Dear Church family and friends,
We live in an era of uncertainty. The uncertainty of floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, climate change, political polarization and more. The uncertainty of aggression through war, gun violence, human trafficking and international conflict. The uncertainty of employment, inflation, illness — the list goes on.However, when I think about it, I guess humanity always has in one form or another. Long ago, the Psalmist wrote: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4, NRSV). Today, as a community of faith, we claim God’s promise — you are with me.
As your pastor, I’m grateful for our participation in A Season of Peace culminating with our receiving the Peace & Global Witness Offering on World Communion Sunday. This offering draws Presbyterians together and provides education and exposure to siblings in Christ who work for peace every day. Your support of this offering helps encourage our church partners in Ukraine as they struggle against the trauma of war. It helps congregations begin to address the growing mental health crisis and the increase in the number of suicides in their communities. It provides resources for congregations seeking to address issues of gun violence in their communities. This is why we give generously to the Peace & Global Witness Offering. We give because we know that every level of society needs Christ’s peace. From our congregation, where we retain 25% of this Offering to support local missions and their important roles in our community; to the region, where 25% is retained by mid councils to support peacemaking efforts with our neighboring congregations; and to the ends of the Earth, where the remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to join the peacemaking efforts of church partners all over the globe. We join these monetary gifts with our prayers for peace and our work for justice.
You are invited to visit the Peace & Global Witness website to learn how your support of this offering helps peacemaking efforts both in the U.S. and around the world. As a community of faith, we want to deepen our commitment to peacemaking so that it becomes a visible and profound witness to our community. I challenge each of us to consider how we might increase our witness and our giving to the Peace & Global Witness Offering. I pray that the God of Peace might open the generosity in our hearts to join with Christians all over the country on World Communion Sunday, Oct. 6, in response to the Peace & Global Witness Offering. As Presbyterians, we claim Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace and pattern our lives in the compassion, kindness and grace that he shows us. God is with us. May we joyfully bring that peace to all those we care for, love and serve.
Yours in the Peace of Christ,
Rev. Julie Sterling