The Glen Waverley Uniting Church PSALTERLink to InterCulturalMinistry > CouncilAgenda20230417 > CouncilMinutes20230417
Intercultural task group hybrid zoom meeting Friday, 14 April 2023
7:30 - 9:00
Present: Rev HoonYou, PeterCheung, GlynHowells, VidaFoo, SachinRemson, LuckyKalonta
Apologies: Neil Peters
Intercultural Bible Study feedback
- ‘warmer’ – questions for everyone to answer : excellent way of everyone sharing about simple, accessible topics; way of helping us all connect and know each other better.
- Sharing common interests. Cross cultural. Shows common ground.
- Can video clips be circulated in advance to help people watch them before the meeting: sometimes too ‘dense’ as texts and sound quality makes it hard to follow the longer ones : Send video link before with handout.
- Resources in Bible and definition of intercultural ministry.
- Very demanding format because of amount of content: personal sharing, video sample + analysis and Bible story/learning.
- Cultural intelligence = knowing who we are, where we come from: knowing our own perspective and blind spots basis to connect with others
Next study clip is from following 2002 movie.
Indonesian festival meeting
There was some reflection on the planning for the meeting
Suggestion: at end of concert all sing together
Inter faith relationships
What is our vision? Our aims for this year, next, 5 years…
Talking with other faiths assumes we have our own ways of coherently expressing our faith
Hopes for the future
Food sharing central to Asian cultures
Worship
Various ideas shared,
Eg same tune: alternate verses in Indonesian/ English – printed words or on screen.
Using two languages in Opening and Closing/ lord’s Prayer
Sharing the peace in Indonesian – teaching all the words
Focus on quality of worship, not numbers – “…where two or three are gathered…”
People gather in groups because of different
- Geography (where they are from)
- Economic situation
- Language, etc
- Aim of intercultural worship not to display a culture (eg national dress) but to break the display window (exterior) and share because we are not worshipping to show our culture but to worship God as the Body of Christ
- Comments on St Christopher’s, Glen Waverley
- All masses in English
- Full participation by Asians from all over East/Southeast Asia
- In choir, Prayers of the People, Bible reading
- English as a medium of communication (lingua franca)
At GWUC and generally: hard to reach over language barrier.
People often happier to talk one on one; not in groups.
Sunflower=welcomer. Successful.
Large crowd does not of itself make for meaningful worship.
People lost as part of an audience if worship has become a performance , eg?
“Why don’t they learn English?” X
Indonesian Combined Service – May 7th
- Neil and Hoon meeting Wednesday to plan
All suggestions on above welcome – email Hoon
Actions
Lucky to send Hoon songs which are well known to Indonesians and part of English tradition too Glyn to send Peter Cheung’s ideas to Hoon
Next meeting
Friday 12th May 7:30 pm hybrid
- Evaluate Indonesian Festival
- Plan for Intercultural Worship workshops
From GlynHowells