The Upper Room headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, is centered around The Upper Room Chapel, which hosts thousands of visitors each year. Speakers from different denominations and countries take part in services (held regularly on Wednesdays), and visiting choirs from Nashville and elsewhere provide special services of music.
World AIDS Day 2007
Dr. Donald Messer led a service of worship in observance of World AIDS Day. Dr. Messer has traveled to Africa, India and Europe to raise consciousness and share information that can make a positive difference in the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Having retired as President of Iliff School of Theology, Messer was named both President Emeritus and the Henry White Warren Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology. As of 2007, Messer is the Executive Director of the Center for the Church and Global AIDS. Dr. Messer partnered with The Upper Room in developing and funding Prayers for Encouragement. (See related article.)
Listen to Don Messer's Sermon
Don Messer's sermon, "Names, Not Just Numbers: Remembering Faces, Not Just Facts," is based on the text, Luke 15:1-7. Listen to Dr. Messer's sermon (24 min.) by clicking on the triangle below. (You will need Flash for the sermon to play.)
Spread Hope Around the World
The 24-page booklet Prayers for Encouragement: Hope for Persons Living with HIV and AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and Other Serious Diseases is being distributed through our global editorial and distribution network, United Methodist leaders, clergy and lay persons who are in ministry with persons affected by HIV/AIDS, community, national and international health and service organizations. Your purchase of the booklet supports the free translation and distribution of this booklet around the world. Current translations include Kiswahili, Portuguese, French, and Xhosa. Translations in Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Zulu, Setswana, and Sotho are coming soon. (Give a gift of support.)
Sample Service: World AIDS Awareness
Prelude
Greeting
*Call to Worship
One: All we, like sheep, have been lost at one time or another. Who is it that has gathered us in? All: The good shepherd has gathered us and we are here to worship God.
One: What are we to do when the loom stops because the weaver has been stricken with AIDS. Production ceases because a technician has been stricken with AIDS. Classes are cancelled because the teacher has been stricken with AIDS. The music has gone silent because the organist has been stricken with AIDS. All: No more business as usual. No more lost sheep.
One: How many more people have to be stricken before we get it that HIV/AIDS is not going to go away just because we ignore them? How many more must die? How many more orphans and widows? All: No more business as usual. O God, heal us and send us.
*Hymn
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
UMH #138
*Scripture
Luke 15:1-7
Meditation
"Names, Not Just Numbers:
Remembering Faces, Not Just Facts"
Response to the Word
TFWS 2200
"O, Lord, Hear My Prayer"
O God, we confess our sin in the midst of HIV and AIDS.
We confess our fear, our selective compassion, and our conditional love. We have denied and avoided sisters and brothers,
families and friends.
"O, Lord, Hear My Prayer"
We have become disconnected from our neighbors. We have become disconnected from our own sexuality. And therefore, we have become disconnected from you, O God.
"O, Lord, Hear My Prayer"
We have silenced those who live with AIDS and HIV.
And when their ailments become visible,
we have removed them from our midst to hospitals,
to hospices, and to the streets.
"O, Lord, Hear My Prayer"
Forgive us, O God.
Bring us back to the center of your presence,
where you hold all who call upon your name.
Help us to break the silence.
Help us to reach out to restore the connections
with all whom you love.
We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
*Blessing and Sending Forth (pray in unison) God of us all,
We pray for the unity of the church, that we may find a unified way to fight this disease of HIV/AIDS. Lead us out of passivity and inappropriate attitudes. Replace ignorance with education. Grant our young people the spiritual strength of self-discipline. Teach the old new ways of caring and compassion.
We pray for the commitment of time and money that will provide crisis intervention, professional guidance, community seminars and outreach programs to provide alternatives to the harmful enticements of the streets.
Grant us, together, a knowledge of what is and what is not, as well as a vision of what can be. In the name of Jesus the Christ, Amen.**
*Postlude
*Please stand as you are able.
**Adapted from Who Will Break The Silence, Liturgical Resources for The Healing of AIDS. Used with permission from The Balm In Gilead™ (www.balmingilead.org)
Let us keep in prayer this week:
All those affected by HIV/AIDS and other related illnesses in the world.
This service was held in The Upper Room Chapel in Nashville, TN, November 28, 2007. Leading the worship service were:
Donald Messer
Stephen Bryant
Michelle McCorkle
Dale Rust Waymack
Vance Ross
Tom Albin
Jennie Smith
Dr. Donald Messer led a service of worship in observance of World AIDS Day. Dr. Messer has traveled to Africa, India and Europe to raise consciousness and share information that can make a positive difference in the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Having retired as President of Iliff School of Theology, Messer was named both President Emeritus and the Henry White Warren Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology. As of 2007, Messer is the Executive Director of the Center for the Church and Global AIDS. Dr. Messer partnered with The Upper Room in developing and funding Prayers for Encouragement. (