Sectarian. This has been with me again this past Holy Week. It always will because of the Good Friday Agreement.
That document, drafted and affirmed 25 years ago, quelled the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland where my ancestors came from. From 1998 onwards, the violence dropped. The bombings and shootings dropped. The people came together to work out how to live and be together. And the epithets and slurs largely disappeared as well. Lately however there has been a rise of sectarianism again.
In Northern Ireland; the US; Ukraine; Iran and many other nations. Intolerance bred from fear is a powerful weapon for those who want power, might, riches and wealth. God and Jesus are working in opposition to this and continue to do so even today. Here are some instances of this that I have found lately.
On March 21st I was at a meeting of Anglican, Lutheran and Moravian clergy and church officials. This was at Camp Van Es at South Cooking Lake. We had a great day getting acquainted and celebrating our commonness in worship and communion. On Maundy Thursday, Rev. Colleen and I both did the service at Canterbury Court. It was a joyous celebration together, with a mixing of our Anglican and Lutheran liturgies. Further, we invited St. Mathias Anglican to be with us for Good Friday. Rev. Andreas preached and I read the gospel. It was a joy for me to share this again as I have not been able to do this for many years. And then Easter Sunday we had a baptism with communion and a full church here out Our Savior. The Holy Spirit uniting many people from many places in so many ways.
This will go on with the disciples as they move forward. Acts 1 shows us an approach to leadership selection. Acts 4 shows us how life is done within the early church. Acts 6 shows a different side of outreach, love and care, involving those who are from a different cultural and ethnic group. And all of this comes out of Jesus' death and resurrection. Now, whom does Jesus need you to see today and this week? Pr. Scott
