / 04:05 am (CNA).-

As he oversees the missionary territory of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, apostolic vicar Camillo Ballin outlined Catholics’ need for religious toleration as well as a physical home for ministry.

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Bishop Camillo Ballin, Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia. Credit: Addie Mena/CNA.

A native of Italy, Bishop Ballin set out to study Arabic and Islam in order “to discover another world” after his ordination as a priest of the Comboni Missionaries.

In a May 29 interview with CNA, he noted that his travels have taken him to Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, and eventually to his 2005 appointment as apostolic vicar of Kuwait.  His vicariate – otherwise known as an ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the Church where a hierarchy is not yet fully organized – was expanded in 2011 to include the whole of the Northern Arabian Peninsula, which oversees Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The area has supported a Christian population since before the advent of Islam, a fact that many Christians in the area look to for inspiration, Bishop Ballin said. As an example, he pointed to church within the vicariate that is dedicated to St. Arethas and the 400 martyrs that were persecuted and killed over a century before Islam came to the area.

Today, ministry within the vicariate focuses upon the spiritual sustenance of 2.5 million Christians in the area, Bishop Ballin said.

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Holy Communion Sunday: 1 Corinthians 11.23-26 NLT – my body / my blood

Reading: 1 Corinthians 11.23-26 NLT

holy_eucharistFor I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said,“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people — an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.”

For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – I am not worthy to receive you under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. Examine my heart… scrutinize my thoughts and actions… and cleanse me from my wicked ways. So that, as I eat the bread and drink from the cup of the new covenant, I may declare your death for me… until you come again… to take me home. Amen.

Communion Hymn: “Bread of the World in Mercy Broken” – Reginald Heber (1827)

Bread of the world in mercy broken, wine of the soul, in mercy shed, by whom the words of life were spoken, and in whose death our sins are dead… and in whose death our sins are dead.

Look on the heart by sorrow broken, look on the tears by sinners shed; and be your feast to us the token that by your grace our souls are fed… that by your grace our souls are fed.

Morning Reading: Acts 2.42-47 NLT – model community

Reading: Acts 2.42-47 NLT

Members of the Rutba House in Durham, N.C., gather for meals and morning and evening prayer.
Members of the Rutba House in Durham, N.C., gather for meals and morning and evening prayer.

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Make me a believer who is devoted to learning… to breaking bread with others… and to prayer. Holy Spirit – Give me a spirit of joy and generosity… freely sharing with those in need. Lord Jesus – May my life and witness bring honor to you… and may you add to your number those who are being saved. Amen.

Devotional Song: “A Morning Prayer” – Godinsight4me

Morning Reading: Acts 2.37-41 NLT – save yourselves

Reading: Acts 2:37-41 NLT

Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

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Philippines: 1000 people baptized

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles — all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day — about 3,000 in all.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give us the courage and boldness to speak the truth, “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, then you will receive the Holy Spirit!” Holy Spirit – I call on the name of the Lord… on behalf of my children and grandchildren… my friends and neighbors… the people I see around me every day… pierce their hearts that they might be saved from this crooked generation. Heavenly Father – Call your childrem home… guard them and protect them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Come Just As You Are” – Alfred Barratt

Morning Reading: Acts 2.22-36 NLT – powerful witnesses

Reading: Acts 2.22-36 NLT

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. King David said this about him:

‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’

Empty Tomb by He Qi
Empty Tomb
by He Qi

“Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”’

“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – You raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him to sit at your right hand. Holy Spirit – Make me a powerful witness to the miracles, signs, and wonders that I have seen and heard… and give me the boldness to show and tell… always pointing to Jesus. Lord Jesus – May the whole world know: that no person is so lost that you can’t find him/her… that no situation is so dark that you can’t bring light to it… that no tribe or nation is so far gone that you can’t raise them from the dead. You are the God who is mighty to save. To you be all glory, honor, power, wisdom and strength. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Mighty to Save” – Hillsong