Pentecost Sunday (May 31, 2009)
Common Lectionary Readings:
Ezekiel 37:1-14; Ps. 104:24-35; Acts 2:1-21; John 15:26-16:15

We spent the week in Jordan, enjoying visits with partners, receiving visitors from Holland and catching up on administrative duties. Our visas for Iran arrived belatedly. We plan to travel to Tehran in the coming week.

In the region this week, Jordan’s King Abdullah disguised himself as an elderly man and visited the health ministry office in Amman -- to see first hand what kind of services Jordanians are receiving. He has previously made similar incognito visits to other ministries.

A suicide bomber attacked a mosque in southeast Iran, killing 25 persons and injuring 125. Gunmen attacked one of President Ahmadinejad’s regional campaign offices in the same city, Zahedan, injuring 3 persons. Iranian presidential elections will be held in two weeks.

According to Peace Now, Israel has built 4,560 new housing units on Palestinian land in the West Bank since January 2006 (BBC photo)

There is renewed hope in the region that the Obama administration may insist that that Israel freeze all settlement activity, as it violates previous Israeli government commitments and undermines any hopes of reaching a peace agreement. The Israeli government says that natural growth of settlements will continue. In the past 10 days, President Obama has met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas. In early June, Obama will give a major speech in Egypt aimed at addressing U.S. relations with the Muslim world.

The Common Lectionary readings for this Pentecost Sunday are about the many ways that God’s Spirit works in the world.

In the Old Testament reading, God’s Spirit brings life to a valley full of very dry bones, which represent God’s wayward people (Ezek. 37:1-14). “I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil, then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act,” God promises (v.14).

The psalmist writes that all creatures are dependent on God for life and sustenance. “When you send forth your spirit they are created; and you renew the face of the ground,” the psalmist declares (Ps. 104:30).

Luke recounts the day of Pentecost when God’s Spirit comes like a rushing wind and as tongues of fire, causing the disciples to speak in many languages about God’s deeds of power (Acts 2:2-3). The Spirit causes God’s followers to prophesy, see visions and dream dreams (vv. 17-18).

In the Gospel reading, Jesus says that the Spirit will guide the disciples into all the truth and will declare the things that are to come (John 16:13).

With misunderstanding, conflict and violence so prevalent in this region and the world, it is easy to identify with the valley of dry bones – “our hope is lost; we are cut off completely” (Ezek. 14:11). It is comforting to know the God’s Spirit continues to work – renewing life, helping us see new visions and dream fresh dreams, and guiding us in the way of truth.

Easter 7 (May 24, 2009)
Common Lectionary Readings:
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Ps. 1, I John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19

On Friday evening, we visited the Citadel – ancient Roman ruins in Amman.

Ruins of the Temple of Hercules, built at the Citadel between 162-166 A.D.

This outing to the Citadel was possible because we’re getting some unexpected time in Amman. Our visas were not approved for travel to Iran, where we had planned to attend a conference, May 24-27, involving Mennonite Christian and Shia Islam scholars.

Pillars from the Temple of Hercules

Fortunately, the Mennonite scholars from Canada and the United States did receive visas and the conference will move ahead. This will be the fourth in a series of conversations between Mennonite and Muslim scholars about topics of mutual concern. This year’s topic is how our respective faith traditions understand justice and peace.

In the region this week, new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from talks in Washington with U.S. President Barak Obama and declared that he is ready for peace talks with Palestinians. But Netanyahu still refused to talk about the possibility of a Palestinian state and declared that Jerusalem will remain Israel’s undivided capital. Palestinians want Jerusalem to also be the capital of a future Palestinian state.

One of the hills of Amman, as seen from the Citadel

This week’s Common Lectionary readings are about choices.

In the reading from Acts, the 11 Apostles choose a successor to Judas, who betrayed Jesus. They look for someone who can “become a witness with us to Jesus’ resurrection” (Acts 1:22). After selecting two suitable candidates, the Apostles cast lots, leaving the ultimate outcome to God (v.26).

The psalmist describes the differences between those who choose the path of righteousness and the path of wickedness. The righteous – who delight in God’s law and meditate on it day and night – are “like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season” (Ps. 1:3) On the other hand, the wicked are “like chaff that the wind drives away” (v.4). While the way of the righteous will prosper (v.3) the way of the wicked will perish (v.6).

In the Epistle reading, John describes the choice we make whether or not to believe God’s testimony. Using courtroom imagery, John says that God has testified to Jesus as the one who is authentic, true and real – the one who gives us life (I John 5:9,12). We are the jury. Those who believe God’s testimony have life. Those who do not believe God’s testimony do not have life and make God out to be a liar.

In the Gospel reading, John records Jesus’ prayer for his followers. While Jesus is facing imminent death, he chooses to focus on his disciples, asking God to protect them from the evil one (John 17:11b, 15), to make them one in spirit (v. 11c) and to set them apart in the truth (v. 17).

Our choices, small and large, often have long-term consequences that determine whether our lives are like rooted trees that bear fruit in season or like chaff scattered by the wind.

Easter 6 (May 17, 2009)
Common Lectionary Readings:
Acts 10:44-48; Ps. 98; I John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17

We’ve been on the road. Six weeks of speaking in the United States and Canada, were followed by Mennonite Middle East Reference Group (MMERG) meetings in Jordan and MCC staff meetings in Egypt. This is our first weekend at home in two months!

Cindy enjoys coffee with Jeremy at Bucknell University

In the United States and Canada, we had opportunity to talk about and receive counsel for our work in the Middle East. We enjoyed being in congregation and school settings in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and Ontario; and made stops at MCC’s three advocacy offices in Washington, D.C., New York City and Ottawa. A highlight at the United Nations was visiting Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, this year’s president of the U.N. General Assembly.

Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, President of the U.N. General Assembly

The MMERG meetings in Jordan provided opportunity to meet with workers from other Mennonite agencies who are working in the region. Alex Awad, Dean at Bethlehem Bible College, was the speaker.

Mediterranean Sea on northern coast of Egypt

In Egypt, we gathered with MCC colleagues across Europe and the Middle East for planning meetings, professional development and a few days of retreat. Earl and Pat Martin of Harrisonburg, Virginia were the resource persons.

Making falafal for breakfast in Egypt

This coming week we plan to travel to Iran for the fourth in a series of Mennonite-Shia Muslim scholar dialogues. This year’s topic is peace and justice from our respective religious traditions.

The Common Lectionary readings for this week are about abiding in Christ and being attentive and faithful to God’s commandments.

Cindy with Elijah Lehman, son of MCC Jerusalem Reps Heather and Ryan Lehman

In the Gospel reading, Jesus uses the metaphor of a vine and branches – timely here in Amman, as grape vines that have been brown and dormant all winter are now full of green leaves beginning to produce grapes.

Egyptian Pyramids

John says that we are to abide in Christ just as branches draw their life from the grapevine (John 15:4). Abiding in Christ requires that we are obedient to his commands, for example, to love one another (vv. 10, 12). Those who abide in Christ are assured that they will bear much fruit (vv. 4-6, 16) and that their prayers will be answered (v.7).

Similarly, the reading from John’s epistle says that we show our love for God by obeying God’s commands (I John 5:2-3). In the reading from Acts, Peter is attentive to the new things that God’s Spirit is doing and promptly responds in obedience (Acts 10:44-48).

Our prayer is to stay connected to God’s life-giving vine, to pay attention to the new things that God is doing in the world, and to respond in obedience to all that God invites us to be and do.