Resources for Churches LET S LISTEN TO THOSE LIVING WITH HIV IN SCOTLAND www.hivalwayshear.org
ALWAYS HEAR / RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES 2 CONTENTS 3 Introduction 4 HIV & Christianity 5 Prayer Points & Prayers 7 Hymns & Worship Song Suggestions 8 Home Group Notes 10 Our Personal Response 11 Further Resources
ALWAYS HEAR / RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES 3 introduction Open your ears and they will open your eyes It is estimated that 34 million people are living with HIV worldwide. In the UK there are nearly 100,000 people and in Scotland over 5,500 who are HIV positive. No matter who we are or where we live, it s an issue that affects us all. Although we may be familiar with the images of HIV overseas, orphaned children in Africa perhaps, we may not be so familiar with HIV in Scotland. It is well over twenty years since Scottish people were immersed in information about HIV and much has changed since then. Four people have come forward to bravely give us an insight into living with HIV in Scotland today. They remain anonymous due to the stigma of living with HIV and very real threat of harassment. These are the people that Jesus would walk among today; the people that society has pushed to its fringes. We invite you to learn more about Him through them. Films, HIV factsheets and a website are available to accompany this resource. Please visit www.hivalwayshear.org for more information.
ALWAYS HEAR / RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES 4 HIV & Christianity HIV is one of the major challenges facing Christian communities today. There is a gospel imperative to actively engage with the issue. We shouldn t be asking, Whose fault is it? or, What is God going to do? The real question is, What are we going to do? So, what are we waiting for? The answer lies in who we are waiting for. Scripture tells us we are waiting for Christ who is a God of Peace. A God of Justice. A God of Truth. A God of Hope. And above all, a God of Love. And while we wait for Christ, He has tasked us to do His work. HIV in Scotland needs a Christ-like response. Churches can make a difference. Please explore the stories, the films and these resources to help bring Christ to HIV in Scotland today. Christ has no hands, no feet on earth but yours Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) He is going to bring peace, justice, truth, hope and love.
ALWAYS HEAR / RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES 5 Prayer Points & Prayers Please consider praying for the following: Peace for those living with HIV not to feel despair at their diagnosis but to have a positive view of their lives and their future Justice that there is an end to HIV stigma and discrimination Truth that education effectively reaches those most at risk of contracting HIV so that they know how to avoid infection Hope for scientists developing treatments and working towards a cure. And wisdom for the doctors treating those living with HIV Love that each of us show Christ s love and help fight the spread of HIV and challenge HIV stigma Healing that people live well with HIV developing their lives physically, spiritually and emotionally Faith that those living with HIV know God s love and peace
ALWAYS HEAR / RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES 6 Prayer Points & Prayers CONTINUED Prayer for HIV God of Peace, we pray for your peace in the lives of people who live with HIV. We trust that the day will dawn when people are defined by who they are rather than the virus they live with. God of Justice, we pray for justice in a world where stigma wrongly allows some people to be treated differently. We trust that our world will become a fairer and more honest place, a place where people are no longer afraid to talk about HIV. God of Truth, we pray for truth in our lives. We trust that those in positions of power will take their responsibilities seriously and that there will be opportunities for honest and open discussions about HIV. God of Hope, we give you thanks for the hope that motivates each one of us. We look forward to a time when HIV infection is a rare event and when there is universal access to treatment. Closing Prayer Leader: All: Leader: All: In gratitude, in deep gratitude for this moment, this place, these people, we give ourselves to you. Take us out to live as changed people because we have been touched by the living Lord and cannot remain the same. Ask much from us, expect much from us, enable much by us, encourage many through us. So, Lord, may we live to your glory both as inhabitants of earth and citizens of the commonwealth of heaven. Amen. Text John L. Bell, from PRESENT ON EARTH: worship resources on the life of Jesus (2002); copyright Wild Goose Resource Group, Iona Community, Glasgow G2 3DH. Reproduced by permission. www.wgrg.co.uk God of Love, we thank you for the love that we know in our lives and for the opportunities we have to share that love with the people we meet. Help us to show something of your love to people who are living with HIV, without judgement or prejudice but with open and willing hearts. Gracious Lord, hear these our prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
ALWAYS HEAR / RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES 7 Hymns and Worship Song Suggestions A new commandment I give unto you 1984, 1999 Kevin Mayhew Ltd Be my everything Tim Hughes 2005 Thankyou music Brother, sister, let me serve you Richard Gilland 1977 Kingsway s Thankyou Music Christ s is the world in which we move John L. Bell & Graham Maule 1989 WGRG Iona Community Forever Chris Tomlin 2001 worshiptogether.com songs God of justice Tim Hughes 2005 Thankyou music Jesus Christ is waiting John L. Bell & Graham Maule 1988 WGRG Iona Community Lord, we come to ask your healing Jean Holloway Kevin Mayhew Ltd Mighty to save Reuben Morgan & Ben Fielding 2006 Hillsong O kneel me down again Brenton Brown 1999 Vineyard Songs Peace is like a flowing river Kevin Mayhew Ltd Take my life Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-79)
ALWAYS HEAR / RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES 8 Home Group Notes Notes to leaders: Please read the basic information on the HIV factsheets. Prepare copies of Susan s story for members of the group, available at www.hivalwayshear.org/our-stories/ Begin the session with showing the film of Susan s story. Peace & Justice We re called to challenge injustice. Stigma and discrimination directed towards those living with HIV needs to stop. Stigma is fuelled by judgement. We need to remember that HIV is only a virus and it is the people that are important, not the virus they live with. People living with HIV deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. Read Matthew 7:1-5 It doesn t matter how someone contracts HIV. However, it is often the question first asked of someone who discloses that they are HIV positive. Why shouldn t we ask someone how they contracted HIV? Read Colossians 3:12-15 and 1 Peter 3:8 11 What do you think Jesus attitude would be to HIV stigma and discrimination? Read Susan s story. When and how was Susan stigmatised? How could you challenge HIV stigma?
ALWAYS HEAR / RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES 9 Truth HIV is a consequence of the actions of society as a whole not God s punishment on individuals. Read James 2:8-13 and Exodus 32:1-8 Consider why modern society is responsible for the spread of HIV.* How might Christians have hindered, and continued to hinder, this spread? * Note to leaders: HIV stigma and discrimination fuel a lack of willingness to be tested and those who don t know they are living with HIV may unknowingly pass on the virus. Poverty and social disadvantage also go hand in hand with a high prevalence of HIV. Hope & Love We can bring about change and be different. We can share our hope and work towards a stigma-free Scotland where God s nondiscriminatory, universal love is shown to all. Read Philippians 3:13-14, Luke 10:27-37, John 13:34-35 and 1 John 4:7-8 How should these passages influence our lives in general and more specifically our reaction to HIV? What specific actions could we take to demonstrate God s hope and love? Read Luke 15:1-7 Jesus regularly spent time with people on the fringes of society who the Pharisees saw as unacceptable. How would Jesus treat someone he met who was HIV positive? Would he respond to them in a different way to someone who was HIV negative?
ALWAYS HEAR / RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES 10 Our Personal Response Here are some ways that we can help bring a Christ-like response to HIV in Scotland Pray for those living with HIV and pray for an end to HIV stigma Challenge HIV stigma and misinformation when you encounter it Learn more about HIV. Visit one of the websites listed under Further Resources for more information Support HIV charities through prayer, financial support or through volunteering Mark World AIDS Day on 1st December every year in a service, church magazine article or with a specific event Talk to one person, not at this group, about what you have learnt about HIV and HIV stigma
ALWAYS HEAR / RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES 11 Further Resources Want to learn more about HIV? The following websites contain useful information: www.waverleycare.org Waverley Care is the leading Scottish HIV support and information charity www.aidsmap.com NAM / AIDSmap is a UK-wide HIV & AIDS information organisation www.avert.org Avert is an education, information and advocacy charity www.churchofscotland.org.uk/speak_out/hiv_programme The Church of Scotland HIV programme, amongst its activities provides additional HIV resources for use in Scottish churches www.e-alliance.ch Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance is an international network of churches campaigning on common concerns www.inerela.org Inerela is an international network of religious leaders who are living with or affected by HIV www.nat.org.uk National AIDS Trust is a UK-wide organisation campaigning for the rights of people living with HIV and providing HIV resources www.hivalwayshear.org Please note: Waverley Care is not responsible for the content of any website listed here, except www.waverleycare.org
THE ALWAYS HEAR RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES An insight into what it s like to live with HIV in Scotland Information about HIV that everyone needs to know CONTACT DETAILS: Visit: www.hivalwayshear.org email: alwayshear@waverleycare.org call: 0131 556 9710 The latest figures and statistics about HIV Prayer points, prayers, hymns and worship songs Funded by the Scottish Government
WAVERLEY CARE NEWSLETTER ARTICLE This article is for you to reproduce within any publication, for example a church magazine or newsletter. To download a word document of this article, visit www.hivalwayshear.org This is a 600 word article. 350 and 200 word versions of the article are also available online. PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN SCOTLAND HAVE A VOICE ARE YOU LISTENING? By Reverend Marion Chatterley, Spiritual and Pastoral Care Coordinator at Waverley Care, Scotland s leading charity supporting people living with HIV. WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU BUT TO LOVE JUSTICE, TO LIVE KINDLY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD (MICAH 6:8) Injustice what does it mean for you? For me, it means that around a quarter of people in Scotland who are HIV positive don t know it because they are frightened to take a test; frightened because of the stigma in society that surrounds a positive HIV diagnosis. In Scotland almost 6,000 people are now living with HIV. It has been a long time since HIV dominated the headlines in the 1980s and early 90s, when TV campaigns made people HIV aware but sadly also stigmatised and marginalised those who contracted the virus. Although so much has changed since then, a lot also hasn t. Today, although there is still no cure, people living with HIV in Scotland can live well with a near normal life expectancy, especially if diagnosed early. What hasn t changed is that society struggles to still see past the virus and to see the person affected, and some are still unsure how HIV is passed on. To alleviate any misunderstandings, in Scotland, HIV is only passed on through unprotected sex and sharing syringes. It cannot be passed on through kissing or shaking hands or through sharing communion wine. People living with or affected by HIV are within all of our congregations. It is not an issue affecting others, it is an issue affecting you and me and it is an issue that needs a Christ-like response. The stigmatised people who live among us with HIV are the very people Jesus would walk alongside today. They are the people who have been pushed to the fringes of our communities, ostracised and excluded simply because they live with a particular medical condition. Stigma stops people testing and knowing their HIV status. When people don t know their HIV status they risk unknowingly passing on the virus to intimate partners. We all hold the responsibility for stopping the spread of HIV as we all have a responsibility to challenge HIV stigma in society. CONTINUED OVER...
To use a familiar phrase change starts with you. At Waverley Care, we d like you to challenge the injustice of HIV. We d like you to help to bring a Christ-like response to HIV by challenging stigma and helping stop the spread of HIV. As part of our new Always Hear campaign, we ve produced a set of materials specifically for Scottish churches. The resources enable us to listen to, and learn from, four people who are living with HIV in Scotland. It is through listening to the people who are directly affected that we can truly understand the challenges they face. Whilst the resource can be used throughout the year, we think that the central themes of listening and paying attention may also be useful during Advent. World AIDS Day falls on a Sunday this year (1 December). We are hoping that every congregation in Scotland will find a way to mark the day. We believe that people living with HIV in Scotland are waiting for the church to hear what they have to say and to respond in a Christian way with love. Christ s love. What will you do to help? The four people tell their stories on film. Each of them has a powerful story to tell, a story that includes shocking instances of stigma and injustice within daily life. At www.hivalwayshear.org you can view the films or download resources which include home group materials and prayers. You can download these images for use in your article at www.hivalwayshear.org For further information or any questions about Always Hear please contact Marion Chatterley or Alison Irving: alwayshear@waverleycare.org 0131 556 9710