PRAYER FOCUS WM22 July 2008 “Don’t cry, don’t cry. It’s a disaster and you’ve survived.” These were the words which Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao was reported to have spoken to orphans in the aftermath of the recent earthquake in China’s Sichuan region. Some journalists reported this as an “awkward” response at a time when people faced the most desperate loss. It is often difficult to find the right words to say to someone in troubled times. We have all encountered situations like this with our friends, our families, our neighbours. Many of us utter words of comfort as a part of our daily working lives. Some of us, on the other hand, seek comfort in the midst of various problems which we face each day. Where do we look for inspiration at times like these? The truth is that, somehow, we do find the right things to say and familiar words in particular can be especially consoling. Passages from the Gospels or the Psalms, amongst other writings, can bring a special kind of comfort to people of faith, even if to others those words might seem too empty to provide real comfort. We should never underestimate the power of familiar words to console: and we should never be afraid of uttering them to those who seek comfort and support. SUGGESTED READINGS: Proverbs 8: 1-6 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right.” Luke 7: 11-15 Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. PLEASE PRAY... When we find a friend in need, help us to find the words to use to offer them help. When we find a neighbour in distress, help us to find the words to use to give them comfort. When we find a stranger who is lost, help us to find the words to use to put them back on the right road. When we are in need or distressed or lost, help us to open our ears to the words offered by those around us, which help us on our way again. And when we cannot find words at all, may the very silence itself bring its own special comfort and peace. In the Name of Christ, Amen CHINA SNIPPETS STAFF UPDATE Supported by the Scottish Churches’ China Group, Mr George Steven will leave for Nanjing on July 4th to assist in staff development at the Amity Home of Blessings and The Amity Children's Development Centre. George is a highly experienced Special Needs Teacher and will be working with staff, parents, clients and pupils during his 3 week visit. BIBLES FOR THE OLYMPICS Speaking at the celebration of the printing of the 50 millionth Bible by the Amity Printing Company, Mr. Ye Xiaowen, Director of State Administration for Religious Affairs announced that Bibles printed at APC will be made available at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He underscored what Rev. Cao Shengjie, Former President of China Christian Council, said in her speech, that the Olympics is a great opportunity for sharing between Chinese Christians and Christians around the world. The Three Self Patriotic Movement and China Christian Council is preparing to provide free Bibles and church services during the games to both athletes and visitors. SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE If you would like to offer your support this can be done in a number of ways: • you may want to consider writing a letter of condolence to The Consulate General in Edinburgh, Madame Tan Xiutang. financial support can be offered to trusted partners like The Amity Foundation. For further information on how to do this please contact Patricia Johnston. • prayer support would be very much appreciated, especially for the following areas: • pray that the aftershocks will cease so that people will feel safe and able to return to homes, villages, towns and start the rebuilding process. • for the army as they now try and prevent dams and lakes from bursting and causing further destruction. • for the children who have lost their family members and don’t know what the future holds for them. • for parents and all who have lost loved ones as they look towards a totally different future. • pray that the police and other officials will handle compassionately the protest from parents who have lost children in collapsed schools. • for all the staff of The Amity Foundation as they seek to respond to the needs of the survivors. • for the medical teams sent from Shengjing Hospital, Shenyang, that their skills may be wisely used. • for the staff in Shengjing Hospital who are treating survivors sent there. • for the Christian churches throughout China as they minister to communities who feel overwhelmed by the scale of the tragedy. Thank you for your prayerful support. Please pray for the protection and good health of all the staff and family members serving overseas with World Mission AFRICA Zambia: Jenny Featherstone [EA], Colin Johnston [EA], Ida and Keith Waddell AMERICAS Bahamas: Scott and Anita Kirkland Bermuda: Alan and Elizabeth Garrity Trinidad: Garwell and Claudette Bacchas ASIA Bangladesh: Helen Brannam [EA], David and Sarah Hall [EA] Sri Lanka: John and Patricia Purves MIDDLE EAST Israel and Palestine: Anthony and Darya Short, Colin Anderson On Leave Jeneffer Zielinski, Helen Scott, Andy and Felicity Gaston, James and Linda Pender [EA], Ministers and family members in Mainland and Continental Europe Belgium: Andrew and Julie Gardner France: Alan and Lucie Miller Hungary: Aaron and Edit Stevens Italy: William McCulloch The Netherlands: Robert and Lesley Ann Calvert, John and Gillian Cowie Portugal: William and Maureen Ross Switzerland: Ian and Roberta Manson, Melvyn and Doreen Wood [EA] = Ecumenical Appointments An up-to-date list of Church of Scotland members serving with other agencies overseas is available on our website and by request at the address below.