Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, May 1 and Sunday, May 8, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Sunday, May 1, 2022 - That international tensions decrease and all nations learn to live in peace with one another.
• Monday, May 2, 2022 - That we look past the immediate benefit so that they might see the long-term consequences of their actions.
• Tuesday, May 3, 2022 - That our city, state and national leaders would be presented with the Gospel and a loving Christian witness.
• Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - That we elect officials that are both ethical and competent.
• Thursday, May 5, 2022 - That we listen to those who have experiences different from our own.
• Friday, May 6, 2022 - That our judges and Supreme Court justices would adjudicate with godly wisdom.
• Saturday, May 7, 2022 - That teachers and administrators would be open to God's Word and God's will.
• Sunday, May 8, 2022 - That those in the entertainment industry recognize any negative influences within their media creations.

Sunday's Message: Good News for a Change - The Resurrection Can Change Our Faith

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message: Good News for a Change - The Res...: We live in a world where there seems to be a lot of bad news. In fact, there are times when it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all those thing...

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Minneapolis church expands its artistic palette during pandemic

Witness, Share and Evangelize: Today in the Mission Yearbook - Minneapolis church...: Westminster Presbyterian Church shows innovative approaches to the arts in worship during Giving Tuesday April 26, 2022 Dancer Eve Schulte a...

Looking Into the Lectionary — Worship resources for 5/1

May 1, 2022 Third Sunday of Easter John 21:1-19 COMMENTARY Recently, a friend called to ask me to preach at a large event. I received the call in my car, driving to my daughter’s track meet, my GPS shouting at me in the background. The event fell right before my family’s relocation to Virginia. I responded to my friend’s invitation poorly, speaking more out of my stress than my heart and head. I offended him with brash, inarticulate words explaining why I couldn’t possibly do what he was asking. When I recognized our conversation had gone south, I pulled over so I could focus and make amends. We concluded our conversation on a better note, but I still felt ashamed afterwards. Preceding our lectionary passage for this Sunday, we read how Peter denied his association with Jesus three times (John 18:15-27). Jesus had been arrested, and Peter was no doubt afraid he’d be next. When asked if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter lied: “I am not.” We can only imagine how this denial left Peter feeling — whether he delivered his lie with panic or with bluster, any disciple would feel ashamed to abandon Jesus in his time of greatest need. In her book Daring Greatly, Brené Brown writes about the destructive power of shame, “the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.” Shame is rooted, Brown writes, in our fear of disconnection: “the fear that something we’ve done or failed to do, an ideal that we’ve not lived up to, or a goal that we’ve not accomplished makes us unworthy of connection.” These powerful feelings of shame can lead us to self-destructive and relationship-destructive behaviors. Shame keeps us from being vulnerable and real. We find ourselves attacking or disengaging to feel better or to protect ourselves from further harm. You can find the rest of the commentary on our website. An order of worship for May 1, 2022. This liturgy is free to use. The Uniform Lesson for May 1, 2022, by Richard Boyce Third Sunday of Easter — Family faith formation for May 1, 2022, by Rebecca Davis Repeat after Jesus — Weekly Christian ed lesson by Joelle Brummit-Yale IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... NEW: Free Discussion Guide for the #TrustBlackWomen Special Issue Our editors have put together a guide to assist small groups and classes in discussing the Outlook's new #TrustBlackWomen special issue. Request a download link here. Conversation at the PC(USA), A Corporation: Finding diversity and equity in investing decisions Leslie Scanlon reports on the PC(USA), A Corporation board meeting on April 21-22. Cabbage In this poem, Dartinia Hull writes about the delicious feeling of a moment of rage and the fallout.  PC(USA) releases 2021 statistical report, showing a denomination of small churches and aging membership Leslie Scanlon reports on the denomination's latest statistical report. The invitation of the Marys Eliza C. Jaremko finds herself in the Easter narrative. COVID, the General Assembly in 2024, and who should make apologies?  Leslie Scanlon reports on COGA's meeting on April 20. Tech watch: Realm A technology recommendation from Unity Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Seeing red Why is everyone seeing red? Teri McDowell Ott reflects on this question in her editorial.

Copyright © 2021 Presbyterian Outlook, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 1 N. 5th St., Suite 500 Richmond, VA 23219

The SPC Easter Celebration Service - Sunday, April 17, 2022

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The SPC Easter Celebration Service - Sunday, April...: On Sunday, April 17, 2022, we looked at the resurrection of Jesus Christ as written by the Evangelist Luke. We'll also celebrated the sa...

Sunday's Message - Remember

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message - Remember: On Sunday, April 17, 2022, we looked at the resurrection of Jesus Christ as written by the Evangelist Luke. Remember, you can stream the ser...

The SPC Good Friday Tenebrae Service

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The SPC Good Friday Tenebrae Service: Sligo Presbyterian Church hosted a Tenebrae Service on Good Friday, April 15, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Through music and readings, we meditate...

The SPC Maundy Thursday Service - A Love Feast

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The SPC Maundy Thursday Service - A Love Feast: On Thursday, April 14, 2022, we remembered the last meal Jesus had with his disciples  by sharing a Love Feast.  The service will begin at 6...

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, April 25 and Sunday, May 1, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, April 25, 2022 - That we put aside our self-interest for the sake of our neighbors.
• Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - That our leaders have the courage and wisdom to confront the racial divisions within our country.
• Wednesday, April 27, 2022 - That our leaders would be honest, humble and God-fearing men and women who recognize that they are accountable to God for each decision and action.
• Thursday, April 28, 2022 - That people stop expressing their frustration through violence.
• Friday, April 29, 2022 - That American put aside partisan difference so that we can address the problem of gun-violence.
• Saturday, April 30, 2022 - That God would protect our service men and women both home and abroad.
• Sunday, May 01, 2022 - That international tensions decrease and all nations learn to live in peace with one another.

Looking Into the Lectionary — Worship resources for 4/24

April 24, 2022 Second Sunday of Easter Luke 24:1-12 COMMENTARY “Southern trees bear a strange fruit/ Blood on the leaves and blood at the root.” These chilling lyrics from Billie Holiday’s 1939 song “Strange Fruit” still serve as an anti-lynching anthem. The recent movie “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” starring Andra Day, tells how the singer was targeted by the FBI for refusing to stop singing these words of provocative truth. I recently learned that “Strange Fruit” was not written by the talented jazz singer herself, but by a Jewish schoolteacher from the Bronx, Abel Meeropol. Haunted by a gruesome, now iconic, photograph of a lynching, Meeropol wrote “Strange Fruit” first as a poem than as a song. Thousands of copies of the photograph were printed and sold as keepsakes: the bodies of two young Black men hanging from a tree as a group of nicely dressed White men and women smile and pose for the camera. The father of Black liberation theology, James Cone, writes of the way oppressed people identify more powerfully with Christ’s crucifixion than with his life, teachings and resurrection. “The cross,” Cone writes, “places God in the midst of crucified people, in the midst of people who are hung, shot, burned, and tortured.” Cone connects the cross of Christ to the lynching tree — a connection that jumps from the page of this Sunday’s lectionary text. Acts 5:30 reads, “The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.” In his influential 2011 book, The Cross and the Lynching Tree, Cone criticizes American theologians and preachers for avoiding this obvious correlation. You can find the rest of the commentary on our website. An order of worship for April 24, 2022. This liturgy is free to use. The Uniform Lesson for April 24, 2022, by Richard Boyce Second Sunday of Easter — Family faith formation for April 24, 2022, by Rebecca Davis One Size Doesn’t Fit All — Weekly Christian ed lesson by Joelle Brummit-Yale IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... After Easter, there’s Earth Day to observe, celebrate With Earth Day around the corner, the Presbyterian Hunger Program is pointing faith communities to a number of resources, including an online hub created by one of its partners, Creation Justice Ministries. Necessary Risks: Challenges Privileged People Need to Face Sarah Sarchet Butter reviews the book of Teri McDowell Ott, Presbyterian Outlook editor/publisher. Praying my bed: A poem A poem by Barbara Wood Gray. The Bible in the Early Church Chris Currie reviews Justo González' book. Resurrection, not resuscitation The way forward is new life, not trying to recreate the past, writes Elizabeth Hakken Candido. The labor Rose Schrott Taylor reflects on the near-simultaneous death of her grandmother and birth of her nephew during the pandemic. In the comingled spiral of love and loss, what is there to hold on to? Freeing Congregational Mission: A Practical Vision for Companionship, Cultural Humility, and Co-development Hyeyoung Lee reviews B. Hunter Farrell with Balajiedlang Khyllep's new book.

Copyright © 2021 Presbyterian Outlook, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 1 N. 5th St., Suite 500 Richmond, VA 23219

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, April 18 and Sunday, April 24, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, April 18, 2022 - That those in business, government and media would cherish honesty, integrity and humility.
• Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - That we resist those forces that seek to divide us.
• Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - That those in business, government and media would resist exploiting human fear or greed to shape public opinion. 
• Thursday, April 21, 2022 - That churches fulfill their purpose as lighthouses for Christ.
• Friday, April 22, 2022 - That those in the arts would be open to biblical world views and principles.
• Saturday, April 23, 2022 - That we strengthen our global unity rather than casting blame and sowing divisions.
• Sunday, April 24, 2022 - That there'll be peace between Russia and Ukraine.

WCC NEWS: WCC Easter message: Christ’s resurrection “a source of healing, wholeness, and renewal”

Amid feelings of despair in our world, Christ’s resurrection is a source of hope and new life, writes World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca in an Easter message. 11 March 2022: Sunset and barbed wire over a fence near the Vyšné Nemecké border crossing between Slovakia and Ukraine. The border crossing at Vyšné Nemecké sees up to some 10,000 refugees from Ukraine cross each day, with faith-based and humanitarian organisations providing immediate support to people as they come into Slovakia. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF 13 April 2022 “As we look around, we see only signs of destruction and death,” writes Sauca. “The victims of economic and ecological injustices are increasing throughout the world.” Sauca acknowledges that the pandemic has widened the gap between rich and poor, between the powerful and the vulnerable. “Cruel wars in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world are taking thousands of innocent lives, allowing all sorts of atrocities, destroying everything in their way, and multiplying the waves of displaced and refugees,” he writes. “Violence against women, children, elderly people and those who are different from us is dramatically increasing.” Desolation and hopelessness seem to prevail everywhere, he laments—but ultimately God of life prevails. “Strengthened by our faith and hope, we should not be afraid, we should not despair when we see what happens in our world today but confront it with courage,” he writes. “Looking at the empty tomb and listening to the angel’s voice, we discover in the midst of the darkness of our world a life of light, joy, love, and newness.” Illustration: Resurrection Icon Myrrhbearing women Empty tomb. Photo by Ted/Flickr, Creative Commons license Christ’s resurrection ever reminds us that, ultimately, God, the God of life, prevails over all powers of sin and death, Sauca reflects. “Christ’s resurrection is the source of a new life recreating and renewing all things in Christ,” Sauca writes. “It is a source of healing, wholeness, and renewal.” Christ’s resurrection brings joy for the sorrowful, light for those living in darkness, liberation for those oppressed, reflects Sauca. “It leads the world to unity and reconciliation,” the message reads. “Christ’s resurrection is the power offering to the world the possibility and the chance for a new beginning.” Read the full Easter message 2022 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 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. 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 calls for freedom of access to worship in the Holy Land and preservation of the Status Quo of Jerusalem

Following an 11 April statement of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem expressing grave concerns over announced police restrictions on Holy Fire Saturday, the World Council of Churches (WCC) strongly condemned such measures restricting access to places of worship as violations of religious freedom in the Holy Land. A woman prays in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, 2019. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 12 April 2022 “Jerusalem is sacred,” declared WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca. “It is sacred for all three monotheistic religions, and access to Jerusalem is an inalienable right for all people of these faiths. Christians have been living on this land and witnessing to the resurrection of Jesus Christ for more than 2000 years. The resurrection is at the heart of our Christian faith and at the heart of all Christian communities in the world. We cannot accept measures that challenge the fundamental rights of our churches to celebrate this centre point of our faith.” For many years, participating in prayers and even having access to churches in the Old City, especially during Easter holidays, has become increasingly difficult. The additional restrictions announced by the authorities for Holy Fire Saturday add to the violations and pressures on the churches in the Holy Land, including attacks on clergy, threats against churches and church properties, and limitations on access to worship. According to the latest announced restrictions, only 1,000 people will be allowed to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and only 500 people will be permitted access to the Patriarchate yards overlooking the roof of the Holy Sepulchre Church in the Old City. Restrictions were also already imposed on Palm Sunday, with only four scout groups participating in the Jerusalem procession while the West Bank scouts that belong to Christian groups were denied permits. In contrast, during the Christmas parade in Bethlehem approximately 25-30 Christian scout groups participate. “WCC joins the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in rejecting and condemning these restrictions as unjustified and unjust,” said Sauca. ”In this Easter season when all Christians yearn to join in celebrating our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call on WCC member churches, world leaders and all people of good will to condemn the measures that restrict freedom of religion, and to support the right of churches in the Holy Land to live and worship with dignity,” Sauca stressed. “We also call on the government of Israel to ensure just access to Jerusalem for all while honouring and preserving the Status Quo of this holy city.” “Any violation of the Status Quo threatens the peace and security of all people of the region. It is our responsibility as members of the international community to protect the legal framework and the applicable international laws.” Sauca concluded with the prayer: “May the divine hope brought to us by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ remove the barriers of separation between people. May the love of our Lord Jesus Christ move the world towards reconciliation and unity.” Statement by the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem for Easter 2022 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 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. 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