ASIA SUNDAY 2018 (May 13, 2018)

Theme: ‘Embracing the Differently Abled and Upholding Their Dignity’.

Respected and Revered Church Leaders and People of God,

Greetings from the Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment  of the National Council of Churches in India!

The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) has invited the entire Asian Churches to  observe ‘Asia Sunday’ on 13 May, 2018 on the theme, ‘Embracing the Differently Abled and Upholding Their Dignity’.

The Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment of NCCI (NCCI -IDEA) congratulates the CCA Leadership for having chosen the theme concerning The People with Disabilities (PWDs).

The Asia Sunday is observed every year on the Sunday before the Pentecost. But, some of the Indian Churches are observing  Mother’s Sunday on the 13th May. However, we encourage the Church leaders, clerics and people of God to observe the Asia Sunday either on the 13th May or on subsequent Sundays that are convenient to you.

The General Secretary of CCA, Dr. Mathews George Chunakara also requests all the CCA member churches, councils and ecumenical partners not only in Asia but also around the world to organize special worship,  prayer services and awareness programmes related to Disability Issues as part of the observance of the Asia Sunday with a focus on the dignity of the disabled people. Further, Dr. Mathews George said,  “The Church as a community, called to be in God’s mission, should be concerned for all God’s people, and to embrace everyone, including those who live with disabilities, who are created in the image of God”.

Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, General Secretary, NCCI appreciated the CCA for its commitment in facilitating the Churches and Society to practice inclusivity in their ‘life’ and ‘witness’ and ‘service’ as NCCI invited all its members to take their faith pilgrimage towards just and inclusive communities as its quadrennial (2016 -2020) theme. Further Rev. Dr. Roger said: NCCI is observing the Disability Advocacy Sunday (DAS) since 2011 as an official Sunday. There are several thousand local congregations, institutions and ecumenical partners are observing around the globe on a Sunday before the advent of every year as to mark the International Day of persons with disabilities (3 Dec). According to him, ‘the CCA gives another opportunity for the Indian Churches and Churches around the globe to work intensively in facilitating our churches to become inclusive and accessible’.

Rev. Christopher Rajkumar, the Director of NCCI – IDEA joins the CCA in inviting all the Churches, faith communities, institutions and ecumenical bodies to observe CCA Sunday not only to pray for the Asian Churches and Christianity but also to practice inclusivity and accessibility by embracing the socially, religiously, politically, economically and historically neglected communities like PWDs. The CCA’s call reminds all of us to practice our faith by embracing the PWDs and Affirm and Promote their rights since,  one in every six persons in Asia has some form of disability, and they number about 650 million.

Please click here for the Asia Sunday – 2018 worship order

Wishing you all a Very happy Asia Sunday!

Yours in God’s Missions

Mrs. Cynthia Shinde
Co-ordinator,
NCCI –  IDEA (Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment)
idea@ncci1914.com

 

DOWNLOAD ASIA SUNDAY 2018 WORSHIP ORDER

 

 

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