Sunday, October 4

Minute for Mission: World Communion Sunday/ Peacemaking Offering

The Lord’s Day

It was a simple cross made of plastic and ribbon. Yet it meant so much in Malawi. At Kapaza Presbyterian Church, Linda Robertson and other Presbyterians accompanied home-based care volunteers and translators on home visits. In the homes, sisters and brothers met. Smiles and tender touches were shared.

Prayers were said. And a cross was given — a cross made by Linda’s colleagues at Allegheny Hospital Suburban Campus in Pittsburgh — a cross that witnessed to our unity in Christ and to the reality that when one part of Christ’s body hurts, we all hurt — a cross that proclaimed God’s grace.

Many congregations in southern Africa offer home-based care ministries in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Volunteers provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to community members who are chronically ill and dying.

Linda and nine others, ranging in age from young adults to retirees and hailing from seven presbyteries, traveled to South Africa and Malawi to learn how our partner churches are responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis and to discern ways for U.S. Presbyterians to support their efforts. The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program sponsored the seminar in partnership with the International AIDS Ministry and the Presbyterian AIDS Network. Gifts to the Peacemaking Offering support the Peacemaking Program’s work and peacemaking efforts within your congregation, presbytery, and synod.

On this World Communion Sunday, followers of Jesus around the world will break the bread of new creation proclaiming that Christ makes us one.

As you receive the bread and cup, pray for sisters and brothers around the world. Seek to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. And give generously to the Peacemaking Offering.

—The Rev. W. Mark Koenig, coordinator, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, General Assembly Mission Council

Prayer
God of kindness, inspire us to reach out to our sisters and brothers. Inspire us to remake systems that wound your children. In doing justice and loving kindness, may we walk humbly with you in the ways of peace. We pray through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Daily Lectionary and Hymns
Job 1:1; 2:1–10
How Long, O Lord
STF 2209

Ps. 26
Stand Up and Bless the Lord
PH 491

Heb. 1:1–4; 2:5–12
Fairest Lord Jesus
PH 306, HB 135, WB 360

Mark 10:2–16
The Family Prayer Song
STF 2188

Daily Lectionary
Ps. 103, 150 Ps. 117, 139
2 Kings 20:1–21