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National Observance of Children's Sabbath
Minute for Mission
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jer. 29:11).
Victims of domestic violence long to hear words of life and hope coming from their church. Sometime ago a church I was serving planned to direct its portion of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Offering to a shelter for victims of domestic violence. An employee of the shelter, a church member, spoke to the congregation of the need for local faith communities to openly address domestic violence. That afternoon she had calls from five members of the church who were victims in need of help. I was stunned that this level of need existed in a middle-class, well-educated Presbyterian congregation and saddened that none of these women felt comfortable sharing their need for help with me, their pastor. I understood that by failing to address this issue in our worship, I had participated in a code of silence that needed to be broken.
From this incident the church developed a policy on domestic violence and a congregational education program involving everyone from kindergartners through all ages of adulthood. Since then, victims and family members have known the pastor’s office was where they could share their stories and get help, but more important they knew that it was not God’s will that anyone should suffer in silence.
The PC(USA) is widely recognized as a church leader in responding to domestic violence, and the Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network provides training and resources in the United States and in Guatemala to educate church professionals, congregations, victims, families, and perpetrators to break the cycle of violence and to discover God’s will for healthy families. Resources are available on many issues related to family violence.
—The Rev. Kevin E. Frederick, pastor, Waldensian Presbyterian Church, Valdese, North Carolina; chairperson, Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network
Holy and merciful God, the covenantal love you established with your people is broken repeatedly by human sin. Help us break the code of silence, to stand boldly against domestic violence, and to proclaim God’s will for loving and just relationships in our families. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Job 38:1–7
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
PH 464, HB 21, WB 446
Ps. 104:1–9, 24, 35c
Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty
PH 482, HB 1, WB 557
Heb. 5:1–10
Trust and Obey
MH 467
Mark 10:35–45
Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim
PH 477, HB 27, WB 645
Daily Lectionary
Ps. 67, 150 Ps. 46, 93
Jer. 29:1, 4–14 or Jer. 39:11–40:6
Acts 16:6–15; Luke 10:1–12, 17–20 |
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