WCC News: WCC invites all to join Prayer for Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula

The World Council of Churches invites all member churches and people of good will to join in a Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 31 July 2026 Each year, Christians are invited to join this prayer, prepared by the National Council of Churches in Korea. The prayer is traditionally used close to 15 August, celebrated as Liberation Day in both North and South Korea, marking the date in 1945 when Korea won independence from Japanese colonial oppression, yet ironically it also was the day when the peninsula was divided into two countries. This year, the National Council of Churches in Korea will incorporate the prayer in the closing service of an International Ecumenical Peace Convocation on 13 September, gathering with international partners in Seoul. Churches are encouraged to translate this prayer into their national languages and share it with their congregations. “Divided through the violence of imperialism, this land has long been marked by distrust and hostility,” the prayer reads. “Bring an end to war and lead us toward a peace agreement.” 2026 Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula 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 356 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 Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, August 3 and Sunday, August 9, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, August 3, 2026 - That World Vision be able to address real human need around the world.
• Tuesday, August 4, 2026 - That those in the media and government would report facts accurately and without any bias.
• Wednesday, August 5, 2026 - That young people are able to grow into their potential.
• Thursday, August 6, 2026 - That the people of Ukraine be protected.
• Friday, August 7, 2026 - That all racial divisions be healed.
• Saturday, August 8, 2026 - That police officers show strength and compassion when enforcing the law.
• Sunday, August 9, 2026 - That we offer God thanks for all his blessings.

Sunday's Message (The 10 Commandments Through the Eyes of Jesus: Do Not Take God's Name in Vain)

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message (The 10 Commandments Through the ...: Jesus reframes the ten commandments from a list of external rules into matters of the heart. He taught that true righteousness is not merely...

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, July 26, 2026

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...: Jesus reframes the ten commandments from a list of external rules into matters of the heart. He taught that true righteousness is not merely...

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for July 26, 2026

Revised Common Lectionary Readings (Three-Year Cycle)

Lectionary Readings for Sunday, July 26, 2026

First Reading Genesis 29:15-28 15Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. 18Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” 20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. 21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” 22So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. 23But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24(Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) 25When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26Laban said, “This is not done in our country — giving the younger before the firstborn. 27Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” 28Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife. Psalm Psalm 105:1-11, 45b 1O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. 2Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. 3Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually. 5Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered, 6O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 7He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. 8He is mindful of his covenant for ever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 9the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 10which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 11saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance." 45bPraise the LORD! Or alternate Psalm Psalm 128:1-6 1Happy is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways. 2You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. 3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. 4Thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. 5The LORD bless you from Zion. May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6May you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel! Second Reading Romans 8:26-39 26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Gospel Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 31He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." 33He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened." 44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." 52And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, July 27 and Sunday, August 2, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, July 27, 2026 - That our church leaders have the strength and faith to stand up for the truth.
• Tuesday, July 28, 2026 - That our community, state and national leaders would be presented with the Gospel and a loving Christian witness.
• Wednesday, July 29, 2026 - That we listen to those who have experiences different from our own.
• Thursday, July 30, 2026 - That our judges would adjudicate with godly wisdom.
• Friday, July 31, 2026 - That college students feel God's love and support
• Saturday, August 1, 2026 - That teachers and administrators would be open to God's Word and God's will.
• Sunday, August 2, 2026 - That those in the entertainment industry recognize any negative influences within their media creations.

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, July 19, 2026

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...: Jesus reframes the ten commandments from a list of external rules into matters of the heart. He taught that true righteousness is not merely...