CRC SOW | Refugee Songs, Immigrants Creeds, Lord's Prayer

Exodus painting by Shin Maeng

In Awe of Proskuneo's Multicultural Worship and the Immigrants Apostles' Creed by Rev. Jose Luis Casal at the CRC's Symposium on Worship 

Going to the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship's Symposium on Worship, hosted by Emmaus City's denomination in Grand Rapids, (January 25-27) was a seminal moment. It was an absolute privilege and joy to worship with and learn from 1,500+ people from 30+ countries and 40+ denominations.

While my expectations were high in light of Urban Doxology, Sandra McCracken, The Porter's Gate Worship Project and more participating, the symposium far exceeded my hopes. 

Not even half way through my two days participating in the three-day symposium, I was floored spiritually and emotionally by the wonders of worship displayed through services of the Word; liturgies; seminars on worship in light of suffering, redemption, injustice, vocation, persecuted people groups, indigenous people groups, Church history, sacramental life, mental and physical handicaps, etc.; vespers; and more.

Crying before God with Proskuneo and sisters and brothers from Syria, Sudan, Korea, Myanmar, China, and more

While there is much more I could write, for now I'm providing this post based on Friday's vesper with Proskuneo, a multicultural worship team I had not heard of until last week. Jaewoo Kim from Korea led us alongside Fadi Alsayar from Syria, Abraham Deng from Sudan, and others from Myanmar, the U.S., and China. Check out Proskuneo's YouTube Channel for examples of their team leading worship-in-song together.

The vesper on Friday focused on Psalm 137:4: "How shall we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?" as Proskuneo's dynamic team led us through a liturgy involving Scripture, stories, and songs focused on conflict, loss, displacement, and the song of the LORD in a foreign land.

I'm getting emotional again just thinking about it. The 45 minutes with these beautiful people is still too raw and too full of awe for me to give them or the time with them justice on multiple levels. 

For now, I will leave you with the order of worship, a few key links to Scriptures and songs, and The Immigrants Apostles' Creed by Rev. Jose Luis Casal we recited together to close the service. 

If you would like to hear more about how the time impacted me, check out the audio from my sermon from Saturday, January 27th's mass: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 | Jesus Brings Near to Us the Promise and Power of the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven

Songs of the Refugees Vesper: How shall we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land? + Psalm 137:4

Conflict

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-4 in Arabic, Burmese, and English  

Narration: Story of persecution for faith  

Song: "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus"

Loss

Narration: Story of a refugee 

Song: "Elahi Yesua," Arabic song by Manal Samir  

Prayer: For those suffering loss and grieving our own loss

Displacement

Narration: Story of a refugee 

Song: "Hold on Strong," South Sudanese song by Abraham Deng 

Scripture: Philippians 3:20 in Korean, Arabic, and English 

The Song of the LORD in a Foreign Land

Narration: Story of a refugee 

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:7 

Song: "Always Thankful," Arabic song by Fawaz Amaish   

Song: "Blessed Assurance" by Fanny Crosby 

King of all nations painting by Shin Maeng

The Immigrants Apostles’ Creed

Adapted from Rev. Jose Luis Casal’s
update of The Apostles’ Creed, 390 A.D. 

I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, 

who guided His people in exile and in exodus, 

the God of Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon, Esther in Persia. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, 

conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, 

immigrant of heaven and displaced Galilean on earth, 

who was raised under occupation and fled as a refugee 

with His parents when His life was in danger.

When He returned to His own people, 

He suffered under the imperial power 

and oppression of Pontius Pilate, 

and was unjustly crucified by the empire, dead, and buried. 

He descended to hell. 

On the third day He rose again, not as a scorned foreigner, 

but as the King victorious, ascended to heaven and 

empowered to offer us citizenship in God’s eternal Kingdom. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, 

the eternal immigrant from God's Kingdom among us, 

who speaks all languages, lives in all countries, 

and reunites all races. 

I believe in the holy catholic Church that is the secure home for the 

foreigner among believers across time and in every nationality. 

I believe in the communion of the saints that is revealed 

when we embrace all of God’s people in our diversity in unity. 

I believe in the forgiveness of sins, 

which makes us all equal before God at the cross, 

and in His reconciliation, which heals our brokenness and 

identifies us together more than race, language, or tribe. 

I believe in the resurrection of the body when

God will unite us as one people in which all 

are distinct and alike at the same time. 

I believe in life everlasting in which no one will be a foreigner 

but all of God’s people will be citizens of the Kingdom of heaven 

when Jesus Christ reigns forever and ever. Amen.

The Latin American Lord's Prayer

Credit to Numerous Sources

God who is in us here on earth, holy is Your name

in the hungry who share their bread and their song.

Your Kingdom come, 

which is a land flowing with milk and honey.

Let us do Your will, raising our voice when all are silent.

You are giving us our daily bread

in the song of the bird and the miracle of the corn.

Forgive us for keeping silent in the face of injustice.

Don't let us fall into the temptation of 

taking up the same arms as the enemy.

But deliver us from evil.

Give us the perseverance to look for love, even if we fail;

so shall we have known Your Kingdom 

which is being built forever and ever.

Amen.

The Immigrants Nicene Creed

Adapted from St Albans Diocese’s 
update of The Nicene Creed, 325 A.D.
and Rev. Jose Luis Casal’s update of 
The Apostles’ Creed, 390 A.D.

We believe in God, the Father, the Almighty,

Maker of a heaven and earth without borders or nations,

who led His people from slavery to freedom

through exile and exodus,

the God of homelands lost and found,

the God of temple and desert, of manna and sacrifice.

We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,

immigrant of heaven and displaced Galilean on earth,

who was born under occupation and fled as a refugee 

with His parents when His life was in danger.

When He returned to His own people,

He suffered under the imperial power and oppression of Pontius Pilate, 

and was unjustly crucified by the empire, dead, and buried.

On the third day He rose again, not as a scorned foreigner, 

but as the King, opening for us the door to new life and

destroying the power of death 

that denied us our birthright as citizens of God’s Kingdom.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, and

the eternal immigrant from God's Kingdom among us, 

who speaks all languages, lives in all countries, and reunites all races,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son, 

unity in diversity, three-in-one.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church,

the communion of saints across countries and centuries,

made equal by our need for repentance 

and our assurance of God’s mercy,

united by our citizenship identity by baptism 

in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit,

We look for the coming of the Kingdom of God,

where our passport is Christ’s love,

our bodies are resurrected and healed,

the image of God in all of us is honored,

and all nations and tribes and people will be reconciled in the place

where there is no mourning or sadness, no exile or despair,

and we will be no longer strangers or guests,

but family gathered safely together in the arms of our Father

and united at the table of Christ our King.

Amen.

For more examples for how to bring to light, lament, and worship in light of our immigrant and refugee sisters and brothers' plight, check out Emmaus City's denomination's additional helpful sites:

+ CRC Refugee Justice Worship Resources  

+ Reformed Worship: God's Eye Is on the Refugee: A Simple Drama, a Powerful Message

And for an example of a sermon that looks into the immigrant and refugee life of the Son of God Himself, check out: Matthew 2:12-23 | Christmastide: Remembering the Holy Innocents | Martyrs and Refugees

Soli Jesu gloria.

Rev. Mike "Sully" Sullivan

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