The Lord’s Day
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| Where would we be without our Presbyterian seminaries? For nearly two hundred years, year after year, Presbyterian seminaries have been training leaders on behalf of the PC(USA) to serve God in our churches and on campuses throughout the United States. They prepare Christian educators, counselors, missionaries, and pastoral leaders for congregations and communities throughout the United States and the world. They sustain clergy and lay leaders with continuing education programs, libraries, faculties, and special events.
Today, we emphasize the gift of theological education in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Specifically, we give thanks for our Presbyterian seminaries and are invited to deepen our relationships with each of them: Austin (TX), Columbia (GA), Dubuque (IA), Louisville (KY), McCormick (IL), Pittsburgh (PA), Princeton (NJ), San Francisco (CA), Johnson C. Smith (GA), Union-PSCE (VA), and seminaries related by covenants: Auburn (NY) and Evangelical (PR). (See Appendix A on page 370 for contact information.) May we resolve to visit their campuses, participate in their programs, and encourage our pastors to do likewise. May we identify emerging leaders in our congregations with gifts for ministry and invite them to consider a ministerial vocation and enroll in one of our seminaries. May we give thanks for the almost 25 percent of our congregations who contribute to the Theological Education Fund by designating a portion of their congregational budget to this annual effort, the only denomination-wide financial support that our seminaries receive. One hundred percent of our congregations will need pastors in the years to come. Our Presbyterian seminaries need our full support this year and every year. Our prayerful support ensures a promising future for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). —Rev. Lee Hinson-Hasty, coordinator, Theological Education and Seminary Relations, Congregational Ministries |
 O Word of God Incarnate PH 327, HB 251 Ps. 19 God’s Law Is Perfect and Gives Life PH 167 Most Perfect Is the Law of God HB 257 James 3:1–12 Lord, Who May Dwell Within Your House PH 164 Mark 8:27–38 Lift High the Cross PH 371 Take My Life PH 391, HB 310 |
 Divine Teacher and Mentor, thank you for the teachers and mentors we have in our Presbyterian seminaries and those who support them. We give thanks for their hopeful vision of the future, their careful fostering of emerging leaders, and their faithful commitment to theological inquiry. Strengthen each of our seminaries and us as we serve together as thankful partners. In the name of Jesus Christ, who calls us to service daily, we pray. Amen. |
