Sea Sunday Resources #SEASUNDAY

Transcription

1 Sea Sunday Resources #SEASUNDAY

2 Contents 4 Welcome 5 Sea Sunday prayers 6 Sea Sunday sermon outline 8 Stories from our chaplains 9 Songs/hymns and downloads 10 Help us help more 2

3 3 #SEASUNDAY

4 WELCOME Welcome to Sailors Society s Sea Sunday 2018 resource pack. This year s resource pack highlights the special ministry of Sailors Society to all seafarers in our bicentennial year. We praise God for his great faithfulness and rejoice that we are still a pioneering, expanding and innovative global organisation offering welfare services to seafarers at home, in port and at sea. Our prayer is that we can continue to uplift seafaring communities, through community development projects and the work of our port chaplains, to transform the lives of the world s 1.6 million seafarers. The Sea Sunday material is based around Matthew chapter 25 with particular focus on verse 40, Whatever you did for one of the least of these you did for me. For 200 years Sailors Society has endeavoured to do this through our dedicated team of chaplains and family outreach workers. We are continually looking for better ways in which we can provide welfare services for our beneficiaries. It is estimated that 90 per cent of world trade is conducted by sea. Our 117 active chaplains, working in 29 countries and in 91 ports, daily reach out to seafarers offering a welcome helping hand and practical assistance. Last year our chaplains interacted with more than 375,000 seafarers. Our Crisis Response Network responded to seafarers who had experienced trauma in various crisis situations including; imprisonment, piracy, accidents, suicide, abandonment or ship arrest. Our holistic Wellness at Sea coaching programme continues to develop and we are encouraging seafarers to take control of their well-being at sea through our Wellness at Sea App and e-learning course. This year we mark Sea Sunday on 8 July 2018, but you can celebrate on any Sunday in the year that best suits your church calendar. The resources are designed in such a way that you can use a small section, in a five minute slot in your service, by using the videos and prayers found in the resources section, or as an entire service to focus on this special area of ministry. We have also included first-rate resources for children and young people. We are so pleased to connect with you in our 200 th year to bring hope to the world s 1.6 million seafarers. We pray that this will inspire you to support our mission, raise awareness of the needs of seafarers or even become our partners in mission. Thank you once again for your support and do please remember us in your prayers as we go forward in our 200 th year. God bless, Sandra Welch Deputy CEO and Director of Programme 4

5 Prayers to be used as part of a Sea Sunday service MEDITATIONS Pray for God s blessings upon all seafarers as they play an instrumental part in transporting almost everything that we use on a daily basis. Remember the sacrifices made by seafarers who give up a lot to give us so much. Think about where your reliance is placed when it comes to the struggles and strains of life. Are your feet firmly fixed on the rock or do they waver? Ask God to help you not to take the things you have for granted and to continually rely on him for his provision in your life. FOR SEAFARERS Almighty God, we remember those whose lives are lived on your great oceans. For those who go down to the sea in ships, we give thanks; they enrich our lives at great personal cost. May they daily feel the strength of your protection, the warmth of your presence and the love of your relationship as they seek hope of safe passage. Pray for seafarers who are stranded at sea and forced to survive using only the resources available around them. Comfort them in times of loneliness and need and remind them that, in you, they are never alone, particularly when they are struggling with poor weather conditions or sickness. REMEMBERING SEAFARERS FAMILIES Loving Father, we pray for solace for families awaiting the return of seafarers; allow your grace and peace to dwell in their homes and their hearts until they are reunited with their loved ones. Banish fear and pain and uncertainty from their lives, that they may be blessed with hope for safe return and joy at the reunion. Pray for hope for imprisoned seafarers and their families that they would be released and returned swiftly. Please also pray for seafarers and their families who are struggling with ill health. Father, please provide all that they need to recover and wisdom for any medical professionals who may be involved. FOR THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY God, we lift up the shipping industry to you; those who build, those who own, those who manage and those who operate ships to support the trade of the world. We thank you for every company that cares for those who go to sea on its ships. Lord we pray for the wellness of all who work at sea and ask that you bless them with safe working conditions, good food and just rewards for all their efforts. Let justice prevail so that those who are exploiting seafarers would cease to do so. Lord, please surround those who work for unjust employers with your love and protection when they are treated unfairly. THOSE ON WHOM SEAFARERS DEPEND We give thanks for those who protect and support those that work on the sea, providing rescue services and safe havens. We remember today the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Trinity House, the Royal Navy, and maritime trades unions. We rejoice that the work of these, and other organisations around the world, gives great comfort to those who are at times in danger, exhausted, injured, exploited, lonely and afraid. FOR HARMONY ON BOARD Holy Spirit, may you join the crew of every ship that sails the oceans, bringing peace and harmony to them. May your presence counsel the downhearted, heal the sick and bind together seafarers of all nationalities, cultures and faiths so that they can live in harmony despite their differences. Where there is a language barrier, would you be their mouthpiece. FOR SAILORS SOCIETY Sovereign Lord, we thank you for laying the needs of seafarers upon the hearts of your people and giving them such a vision for Sailors Society 200 years ago. We thank you for their vision to provide Christian care for seafarers around the world, irrespective of their religious faith, nationality and background. We remember the work of the charity s port chaplains around the world who are the hands and feet of Jesus as they bring your love to seafarers through acts of kindness and compassion. We thank you for Sailors Society staff involved in supporting the families of seafarers; building homes, schools, medical centres, and improving seafaring communities by sharing your love. We pray that you will grant them and Sailors Society every success in all that is done for seafarers in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 5 #SEASUNDAY

6 SEA SUNDAY SERMON OUTLINE This sermon outline is designed to work with the Sea Sunday PowerPoint presentation which can be downloaded at Sermon title: Whatever you did for one of the least of these you did for me. (Slide 2) Bible reading: Matthew 25: (Slides 3-10) Text: Matthew 25: INTRODUCTION (SLIDE 11) Matthew 25 is a powerful Biblical mandate to care for one of the least of these. It s a call to think of those who are often overlooked or forgotten in society; a reminder of how important they are to Christ. Today we re celebrating Sea Sunday; an opportunity to think about some of the most forgotten men and women in the world. Seafarers are an often-invisible workforce. They travel around the world, out of sight at sea or behind port gates, to bring us the goods we rely on every day. Working at sea can be both rewarding and challenging. Seafarers work in a unique social environment, and are away from home for long periods of time. This naturally causes some tensions within the work environment and at home. It s a lonely job, which can be dangerous, and is often used as a path out of poverty for people in the world s most deprived communities. (Slide 12) In 1818, 200 years ago, a public meeting took place at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street. Those present discussed the plight of seafarers and concluded that Christians had a responsibility to care for them. So Sailors Society was born, a charity with a mandate to advance the Christian faith, alleviate poverty and distress and promote education for seafarers and their families. Sailors Society chaplains are on hand in 91 ports around the world to provide a trusted listening ear and practical support to all seafarers regardless of gender, ethnicity or religious beliefs. The passage of scripture links to this perfectly by reminding us that we have a very special responsibility, as believers, to care for others and meet their needs in specific ways. When we do this, we are doing God s will and sadly those who fail to do so will be accountable for their actions. 1) PEOPLE MATTER (SLIDE 13) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. Biblical application: The verse teaches us to help in simple things. The things which Jesus highlights are giving food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, welcoming a stranger, visiting the sick or those imprisoned. By remembering people who are often forgotten, and showing them acts of kindness or compassion, all of us can show the love of Christ to people who are vulnerable or destitute. Remembering seafarers: Sailors Society chaplains have regular opportunities to help the suffering in their work. One of the charity s aims is to provide relief from poverty and distress and chaplains do this in many ways, through emergency welfare grants, programmes for retired seafarers, grants for children to attend school and scholarships designed to break the cycle of poverty. Sometimes the simplest things they do have the greatest impact. Like when Pastor Joseph Chacko, in India, responded to a desperate tweet from Janet, the wife of Captain Rajesh Goli, whose ship was abandoned off the coast of the UAE by its owner. (Play video on slide 14) Pastor Joseph came alongside the family, giving Janet a grant to help her get by without her husband s salary and counselling and supporting Rajesh for months until he was finally able to return home. 6

7 2) PUTTING OTHERS FIRST (SLIDE 15) I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Biblical application: The verse teaches us the importance of putting others first and giving our time and talents sacrificially. We need to reflect on this and explore avenues of service in this area because people matter. Remembering seafarers: (Slide 16) Seafarers often experience situations where they are in need of this kind of help. They can sometimes fall ill, have an accident on board or are even kidnapped by pirates, finding themselves in hospital or imprisoned in a foreign land. Sailors Society chaplains will visit them in hospital and support them and their families for the duration of their stay and beyond. Ailton de Souza pictured on slide 16, a Sailors Society chaplain in Brazil, has earned the nickname The Angel for making around 500 hospital visits to 150 sick seafarers. Chaplains give hope to crews who are imprisoned by visiting and counselling them until their release and supporting their families throughout the process. Chaplaincy is very much a ministry of presence and port chaplains often work long hours which means that they sacrifice time with their families. (Slide 17) One high-profile case last year was the Seaman Guard Ohio, whose crew from the UK, India and Eastern Europe were imprisoned for two years until they were cleared of all charges. Sailors Society chaplain Manoj Joy visited a number of the men in prison and their families at home in India, and provided them with transport home when they were released. The reunion of the ship s cook with his family is shown in the video on slide 17. Sailors Society s Crisis Response Network was set up to support seafarers who are survivors of trauma at sea. They arrange for them to receive help for the physical or mental damage caused. One of the men the network has helped is Adi Manurung, who was kidnapped by Somali pirates for almost five years. (play video on slide 18) He was threatened with violence and was forced to eat wild animals to survive. Adi, who is a committed Christian, said: I thought I would die. There was no hope, but I just kept praying anyway. Sailors Society has given me guidance and told me to be patient and continue praying to God, because they also believe that faith is very powerful. 3) PLAYING MY PART (SLIDE 19) Whatever you did for one of the least of these you did for me. Jesus reminds us that all help given to those in need is given to him. Our relationship with Christ is what really matters and so the way we treat and interact with others is vitally important. Our passage of scripture is possibly one of the most challenging parables, with a message that God will judge us according to how we respond to human need. His judgement, according to the parable, is not dependent on our wealth, educational qualifications or our status in life, but rather by the way we have treated and helped others. Application: We have already considered certain areas where we can assist those in need. It could be help in simple things, like welcoming a stranger, visiting the sick or those imprisoned-things which we all can do. (Slide 20) Sailors Society supporters and volunteers around the world give their time and talents to support seafarers. Some knit hats and scarves for chaplains to give seafarers to help keep them warm at sea or when they dock in a cold country. Others sign up as volunteers to visit ships, or open up their churches to welcome seafarers in. (Slide 21) Others challenge themselves to raise money to support the charity s work. (Slide 22) Take a moment to reflect on seafarers and their families around the world and on how we can help those who are in need of our care. (Slide 23) 7 #SEASUNDAY

8 STORIES FROM OUR CHAPLAINS Sailors Society chaplains provide a lifeline for seafarers and their families, often helping them through loneliness, poverty and trauma. Here are just a few of their stories: RUSSIA: Chaplain Nikolay Motrenko and his wife Svetlana have been supporting the wife of an imprisoned seafarer. She has lost her job and has a small child; Nikolay and Svetlana have been helping the family for more than a year. BRAZIL AND THE PHILIPPINES: A Filipino seafarer, who was told he could not go to sea because of a heart condition, was given an emergency welfare grant by Sailors Society. Anxious about his and his family s future, Diosdado Bantiad sought help from one of Sailors Society s chaplains in Rio, Regina Borges de Paula, who had often visited his ship while it was in Brazil. Regina put him in touch with our chaplain in Manila Nic Tuban, who gave him the support he needed. Nic said: He was getting restless and felt hopeless, then he remembered Regina. INDIA: Our Crisis Response Network supports seafarers and their families in times of need, including families affected by the loss of the MV Emerald Star. Emerald Star sank in the Pacific in October and 10 members of its Indian crew are still missing. Our Chennai port chaplain Manoj Joy, who has been supporting those affected by the tragedy, said: With professional psychologists, Sailors Society s crisis response team has been tasked with counselling the families and survivors. THE PHILIPPINES: Chaplains Rev Jasper del Rosario and Rev Nic Tuban held a 30 th anniversary memorial service at sea for those lost in the worst peacetime maritime disaster. An estimated 4,386 perished when the MV Doña Paz collided with an oil tanker, with only 24 people surviving. The vessel was making its last journey before Christmas and Nic remembers the tragedy well. He said: People in Manila were excited to celebrate Christmas but instead mourned. They waited at the city s North Harbour, hoping that their loved ones were still alive. So many never saw their loved ones again. WALES: Bridgend-based chaplain Rev Phil Denyer dared to face his fear of heights and take on Britain s highest freefall abseil from the UK s tallest structure to raise money for our work. Phil took on the ArcelorMittal Orbit abseil in London and raised more than 1,500. He said: I ve been terrified of heights all of my life, but was keen to face my fear! People have always been so good at supporting us and I wanted to get involved and do something to help our cause. 8

9 SONGS/HYMNS AND DOWNLOADS SONGS/HYMNS You may like to include some of the following songs or videos within your service. Here are a few suggestions: Eternal father, strong to save by William Whiting It is well by Horatio Spafford Oceans (where feet may fail) by Hillsong United How deep the Father s love for us by Stuart Townend Jesus lover of my soul by Charles Wesley Soul anchor by Michael Card All who are thirsty (come Lord Jesus) by Brenton Brown and Glenn Robertson And can it be by Charles Wesley (or Lou Fellingham) Love divine by Charles Wesley DOWNLOADS Visit to download all the resources you need for Sea Sunday 2018: Sailors Society Who are we? Sea Sunday sermon outline PowerPoint presentation Bringing people together for 200 years CHILDREN S RESOURCES Don t forget you can find our children s Sunday School resources in our Sea Sunday packs or visit: 9 #SEASUNDAY

10 HELP US HELP MORE After marking Sea Sunday many churches choose to take up a collection and make a donation to the ongoing ministry of Sailors Society. There are two ways you can do this - please donate online using or send a cheque made payable to Sailors Society and post it to: If you would like envelopes for your congregation to allow individuals to Gift Aid their donation then please contact us on Your donation can provide a lifeline for seafarers in need. Sea Sunday, Sailors Society, Seafarer House, 74 St Annes Road, Southampton, SO19 9FF. HERE S HOW YOUR DONATIONS HELP: 15 could help provide a blanket, woolly hat and gloves to a seafarer 25 could help pay for an emergency food pack for a seafarer 30 could help to fund a chaplain for a day to visit seafarers in port 50 could help with a welfare grant towards a family s emergency and medical needs

11 DOES YOUR CHURCH SERVE COFFEE THAT DONATES 100% OF ITS PROFIT TO MISSION? Every penny of profit from BySea coffee sales helps to transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Wherever you enjoy your coffee at home, in the office or at church you will be helping to build homes and schools in poor communities and keep young children in touch with mums and dads away at sea for many months at a time. Sailors Society offers welfare support to seafarers, their families and communities in 29 countries around the world, regardless of their background or faith. 200 YEARS OF HOPE. Change your coffee to BySea Visit Contact us at info@bysea.org

12 WORLD S WETTEST SCHOOL RUN Many thousands of miles away in the Philippines, children were swimming two kilometres just to get to school. Sailors Society has been putting an end to the world s wettest school run by providing boats, as well as educational resources and support to children in some of the world s poorest communities. Download our World s Wettest School Run resources for your Sunday School and help children find out more about how others live across the world. Registered Company No: 86942, Charity No: