Looking into the lectionary - When a Presbyterian elder is taken by ICE

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 24th Sunday after Pentecost 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time November 8, 2026 We had followed their progress for weeks. Each evening the next day’s route and stops would be posted online. Each day they drew closer. As the number of followers on their Facebook pages grew, so did the anticipation. About a week ahead, it became clear that the Theravāda monks from the Hương Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, would indeed pass through our community on their Walk for Peace. What had merely been speculation, now became an urgent discussion: How would we welcome them?   The morning of the monks visit, a group of about 25 church members and friends gathered on the front steps of our congregation. It was cold and damp. Several returned to their cars to retrieve raincoats or umbrellas. After a brief prayer, we began our own walk to meet the guests who would pass through our community. The mile and a half we traveled was merely symbolic of partnership with their 2,300 mile walk across nine states as they journey from Texas to Washington, D.C. to promote mindfulness, loving-kindness and non-violence.    We reached a crossroad and waited for their arrival. Others from the church met us there, as did hundreds of others from the community. By the time we saw the flashing lights of the accompanying patrol cars both sides of the road were packed. Construction workers paused their work. Traffic stopped. The crowd strained to catch a first glimpse of the monks as they walked. Phones recorded video and pictures. A hush, a collective held breath, a sense of being a part of something bigger than ourselves filled the moment. We felt gratitude, excitement, respect and peace...   Thank you to this week's writer, Matthew A. Rich. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for November 1, 2026? You can find them here. We've got daily Advent devotionals and a long list of holiday liturgies to make your worship planning easier!

Order of worship — November 8, 2026, by Matthew A. Rich When a Presbyterian elder is taken by ICE by Harriet Riley No other God: Voting, faith, and state intimidation by Rev. Dr. Serene Jones At This Time: Dialogues in Theological Education book review by Amy Pagliarella

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Workshop unpacks post-pandemic finances and attendance data for churches Insights include church growth patterns, online trends and the impact of technology on giving. — Nancy Crowe ‘The Shack’ author Paul Young returns with a sequel set on Death Row Two decades after his first novel became a runaway hit, William Paul Young returns to the world of ‘The Shack’ in a story where a grieving father meets the man who killed his daughter. — Bob Smietana (re)Imagining worship together 1001 NWC annual gathering experiments with rituals centered on art, conversation, sketch comedy and dramatic reimagining of Scripture. — Beth Waltemath and Rich Copley An ‘empathy gap’ divides Americans ahead of the midterms, says PRRI report A new survey from Washington, D.C.-based Public Religion Research Institute has found a new dividing line among Americans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections: empathy. — Bob Smietana Creating a stewardship sermon series that fits your church context ‘Tell them that they have something to offer their church’ the Rev. Carol Holbrook Prickett advises during a Stewardship Kaleidoscope workshop. — Chuck Toney “God loves them and so do we”: How a church became sanctuary following a school shooting When a school shooting brought hundreds of children and anxious families to Westminster Presbyterian Church, a congregation became a place of refuge, offering comfort, care and a tangible reminder of God’s love. — Rev. April H. Cranford Advent planning doesn’t have to mean sorting through dozens of books and resources on your own. In this recorded webinar, Amy Pagliarella offers ideas for churches, small groups and individuals.

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Prayer Vigil Before 2026 Midterm Elections

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Join the Office of Public Witness and denominational leadership on the eve of the 2026 Midterm Elections for a time of prayer as we prepare for Election Day. Regardless of our hopes for the election’s outcome, this service will be an opportunity to come together in prayer to remember that we belong to God and to reaffirm our sacred responsibility to uphold the needs and dignity of our communities and all of God’s people. Voting is both a civic duty and a sacred responsibility. With this in mind, we invite you to gather with us to center ourselves in God, reflect on God’s Word, and seek guidance as we faithfully live out our call to consider how our vote is one way to live out scripture’s call love and serve our neighbors. Leadership: Rev. Marta Pumroy-Cordero (Co-Moderator of the 227th General Assembly)  Rev. Dr. Kris Schondelmeyer (Co-Moderator of the 227th General Assembly) Rev. Jihyun Oh (Stated Clerk of the General Assembly & Executive Director of Presbyterian Life and Witness)  Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins (Advocacy and Witness Director in Presbyterian Life and Witness)  Rev. Christina Cosby (Representative for Domestic and Environmental Policy Concerns, Office of Public Witness)  Rev. Vilmarie Cintron-Olivieri (Global Ecumenical Liaison-US/Enlace Ecuménica Global-EE.UU)  Rev. Carlton Johnson (Director Global Ecumenical Partnerships)  Catherine Gordon (Representative for International Issues, Office of Public Witness)

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IDOP 2026: Join Us in Prayer This Weekend | November 1 & 8

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church NOVEMBER 1 & 8, 2026 We invite you to join us and Christians around the world in prayer for the persecuted Church during the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) on November 1 and 8. EXPLORE PRAYER RESOURCES → Thirty Years of Praying Together Since 1996, the global Church has united through IDOP to pray for persecuted Christians. Thirty years later, we continue to stand alongside those who suffer for their faith, reminding them they are not forgotten. UNITED IN PRAYER “…everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV) As Jack Sara, a Christian leader in the Middle East and North Africa, reminds us: “Following Christ is not the promise of an easy life. Our churches are a suffering church, but also a church of the resurrection hope.” Whether you pray individually, with your family, or alongside your church community, your prayers are a meaningful expression of solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters. YES, I WILL PRAY → As one global family in Christ, may we continue to remember those who suffer for their faith and stand with them faithfully in prayer. Thank you for praying with us. In Christ, World Evangelical Alliance Over two billion Christians in the world today are represented by three world church bodies. The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is one of those, serving more than 650 million evangelicals belonging to churches that are part of 163 national Evangelical Alliances in 9 regions. Launched in London in 1846, the WEA unites evangelicals across denominations for prayer, evangelism, mission, theological education, religious freedom, human rights advocacy, relief, and engagement in a wide range of social issues. It speaks with one voice to United Nations, governments, and media in public or through behind-the-scenes diplomacy on issues of common concern to the Church. For more information, visit worldea.org WEA has been a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability since 1980. WEA is audited annually by an independent public accounting firm. WEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In the United States, your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, November 2 and Sunday, November 8, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, November 2, 2026 - That our church leaders have the strength and faith to stand up for the truth.
• Tuesday, November 3, 2026 - That we vote with faith and accept the results with humility.
• Wednesday, November 4, 2026 - That our community, state and national leaders would be presented with the Gospel and a loving Christian witness.
• Thursday, November 5, 2026 - That we listen to those who have experiences different from our own.
• Friday, November 6, 2026 - That our judges would adjudicate with godly wisdom.
• Saturday, November 7, 2026 - That college students feel God's love and support
• Sunday, November 8, 2026 - That teachers and administrators would be open to God's Word and God's will.