Looking into the Lectionary - Feb. 4 worship resources ⛪

February 4, 2024 Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany Isaiah 40:21-31 Reading Isaiah 40:31, the somewhat saccharine chorus to “On Eagle’s Wings” might come to your mind (no judgment, I love it, too). But I also can’t read these words of Scripture without hearing them in a Scottish brogue. As a track athlete in college, my favorite scene in the movie “Chariots of Fire” was of Eric Liddell, Scotland’s Fastest Man, reading Isaiah 40:31 from the pulpit before running and winning the 400 meters in the 1924 Olympic Games. These are the motivational words everyone needs ringing in their ears: Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. But Scripture comes to us in different seasons of our lives and resonates with different needs. As I read this passage today, I note its theme of weariness, of exhaustion, of God’s people falling faint. As 2023 came to a close, I couldn’t maintain my usual morning routine: wake up at 5:30 am, grab a cup of coffee, start writing. My body craved more sleep; my circadian rhythm telling me to hibernate in the shorter, darker days of winter. But I’d also had an exhausting few months of work, full of travel, speaking engagements, and pressing deadlines. Isaiah’s words are meant to inspire a beleaguered people in exile. When I travel, I come home exhausted after a week. The Israelites lived in exile for almost 50 years; then came home to foreign rulers. We don’t realize the importance of being settled and secure, of having a place to call “home,” to our physical, mental and spiritual well-being — until we go without. ... Read the rest of the commentary on the website. Order of worship for February 4, 2024. These liturgies are free to use. Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery pays $718,000 debt in act toward reparative justice by Patrice Gaines Let the mystery be (February 4, 2024) by Brendan McLean A helping hand — Weekly Christian ed lesson by Joelle Brummit-Yale Want the worship resources for January 28, 2024? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... I was made for this "It feels like resurrection." Small church member Beth Bradshaw reflects on the ups and downs of attending a church in a small town. Discussion guide for January 2024 issue In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue in your Bible study, small group or book club. — Donald Griggs Failures of Forgiveness: What We Get Wrong and How to Do Better Myisha Cherry argues that it is more fruitful to view forgiveness as a journey, not a single decision, writes Paul Dornan. Horizons — The crippled beggar’s encounter Rosalind Banbury's sixth reflection on the 2023-2024 Presbyterian Women/Horizons Bible Study. Chicago pastors help the city grapple with flood of migrants ‘There’s already plenty of need present in this community,’ said one faith leader. The challenge is to make the situation work for both longtime residents and migrants arriving from the border. — RNS Reviving Goodwill The school in Mayesville, South Carolina, once had a prominent space in the community’s heart. A group of alumni are working hard to renew its mission.  — Dartinia Hull

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, January 29 and Sunday, February 4, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, January 29, 2024 - That our leaders work for unity and cooperation.
• Tuesday, January 30, 2024 - That families read their Bible and attend worship services together.
• Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - That our judges would value the principles reflected in the Old and New Testaments.
• Thursday, February 1, 2024 - That doctors and nurses communicate compassion and concern to their patients. 
• Friday, February 2, 2024 - That we respect and honor their parents and raise their children with compassion.
• Saturday, February 3, 2024 - That the war in Gaza be settled as soon as possible.
• Sunday, February 4, 2024 - That we all recognize that our actions impact others.

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, January 21, 2024

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...: As we leave this holiday season, a lot of people find themselves facing some finance stress as they enter the new year. And for that reason,...

God and Money: Five Principles for Handling Our Possessions (Give Generously)

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: God and Money: Five Principles for Handling Our Po...: As we leave this holiday season, a lot of people find themselves facing some finance stress as they enter the new year. And for that reason,...

WCC NEWS: Christians in Kenya mark Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

At the Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of St Anargyroi Church in Nairobi, Christians joined for ecumenical services to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the annual event celebrated from 18-25 January. Photo: Fredrick Nzwili/WCC 23 January 2024 Church leaders, individuals, ecumenical organizations, and persons with disabilities and their organizations gathered under the theme “You shall love the Lord your God…and your neighbour as yourself.” “I want to commend those who came up with the theme…It is rich, it is timely, and it is viable; it applies to us,” said Rt. Rev. Patrick Thegu Mutahi, moderator of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa to the gathering. “The passages we read capture generosity, kindness, and magnanimity...Generally, [these] are spiritual, natural, and traditional, yet people are not practising them. Mutahi said kindness and generosity opened many doors in the communities, but people found it difficult to practice the qualities due to reasons including greed, self-serving pursuits, and ignorance. “We do not have to be unkind because we are seeking power and positions...because we want to get that position, and when we think people are blocking, we step on their toes…I wish we knew how temporary these positions are,” said the moderator. Teams from the Catholic Archdiocese of Ouagadougou, Protestant Churches, ecumenical bodies and the Chemin Neuf Community in Burkina Faso—a West African country in the Sahel Region—drafted the prayers and reflections for the week. The country of 21 million people—64 percent Muslims, 26 percent Christian, and nine percent followers of African traditional religions—has witnessed a rise in terrorist attacks, lawlessness, and human trafficking. The occurrences have left at least 3,000 dead and almost two million internally displaced persons, as thousands of schools, health centres, and town halls remained closed.  The violence has also destroyed most of the country’s socio-economic and transport infrastructure. The terrorists attacked churches, forcing shutdown of those in the north. Priests, pastors, and catechists have been killed during worship. However, Christian, Muslim, and traditional religions in the country, have been working in solidarity to find lasting solutions for peace, social cohesion, and reconciliation to the country’s problem. In Nairobi, church leaders shared a “calabash” as a symbol of welcome, hospitality, and fellowship. In Burkina Faso, families use a calabash to share water with guests who arrive tired from their journey. Rev. Isaiah Obare of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya said the theme and the ecumenical prayer were a call on Christians to practice the Christian ethos of character, credibility, and moral values in all circumstances. “Even though today is a one-day event, the theme shall remain as our Christian compass through 2024,” Obare, current chair of the International Ecumenical Movement-Kenya chapter, wrote in an introduction of the booklet for the celebrations. Photo: Fredrick Nzwili/WCC 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 - The wisdom of a digital worshiping community that is ‘Church adjacent’

Witness, Share and Evangelize: Today in the Mission Yearbook - The wisdom of a di...: The PC(USA)’s ‘New Way’ podcast features The Faith Studio’s founder January 20, 2024 The Faith Studio founder Gina Brown is a guest on  the ...

Looking into the lectionary - January 28 worship resources

January 28, 2024 Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany Mark 1:21-28 The church exists because of Jesus Christ. Christ has called the church into being. Christ is the source of its life, its purpose and its mission. The church is not a sociological project to see how a group of dissimilar people will organize themselves. The church is not a psychological experiment to understand how individuals move towards greater self-awareness when they come together with others each week. The church is not an anthropological study to observe the effect of ritual over a sustained period. The church is about responding to the call of Jesus Christ who has gathered us together. We have no reason to come together except that we’ve been called by Jesus Christ. We’re not in the church to be a part of a social welfare agency or educational entity. We’re not in the church to collectively make a profit or improve dividend payments to shareholders. We’re not here because people need something to do. We’re here because of Jesus Christ. The church is not here to endorse our political viewpoints or condone our opinions or affirm our prejudices. The church is here to worship, honor, and serve Jesus Christ, who is its source and its head. Without Jesus Christ all that happens in the church is meaningless. It may be pretty; it may be enjoyable; it may even be beneficial; but without Jesus Christ, it is ultimately meaningless. He has an authority given to no one else. It is astounding authority. It’s first on display in that synagogue in Capernaum where he begins his teaching ministry. People notice his authority right away. It marks him as different. He doesn’t teach like the scribes do. How do they teach? We don’t know. Perhaps their teaching is marked by sameness or dullness or resignation. Controlled. Predictable. Perhaps the people listen to them with the sense of having heard it all before. Whatever the case, it’s clear that Jesus is different. What marks him as different is the authority he expresses. His is a vital Word, a living Word, a Word on target, a Word that challenges and convicts and inspires. ... Read the rest of the commentary on the website. Thanks to this week's writer John Wurster. Order of worship for January 28, 2024. These liturgies are free to use. Jesus of Nazareth Went to Capernaum: A free hymn by Scott Barton The gifts we bring (January 28, 2024) by Tara Bulger Wow and Thanks, God! — Weekly Christian ed lesson by Joelle Brummit-Yale Want the worship resources for January 21, 2024? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Horizons — The crippled beggar’s encounter Rosalind Banbury's sixth reflection on the 2023-2024 Presbyterian Women/Horizons Bible Study. Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery pays $718,000 debt in act toward reparative justice The “mountain of debt” was incurred by a Black church during presbytery-directed building transfer in the early 2000s. — Patrice Gaines Black Presbyterian leadership and churches The whole church is in decline, but more than 80% of Black Presbyterian churches are without installed pastors. Warren Lesane Jr., Shavon Starling-Louis, Stephen Scott and Teri McDowell Ott discuss vital Black leadership. The future of the PC(USA) is being reformed by God And it is as limitless as the holy imagination that we vow to practice when we are ordained, writes Allison Unroe. Doing more with less: Smaller PC(USA) congregations face new leadership realities  What are small churches to do? Gregg Brekke explores the challenges facing shrinking congregations and how some pastors and presbyteries are addressing the issue.  Searching for Epiphany on holy and hellish nights R. Shea Watts reflects on modern iconographer Kelly Latimore’s “Christ in the Rubble” image. In Epiphany, where do we find God’s revelation in a world full of violence?

WCC NEWS: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity opens: “Who are the ones that need our loving care the most?”

As the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity opened on 18 January, a special prayer held at the Ecumenical Centre and online delved deeply into questions about love for our neighbor. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024 held on Thursday, January 18th, at the Ecumenical Center Chapel. The theme of the event: "You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself" (Luke 10:27). Photo:Gloria Koymans/WCC 18 January 2024 The theme for this year’s special week is “You shall love the Lord your God ... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10: 27). The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle is also praying with and for the people and churches of Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Dr Andrej Jeftić, director of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Faith and Order, offered a reflection on how we define our neighbor in both a practical and a spiritual sense. “Who are the ones that we turn our heads from and go to the other side of the road as we encounter them?” Jeftić asked. “Whose wounds have not moved us? To whom are we not practicing love? Because love is a practical thing.” He asked people to reflect on all the ways that they can become neighbours to each other. “Let us question ourselves: Who are the ones that need our loving care the most?” Jeftić said. “What are the wounds of our sisters and brothers that need healing?” Those joining in the prayer expressed why they felt inspired.  Christian Müggler of the Focolare Movement reflected that Christian unity is a mission. “Christian unity starts by discovering each other as sisters and brothers, as family, by welcoming each other and meeting the needs of whoever God places at our side,” said Müggler. “The other day I was asked if I could be available for a moment to greet a pastor from Haiti who came spontaneously to visit the WCC. I realised it was right to not only spend a little time with him, but also to eat lunch with him, to accompany him to the station to change his train ticket and then pay a visit to the cathedral in Geneva. We became friends.” Laura Casorio, executive secretary at Fondation pour l'aide au protestantisme réformé, asked how we can express a message of love in a world faced with conflict, disasters, and disparities.  “How can we express and convey this message of love and transform it into solidarity?” she asked. "We live in a world where specialisation has become a must, and one of the simple consequences is that we delegate to experts and feel less engaged. This week reminds us that all together we can reflect, pray, and act as brothers and sisters from all over the world, doing the same at the same time, each one of us as we are, as we can.” Isaiah Toroitich, Lutheran World Federation head of Global Advocacy, Action for Justice Unit, reflected that Christian unity is an important and meaningful antidote to our current world that is broken and hurt by many divisions. “We should unite in prayer and in our efforts to take action for justice, and to love and serve our neighbors, particularly those directly suffering the consequence of global crises such as wars, climate change, and human rights violations,” he said. As people prayed together in the Ecumenical Centre and across the world, they sought a sense of unity. “God of welcome, grant us the grace to risk embracing the stranger, tending their wounds and standing in solidarity with them,” they prayed, concluding with: “Everything we can do together, let’s do it!” The materials for 2024 are already available in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Arabic. Download Social Media Cards created to promote the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 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