大象传媒

As this is an edited down version of a live service, no full script is available.

Welcome
The Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

Hymn
All people that on earth do dwell
sung by Canterbury Cathedral Choir and congregation

Prayer
read by the Rev Jacynthia Murphy (Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia)

Music
A Shona setting of the hymn 'Lord, thy word abideth'
sung by the Zinafe Choir

The Collect
The Archbishop of Canterbury

Reading: 1 Kings 17.8-16
read by Sean Murray (Panama)

Song
10,000 Reasons - Matt Redman
led by the Lambeth Conference Music Group

Reading: 1 Peter 4.7-11
read by Felix Yeung, Hong Kong

Music
Gospel Alleluia - The Gospel is good, has fire, is light and has power
sung by the Zinafe Choir

Gospel reading: John 13. 12-17
read by the Rev Suchitra Behera (Bangladesh)

Sermon: The Rt Rev Dr Vicentia Kgabe, Bishop of Lesotho

As we gather in this 15th Lambeth Conference we carry in our hearts and pressed on our minds, matters and situations that challenge and/or trouble our respective homes, countries, regions, dioceses and provinces. We also gather to celebrate the diversity and gifts that have been generously given to us for the mission and ministry in God鈥檚 church for God鈥檚 world.

The readings set for today鈥檚 service have reoccurring keywords that can be summed up into two themes namely servant leadership and hospitality. To be a servant-leader is to show hospitality.

As the church, we are called to practise hospitality and we are called to serve.

Hospitality in the Oxford dictionary is defined as 鈥渢he friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.鈥�

In the African context, hospitality is defined as 鈥渢hat extension of generosity, giving freely without strings attached. It can also be seen as unconditional readiness to share.鈥� It can be seen as the willingness to give, help, assist, love, and carry one another鈥檚 burdens without necessarily putting profit or rewards as the driving force. This is what we call ubuntu 鈥� a person is a person through other persons鈥� Umntu ngumtu nga bantu.

This hospitality is demonstrated in our old testament reading by the widow who welcomed and fed a stranger with her remaining diminutive food supplies. In our second reading Peter urges us to be hospitable as he writes 鈥�be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God; serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received鈥�. And in John鈥檚 gospel Jesus is quoted as saying 鈥�So if I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another鈥檚 feet鈥�.

Hospitality can be a powerful and also a vulnerable thing to do. Powerful because you allow people into your space and share what you have with them. In most cases, the host is in control. Vulnerable because in most cases you allow a stranger(s) into your space, into your domain. To welcome a guest into your home also involves being open to that person鈥檚 presence by showing interest in what that person has to offer.

Jesus Christ demonstrates this also in our gospel reading, during the meal with friends and disciples he moves away from the table. And took a basin with water, demonstrates a new way of serving 鈥� by washing their feet, and directs that they should do that for each other. This is both an act of hospitality and service and love is central to this act.

So how do we as the church 鈥� the Anglican church demonstrate hospitality in a world that is going through and experiencing some serious pain and strife? We do this by following the model that has been set for us by our saviour, and this model is not self-centred or inward-looking. It calls us not to be naval gazing but seek first God鈥檚 kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things -we wish for, yearn for and call for will be given to you as well.

How do we as the church demonstrate hospitality to each other? For many, the church has been a place of pain and hurt. We can and have it in us to serve God鈥檚 people, not only those who look like us, speak the same language as us or are of the same socio-economic or political class as us.

This gathering has the power and is capable of healing the world and church, Peter reminds us 鈥渢o maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.鈥�

And my prayer is that during our time together may;

God鈥檚 name be hallowed and not ours!
God鈥檚 will be done and not ours!
God鈥檚 kingdom come and not ours!
础尘别苍.听

Music
Ubi caritas - Durufle
sung by Canterbury Cathedral Choir

Presentation
The Archbishop of Canterbury presents the primatial cross to the the Archbishop of the new听Anglican Province of Alexandria, Samy Shehata

The Nicene Creed

Prayers

The Lord's Prayer

Final Prayer and Blessing
read in Swahili

Hymn
And can it be that I should gain
sung by Canterbury Cathedral Choir and congregation

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