General News and Announcements
Remembering Nelson Mandela
5 December
2013
As the world mourns the death of Nelson Mandela, Moderator Gary Paterson reflected on the life and legacy of Mandela.
“We have an opportunity today to remember the man – his determination to confront apartheid and injustice; his commitment to freedom and equality; his capacity to endure twenty-seven years of prison and emerge with his soul intact, able to forgive and embark on a journey of reconciliation, persuading others to follow along with him,” commented Paterson.
In this moment says Paterson, “We are called to give thanks for Mandela’s life – not simply to praise him, but to honour his memory with a determination to undertake a similar quest for wholeness, for ourselves and for the body politic.”
And, adds Paterson, “As we grieve his passing, I commend to you the following prayer, Remembering Mandela
printed below.
Remembering Mandela
For us, in our
being, Mandela is gone:
We will no longer dance and
march with him.
We will no longer hear him
speak of justice, freedom, and peace.
For us, in our
knowing, Mandela is changing:
He can no longer speak to us,
but he can still be heard.
He can no longer touch us, but
he can still be felt.
For us, in our
thoughts, Mandela is alive:
We dance and march with him
when we work for human dignity and rights.
We speak with him when we work
for a world where one does not oppress another.
For us, in our
actions, Mandela is here.
So as we journey
with our siblings imprisoned by poverty, slavery,
and all forms of
created suffering,
we
will remember Mandela’s belief that we are all imprisoned until we are all
free.
As we encounter
forces of resistance that feel overwhelmingly insurmountable,
we will remember the integrity
and grace with which Mandela held to his convictions while he was imprisoned
for 27 years.
And as we give
thanks to our Creator for the life of Mandela,
we will continue to pray for
your comfort to surround the family, friends, and nation that mourn the loss of
Madiba;
we
will celebrate a life that perpetually worked for the good of all;
and
we will affirm that his legacy will continue
in
our memories and actions.
As we entrust
him into your loving care,
may we commend
him to our hearts.
Amen.
Alydia
Smith
