Self-Development of People Sunday

March 1, 2009

Celebrate the ministry of Self-Development of People

Once a year, Presbyterians gather on a particular Sunday morning to celebrate the ministry of Self-Development of People, a ministry of One Great Hour of Sharing.

When Jesus read the scriptures in the Nazareth synagogue (Luke 4:14-21), he chose verses from Isaiah as his text: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Jesus of Nazareth befriended and assisted poor and oppressed people and taught his followers the same responsibility. Through Self-Development of People, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) lives out the primary responsibility taught by Jesus and demonstrates its solidarity with poor people here in the United States and around the world. 

Self-Development of People affirms God’s concern for people by participating in the empowerment of economically poor, oppressed and disadvantaged people by establishing partnerships with low-income community groups.

Use the resources and suggestions below as you interpret the ministry of Self-Development of People in your congregation. Download the 2009 SDOP Sunday brochure.

• Ten ways to celebrate Self-Development of People Sunday
• SDOP Wallet Card
• Worship resources for SDOP Sunday
• Free SDOP resources

Ten ways to celebrate Self-Development of People Sunday

1. Use the Self-Development of People bulletin. Note that there are also five Self-Development of People bulletin inserts which will be available in early February. Four of the inserts highlight Self-Development projects here in the United States; the fifth highlights a Self-Development project in the Dominican Republic.
2. Invite a representative from one of the projects funded by Self-Development of People to worship. Ask that person to do a Minute for Mission and/or to speak in Sunday School classes and/or at a congregational dinner.
3. Ask a member of either the Presbytery/Synod or the national Self-Development of People Committee to preach or to do a Minute for Mission. You could also invite a SDOP staff person.
4. Share a story with your congregation from Stories That Make a Difference 2008. It has eleven stories about Self-Development of People projects both here in the United States and around the world. Order it free from The Presbyterian Marketplace. You can also order the 2007 issue of Stories That Make a Difference.
5. Preach a sermon on Self-Development of People’s ministry. Note that the booklet Self-Development of People: Sermons and Liturgy has five sample sermons and other worship resources. Stories That Make A Difference provides SDOP project examples that can be used as illustrations.
6. Use the Self-Development of People worship resources.
7. Sing the hymn “Justice Is A Journey Onward,” written by Jane Parker Huber and "Celebrate Hope!," written by John A. Dalles.
8. Have copies of the Self-Development of People Children’s Bulletin Insert available for the children in your congregation. These are free and will be available in early February from The Presbyterian Marketplace.
9. Display Self-Development of People posters at key locations around your church building. Order them free from The Presbyterian Marketplace.
10. Commission everyone in worship to take “SDOP Wallet Cards” with them, and to give one to a prospective SDOP Applicant. The wallet cards can be ordered free from The Presbyterian Marketplace.

SDOP Wallet Card

The Self-Development of People program is summarized in a small brochure folded to the size of a standard business card. Order your SDOP Wallet Card, PDS #25422-07-001 from Presbyterian Marketplace.

On Self-Development of People Sunday, why not give one to every member of your congregation? Ask each person to give theirs to someone might be interested in applying for a grant. Help SDOP “get the word out” to economically poor community groups who control their own program, and who will benefit directly from it!

Worship Resources for SDOP Sunday

Call to Worship:

Leader: As we gather in God’s house on Self-Development of People Sunday, we give thanks for our blessings and for the opportunity to share them in God’s name.

People: We give thanks for the spirit of generosity and partnership embodied by Self-Development of People.

Leader: Let us always work for the empowerment of those whose needs are great.

People: Where there is poverty, hunger, injustice or oppression, we are called to serve.

Leader: We pledge to partner with those who seek better lives for themselves, their families and their communities.

All: With God’s help, we can find ways to make the world a better place for all people.

Invocation

God of Love, your compassion extends to all people — the sinful and the devout, the poor and the wealthy, the humble and the powerful. As we gather in Christian love, let us care for one another and work for the empowerment of those within our faith community and in communities of need both near and far. We pray that all may know the justice that flows from your abiding love and the hope that comes from your healing grace. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.

Hymn Possibilities

The first SDOP hymn, “Justice is a Journey Onward,” was written in 1996 by the late Jane Parker Huber.  The second hymn is entitled “Celebrate Hope!” and was written by Rev. John A. Dalles to the tune Duke Street; “Celebrate Hope!” won SDOP’s hymn writing contest, held in 2008. 

From The Presbyterian Hymnal (1990):

#319 Spirit
#343 Called As Partners in Christ’s Service
#354 Guide My Feet
#367 Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love
#369 I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me
#417 Cuando el Pobre (When A Poor One)
$525 Here I Am, Lord

Charge

As you go out into the world,
Strive for justice,
Pray for peace,
Work for the empowerment of those
who are oppressed,
And serve God in all that you do.

Benediction

As you leave this place, may God’s grace be with you, calling you to care for those who suffer; May the presence of the risen Christ fill you with compassion for those in need; May the fellowship of the Holy Spirit empower you and all people to do God’s work in the world.
Amen.

Free SDOP resources

Download a full list of SDOP resources.

- Files marked with this icon can be downloaded in printable Adobe Acrobat format. This file requires the free Acrobat Reader. For best results, right-click the link (or click and hold for Macintosh), select " save target as" and save the document to your desktop for viewing and printing.