United in Prayer – Week 3: One New Humanity

Join us on Wednesday, September 17th

As we draw nearer to the WEA General Assembly, we invite you to join hearts in focusing on the gospel. In a world filled with noise and conflict, it is to Christ, our peace, that we turn. The scripture verses that undergird our General Assembly are: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:13–18) Download the Prayer Guide This week, Week 3, we are focused on One New Humanity (Eph. 2:15). In Christ, all believers share one identity: citizens of God’s Kingdom. His Lordship broke down walls of division, removed hostility, and reconciled us as one Church, one Body, united in Him. This new humanity is anchored not in culture or background, but in Jesus Christ and His saving grace. Prayer Focus: In Christ, all believers share one identity—citizens of God’s Kingdom. Regional Link: Brazil: Unity projects, disaster relief, and climate response showcase the Gospel’s reconciling power. Europe: New alliances in Eastern Europe reflect one Body made from many backgrounds. Both regions reveal God’s plan to create one new humanity in Christ. Prayer Point: Lord, thank You for making us one new people in You. Bless Brazil’s projects and Europe’s alliances so they display a Church united in worship, service, and mission, transcending all divisions. Join us for this focused prayer: Wednesdays at 10:30 am ET | 4:30 pm CET | 10:30 pm Singapore Pray With Us Together, we lift up the nations, the Church, and one another before God. It takes each of us living the Gospel for it to reach everyone. We look forward to seeing you there! In Christ, The 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 600 million evangelicals belonging to churches that are part of 143 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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Looking into the lectionary - The PC(USA)'s future: Trends you should watch

Luke 16:19-31 Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 28, 2025 I love a good parable. It’s like a puzzle where you get to try to figure out where everything fits. And it can shift and change over time as you change. Parables are fun to play with. Well, most of the time. Occasionally, Jesus gives us one that doesn’t leave much room for interpretation. He says exactly what he means and leaves you alone in your discomfort. Such is the case in this week’s gospel reading. The differences between the rich man and Lazarus could not be more stark. The rich man wears fine purple linens, the most expensive designer clothes available, and his table, likely in a dining room meant to command respect in its opulence, is filled with the finest foods. Lazarus had none of those things. He was the kind of person people crossed the street to avoid, with his tattered clothes, his body covered with sores, malnourished and weak from hunger. These men know each other. And perhaps you know them too. Lazarus sees the way the rich man eats and longs for even a crumb that falls carelessly from the table. How much food do you suppose was swept from that table at the end of each day to be replaced by fresher foods the next day? How much of that food would go to waste, rotting in a bin while people went hungry? It is estimated that 30-40% of the American food supply is wasted, leaving food that could have fed families rotting in a landfill. Food is discarded because of aesthetic standards that deem all but the most perfect food as disposable. Consumers over-buy and over-prepare with leftovers often simply thrown away, cleared from tables in restaurants, homes, and churches. When you have more than enough, the value of the food doesn’t seem so high. The rich man knows Lazarus.  ... Thank you to this week's writer, Rae Watson. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Order of worship — September 28, 2025, by Rae Watson A prayer against violence by Teri McDowell Ott One year after Helene: A prayer for healing, hope and remembrance by Esta Jarrett The future of the PC(USA): What you need to know by Gregg Brekke A small church in Maine finds unexpected help by Shirley and Richard Reese What churches can do to help college students flourish by Eliza Smith DeBevoise, David Coffman & Tim Drum Want the worship resources for September 14, 2025? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Chicago Presbyterians push back on Trump’s troop plan Churches and other nonprofits prepare for unrest, model faithful ways to support immigrants and city residents. — Harriet Riley Most Americans don’t believe God played a role in the presidential election Most Americans say God plays no role in presidential elections, Pew survey finds, with views consistent across 2008–2024 results. — Clemente Lisi Dr. Chris Burton of Union Presbyterian Seminary announced as 2025-2026 Obama Foundation leader  Chris Burton will join more than 200 global changemakers to build their skills and scale their work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. As nation mourns rash of recent shootings, Office of Public Witness condemns lax gun control measures The PC(USA) Office of Public Witness calls for action against gun violence, urging prayer, advocacy, and policies that honor Christ’s call to peace. Our fork in the road: On the end of the Presbyterian Mission Agency The PC(USA)'s mission theology and management methods stand in urgent need of critical analysis, writes scholar and former mission co-worker Stanley Skreslet. Gen Z’s complicated return to faith — and what Presbyterians are seeing Recent research points to younger adults’ increased interest in faith as they seek community and meaning. — Gregg Brekke

The Rededication Service for JT and Lindsey Roberts on Saturday, September 6, 2025

On Saturday, September 6, 2025, I officiated the rededication of JT and Lindsey Roberts at the Wedding Gazebo in The Woods at Eisler Farms, Butler County, Pennsylvania. Below are four pictures and a podcast of the service. If you're planning your wedding and need an officiant, please give me a call at 304-479-3402.

Looking into the lectionary - For churches, simply surviving is not enough

Luke 16:1-13 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 21, 2025 “What if we get it right?” That’s the question marine biologist and policy expert Ayana Elizabeth Johnson says we rarely ask about the climate crisis. In her book, What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures, Johnson imagines what could happen if we actually used the resources already in our hands – the science, the technology, the policies, the collective will – to meet this challenge head-on. She calls her book “an invitation to imagine.” Adding, “goodness, do we need more imagination right now, to create clearer visions of desirable climate futures… a future we can see ourselves in, where there’s a place for us and the communities we hold dear.” Her question is haunting in its hope: What if we get it right? Luke 16:1-13 is not the first place I’d expect to find resonance with such a question. Charles Cousar, the late professor of New Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, describes the parable of the dishonest manager as “one of the great exegetical mountains” preachers must climb in his Feasting on the Word commentary. And when you read it, you, like me, will nod along with Cousar’s words, shaking your head in bewildered frustration. A wealthy master hears his manager has been squandering resources. He calls him in and fires him. Faced with unemployment, the manager panics. He’s not strong enough for manual labor and too proud to beg. So he hatches a scheme: he slashes the debts of those who owe his master, hoping that when he’s thrown out, they’ll remember his “generosity” and welcome him into their homes.  By every moral standard, this is brazen, self-serving deceit. We, the readers, wait for the hammer to fall — for the master’s rebuke, or for Jesus to wrap up the story with a tidy moral about honesty and integrity. But in a shocking twist, the dishonest manager is praised. Praised! For acting “shrewdly.” Luke tells us this parable is about how we handle resources: wealth, possessions, money. For Luke, wealth is dangerous because it so easily becomes its own master, demanding our loyalty, shaping our lives. Yet wealth is also a tool that can be used for faithful purposes.  ... Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Order of worship — September 21, 2025, by Teri McDowell Ott Our fork in the road: On the end of the Presbyterian Mission Agency by Stanley Skreslet Presbyterian community in the Texas Hill Country comes together to rebuild and renew by Erin Booke For small churches, simply surviving is not enough by Phillip Blackburn Want the worship resources for September 14, 2025? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... How a vigil changed me: Remembering Pulse in an age of erasure After the disappearance of a prominent Pulse memorial, William Horton’s reflection recalls how a 2016 vigil transformed his perspective and deepened his sense of shared humanity. The seeds we scatter Ministry isn’t about perfection but planting small seeds of care, faith, and presence, writes Teri McDowell Ott. God will bring unexpected growth over time. The Presbyterian Church Growth Network announces inaugural fall conference Join PCGN’s first Fall Conference, Oct 7–8 in Englewood, NJ. Equip church leaders with tools, insights & strategies to strengthen Sunday worship. The good news and the not so good news A strong market has ballooned PC(USA) investment coffers so far in 2025, but some Stewardship and Funds Development receipts are lagging. — Mike Ferguson Pope Leo is focused on AI. What should his guidance offer the world? Pope Leo XIV has addressed the opportunities and challenges of AI often, leading many to think he will write in an encyclical about its implications. A quieter, grounded faith: Discoveries on a Celtic Cross pilgrimage A pilgrimage through Scotland with Presbyterian College allows M.C. Dailey to renew her faith, rethink leadership, and reimagine the church’s future. Thin places, full hearts: A pilgrimage toward healing, calling and communion Presbyterian College graduate Kennedy Elise Perry finds renewal and a vision for a more inclusive church during a pilgrimage to Scotland.