Monday, June 22

Germany

In Germany, unlike many other countries, the right of asylum is not only based on the 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees, but it is also enshrined in the German Constitution as a fundamental right. Ministries of partner churches and mission co-workers serve the needs of diverse numbers of migrants and refugees who have sought a safe haven in Germany.

Poland

In God’s own quiet way, a piece of the Christian tradition is reemerging in Wroclaw, Poland, more than sixty years after the violence and dislocation of World War II. Once a month “The Wroclaw Group” gathers to worship and pray in the Reformed tradition.

Thousands of German citizens fled or were expelled into Wroclaw when political borders were redrawn in 1945. Thousands of Poles were relocated into Wroclaw from their homes in eastern Poland, from land annexed by the USSR. For the Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland (ERCP), the Wroclaw group represents a new church development — in a city where the Reformed tradition once flourished. Gary Payton, regional liaison for Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland, writes, “We’re commanded to ‘do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.’ The doors of St. Krzysztof’s Lutheran Church are open on Sunday afternoon to receive Reformed brothers and sisters in Christ seeking to worship the Lord in their own way.” Jon Chapman, area coordinator for Europe, adds that the doors of the ERCP are opened as they welcome Douglas and Liz Searles as new PC(USA) mission personnel assigned to this partner church.

Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) People in Mission
Black Forest Academy, mission volunteers, school administrators: James Adams and Nancy Adams
Burkhard Paetzold, regional liaison, Central Europe/Roma Ministries, World Mission
Iranian Presbyterian Fellowship in Europe: Rev. Sadegh Sepehri, mission specialist, refugee worker, Azizollah Sadaghiani, refugee worker
Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland (ERCP): Rev. Douglas Searles, church growth and outreach, Dr. Elizabeth Searles, church growth and outreach

Partners/Ministries
Evangelisches Missionswerk in Germany: Rev. Christoph Anders, dir.
Diakonisches Werk, Hoffnung für Osteuropa
Berliner Stadtmission: Rev. Hans-Georg Filker, dir.
European Diaconal Year Network: John Stringham, dir.
Evangelical Church of Germany (EKD): Bishop Wolfgang Huber, council chair
Evang. Church in Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz: Bishop Wolfgang Huber
Berlin Mission Society: Rev. Ekkehard Zipser, dir.
Union of Evang. Churches in the EKD: Bishop Dr. Ulrich Fischer, president

Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland
Rev. Marek Izdebski, bishop

PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Regina Kimbrough, FDN
Susan King, GAMC

Prayer
Lord, we thank you for the growth of your church through the faithfulness of your people in lands where Christ has long been known and in lands where Christ is only now becoming known. In his name we pray. Amen.

Daily Lectionary
Ps. 135, 145 Ps. 97, 112
1 Sam. 5:1–12
Acts 5:12–26; Luke 21:29–36