WCC NEWS: Share the WCC Pentecost message—globally and locally

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Pentecost message—developed by WCC regional presidents—is now available in many languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Greek, Ukrainian, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese, Korean, and Indonesian. 16 May 2024 The World Council of Churches (WCC) Pentecost message—developed by WCC regional presidents—is now available in many languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Greek, Ukrainian, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese, Korean, and Indonesian. In addition, the WCC invites people who have the message in other languages to share their own translations with the global fellowship.  The message, which reflects on how much we need the renewing presence of the Holy Spirit, is especially aimed at a world facing many challenges.  “The Pentecost is the descent of the Holy Spirit on the church and the empowerment of its missionary outreach,” the message reads. “In a world in which life in its human and ecological dimensions is threatened, we need the Spirit of life to protect the sacredness, wholeness, and integrity of the God-given life.” The WCC is also sharing social media cards to help get the message of renewal to even more people.  The message also reflects on the need for the intervention of the Holy Spirit to tear down walls that divide. The message reads: “Help us to replace hatred by love, violence by dialogue, and self-centeredness by mutual acceptance. Make us instruments of justice, apostles of peace, and messengers of life.” Full text: A Message for the Churches – At Pentecost (available in English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Greek, Ukrainian, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese, Korean, and Indonesian) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC NEWS: WCC will play key roles in upcoming Barbados Gospelfest 2024

The World Council of Churches (WCC) will lead a “Campaign of Hope” as part of the upcoming Barbados Gospelfest set to take place from 26 May to 2 June. This is the second year that the WCC will be part of the gospel music festival in Barbados. Photo: Barbados Gospelfest 16 May 2024 Started in 1993, through the then-ministry of tourism in Barbados, the Barbados Gospelfest has evolved over the past 30 years as one of the Caribbean’s premiere gospel music festivals.  Activities will include engagement with the Anglican seminary students and staff at the Codrington College on 23 May. On 25 May, there will be a “Pastors and Church Leaders Breakfast” which will gather representatives from across the ecumenical spectrum, not just WCC member churches.  WCC programme director for Public Witness and Diakonia Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata will bring greetings from the WCC and share on the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity, as well as the objectives of the WCC and its ways of working. In addition, the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing and its scope of work—particularly related to HIV and mental health—will be introduced by Dr Manoj Kurian, director of the commission.  The breakfast will be followed by a mental health expose during which Gracia Violeta Ross, WCC programme executive for HIV, Reproductive Health, and Pandemics will be making presentations alongside local experts in the field.  On 27 May, Ross will offer a public lecture, "Living with H.I.V. Hope, Inspiration & Vision,” at the Calvary Moravian Church in Barbados. She will explore the concepts of hope, inspiration, and vision based on the biblical mandate and the example of living with HIV. A question-and-answer session will then offer the opportunity for enhanced theological discussions on hope as part of holistic healing. Rev. Dr Mikie Roberts, WCC programme executive for Spiritual Life, will be once again leading another year of the Hymnspeak programme on 28 May at the St Mary’s Anglican Church. This is an evening of worship featuring an ecumenical choir and local musicians. The theme for this year comes from the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy.”  Three WCC member churches are based in Barbados: Moravians, Methodists and Anglicans.  See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Presbyterian pastor preaches on a proverbial prototype

Witness, Share and Evangelize: Today in the Mission Yearbook - Presbyterian pasto...: The Rev. Dr. Anita Wright speaks about Wonder Woman May 14, 2024 Photo by Dale de Vera via Unsplash From childhood, the Rev. Dr. Anita Wrigh...

WCC NEWS: WCC presidents share Pentecost message: “we need the renewing presence of the Holy Spirit”

In a message for churches and people across the globe, the World Council of Churches presidents shared Pentecost greetings. Photo: Albin Hillert 13 May 2024 “The Pentecost is the descent of the Holy Spirit on the church and the empowerment of its missionary outreach,” the message reads. “In a world in which life in its human and ecological dimensions is threatened, we need the Spirit of life to protect the sacredness, wholeness, and integrity of the God-given life." The message also reflects on the need for the intervention of the Holy Spirit to tear down walls that divide. “In a world dominated by corruption, injustice, and the decay of moral and spiritual values, we need the renewing presence of the Holy Spirit to transform our societies through the Gospel values,” reads the message. “Empower us to articulate more concretely our missionary engagement in all parts of the world, and particularly at these critical moments in the Middle East.” The message concludes: “Help us to replace hatred by love, violence by dialogue, and self-centeredness by mutual acceptance. Make us instruments of justice, apostles of peace, and messengers of life.” Full text: A Message for the Churches – At Pentecost (2024) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

Looking into the lectionary - Hands and Feet initiative scrapped for #GA226

May 19, 2024 Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-21 Power-hungry people seeking to make a name for themselves, building a tower to heaven, acting as if they are God. Chaos. Confusion. Division. This Sunday’s lectionary calendar doesn’t include the tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-11. But considering today’s divisions and disagreements, violent power grabs, the willful siloing behind lack of understanding or desire to understand, the borders and barbed wire, I think Babel should be juxtaposed with Acts 2:1-21 this Sunday. We are a scattered and increasingly disconnected people. We are living in a state of confusion and chaos. The Pentecost story in Acts is often called the Tower of Babel story reversed, bringing diverse people together. The Holy Spirit bestows the gift of understanding. The community of faith that we call the church is born. What a gift to celebrate! In Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy emphasizes the importance of building a more socially connected future to stem the rise of loneliness, division, anger and resentment. Social connection stands out to Murthy as a largely unrecognized and underappreciated force for facing the critical problems with which individuals, our society and our world are currently dealing. Murthy cites research revealing the physical harm of social disconnection. Lonely, disconnected people are at a higher risk for coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, dementia, depression, and anxiety. They are more likely to have lower-quality sleep, immune system dysfunction, impulsive behavior, and impaired judgment. This social disconnection grows into a larger problem when, as Murthy warns, severely lonely people are so preoccupied with their own emotions that they have little energy for empathy. Loneliness begets more loneliness, disconnection to deliberate detachment, further isolation and conclusions that “other people” just don’t understand. In severe cases, loneliness and disconnection lead to reactivity and even trigger violence. The miracle of Pentecost is the cure for the curse of Babel. Acts 2:1-21 is a beautiful reminder of God’s desire for us to be a people connected, to strengthen our sense of community, to understand and empathize with one another. My favorite part of the Pentecost narrative is how the people were given the ability to both speak and listen to those of different languages, cultures and customs. Conflict and disconnection often boil down to a lack of communication, or misunderstanding. Pentecost is the church’s annual reminder that the Holy Spirit not only calls us together but equips us to listen and learn from one another, to grow in understanding and empathy, to be God’s people and Christ’s church together. ... Read the rest of the commentary on the website. Order of worship for May 19, 2024. These liturgies are free to use. Hands and Feet initiative scrapped for #GA226 by Greg Allen-Pickett “There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo” (May 19, 2024) by Brendan McLean Can you hear me now? — Weekly Christian ed lesson by Joelle Brummit-Yale Want the worship resources for May 12, 2024? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Presbyterian campus ministries share kindness and compassion with Israel-Hamas war protestors As college protests against the Israel-Hamas war spread around the country, local Presbyterian ministries seek to offer refuge and care to all students. — Gregg Brekke Taylor Swift’s ‘TTPD’: A tapestry of connection, healing and resurrection If the Eras Tour is a festival of friendship, then Taylor’s new album is a gateway to restorative community, writes Hannah Lovaglio. PC(USA), A Corporation recommends a budget based on ministry priorities ‘Unifying budget’ proposed for 2025-26 as OGA and PMA are combined. — Gregg Brekke Grace in Croatia Scott Barton writes about worshiping in a different context: "Everything understood,/Though no words known to me." Continuing education for gun violence prevention Join the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship at the James Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage on Aug. 22-25, 2024, at Ghost Ranch. United Methodists strike down ban on ordination of gay clergy With a simple vote call and without debate, delegates to the General Conference removed the ban on the ordination of ‘self-avowed practicing homosexuals’ — a prohibition that dates to 1984. — Yonat Shimron Creating connection through innovative worship 8 unique ministries offer insights into the future of the ever-evolving church. — Eric Nolin The challenges of “innovation" Theologians and writers Andrew Root and Kenda Creasy Dean have different takes on innovation. They join Wes Ellis to share their perspectives on the future of the church. Meet CeCe Armstrong and Tony Larson: #GA226 co-moderator candidates Get to know two of the candidates standing for co-moderator, CeCe Armstrong and Tony Larson, in an Outlook-exclusive video.

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, May 13 and Sunday, May 19, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, May 13, 2024 - That we be thankful for the blessings we've received.
• Tuesday, May 14, 2024 - That college students develop the gifts and talents given to them by God.
• Wednesday, May 15, 2024 - That companies and unions in America would flourish with new creativity and practice honorable work ethics.
• Thursday, May 16, 2024 - That Americans celebrate the values on which our nation was founded.
• Friday, May 17, 2024 - That workers be provided a safe workplace and paid a living wage.
• Saturday, May 18, 2024 - That textbooks would honor and reflect the godly heritage of our country and the contributions made by all the different groups within our country.
• Sunday, May 19, 2024 - That we have the courage to deal with the violence within our society.