Dear friend,

Every year our congregation joins Christians around the world in celebrating World Communion Sunday. Born in a time of international unrest as nations were about to enter another world war, World Communion Sunday’s central focus is the Lord’s Supper instituted by Christ and its unifying message for all who partake of it. We are one in Christ Jesus, and not to be separated by the nations, ethnic groups, or denominations we belong to, or for any other reason.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) also marks the day by a call to peacemaking, urging us to be followers of the Prince of Peace. One concrete way that we do that is by receiving the Peacemaking Offering. Through this special offering, we work together with others in our presbytery, our synod, and nationally through the General Assembly’s Peacemaking Program to learn and live out the ways of peace.

The Peacemaking Offering invites each congregation to find ways to promote peace within the congregation and within the community. For that reason, our church will retain twenty-five percent of the Offering we receive, and we will decide how best to put this money to work. Another 25 percent goes to our presbytery or synod, and the remaining 50 percent goes to the General Assembly for peacemaking involvement throughout the world.

Join us on October 5 to celebrate World Communion Sunday and to commit ourselves to working for the unity of the church and the peace of Christ. Come ready to give generously to the Peacemaking Offering.