A sermon in cloth Sri Lanka May 2002

 A Sermon in cloth

Visit to Emmanuel Memorial Church Maradana, Colombo 10

As part of the ‘Called for Peace Youth Conference’, 3 of the cell groups were attending the 8:30 communion service in order to understand more the Sri Lankan context.

Built in 1912 by a CMS missionary, the Emmanuel Memorial Church has a membership of 110 families and a healthy Sunday morning congregation of 150, plus 50 children. They are Tamil speaking from mainly poor and middle class. This is the congregation of Rev Prince Devanandan who had been such a leading light in our Youth conference.

Bits of the service were translated for our sakes. It felt so familiar even through they were singing in Tamil. The liturgy was the same. A large colourful banner hung behind the pulpit depicting the 'Journey of Faith’. This was produced by the congregation to mark their 90 years of existence. There are 5 references on the banner, which sketch out the direction they want to take, leading to their centenary.
‘Doing the will of God’ (Phil 2: 13)
‘Guarding the faith’ (2 Tim 4:7)
‘Repairing & building relationships’ (Gen 32: 4 & 20)
‘Building up Kingdom of God through evangelising and social service (Act 13 2& 3 Matt 25 31-46)
‘Being persistent in serving others’ (Gal 6:9)
It is a good vision. A whole sermon on cloth

We are asked to bring greetings. I found myself apologising for the Anglican Church - so British in its architecture - and the legacy we had left behind. That forced them all in stiff pews that restrained their own cultural norms and enthusiasm. The people are so warm and friendly. , so Sri Lankan. The church building, so British.

The service finished with children coming for a blessing during the last hymn. They burst out of the pews, joyfully breaking out of all traditions. Rev Prince explained that children are a symbol of the kingdom and a sign of hope for ‘the children of today are the church of tomorrow’. ‘Yes and No’, I thought. They are an integral part of the church of TODAY not just tomorrow. They help us to stop being so adult, so religious. Thank God for children, who do not conform to religious stereotypes – ‘Forbid them not, for such is the kingdom of heaven’

The opening ceremony at the Called for Peace Youth Conference held in Sri Lanka


With their National flags on display, delegates from India and Pakistan pose to celebrate the treaty between the Christian Youth of their Nations. This was a spontaneous event in response to a million soldiers on their national borders, paused on the brink of war, They covenanted to pray and ‘build the bonds of peace’, no matter what happened between their churches and nations. Their overlapping flags are another sermon in cloth – a sermon about the one who breaks down national walls.

from your own correspondent

May 2002