WCC News: On second anniversary of 7 October 2023, WCC extends prayerful remembrance

On the second anniversary of the 7 October 2023 attacks, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed deep sorrow and joined in prayerful remembrance for all those who have suffered the consequences of that day and of the devastating war that has followed. 24 August 2025, Uppsala, Sweden: Candles lit ahead of an ecumenical prayer service in Uppsala Cathedral under the theme ’Time for God’s Peace’ – drawing together church leaders and congregants from around the globe in fellowship and prayer – celebrated on the 100th anniversary of the Universal Christian Conference on Life and Work. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC/CCS 07 October 2025 “The WCC unequivocally condemns the attacks against civilians and communities carried out by Hamas and other armed groups on 7 October 2023, which constitute crimes against humanity and violations of fundamental morality,” he said. “We continue to pray for the victims, the survivors, and those who remain in captivity.” Two years on, Pillay said, the world witnesses a human catastrophe in Gaza of unprecedented scale.  “Tens of thousands of civilians—most of them women and children—have been killed, and almost the entire population has been displaced amid famine, disease, and destruction,” he said. “The WCC condemns the collective punishment by Israel of a civilian population, in violation of international law and moral conscience.” Pillay affirmed that the tragic cycle of violence will not be broken without addressing its underlying causes. “Decades of occupation, blockade, and systemic inequality have perpetuated insecurity and eroded hope for a just peace,” he said. “A sustainable future for both Palestinians and Israelis depends on upholding international law, ensuring equal rights and dignity for all, and advancing a genuine political process grounded in justice and mutual recognition.” Pillay noted the recently presented peace plan for Gaza under the auspices of the United States and Israel. “We welcome elements that aim at ending hostilities, enabling humanitarian relief and reconstruction, affirming the right of the people of Gaza to remain on their land, and the release of hostages and prisoners,” he said. “Yet for this plan to offer true hope, it must ensure the meaningful participation of Palestinians in determining their own future, guarantee the protection of civilians, and open a genuine political horizon towards a in which Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace, dignity and mutual security.” WCC Statement on the Second Anniversary of 7 October 2023 and the Urgent Search for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel 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

The Wedding Service for Don DeBar and Sandy Maas on Saturday, October 4, 2025

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, I officiated the marriage of Don DeBar and Sandy Maas in the in the Vintage Coffeehouse, Butler, Pennsylvania. Below is a picture 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 - This one's for preachers

Luke 17:11-19; 2 Kings 5:1-3,7-15c Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost October 12, 2025 In these days of endless news cycles and hot political takes, many people want a break from it all, even if just for an hour on Sundays. Shouldn’t the church be a sanctuary from the divisive politics of our day? Can’t we leave our personal political beliefs at the door and just be united in Christ? Then again, it’s hard to say or do much of anything without it being interpreted through the lenses of sides, parties and slogans. Even preaching Jesus can be dangerous. A preacher might be labeled “too woke,” or worse. What, then, are we to do when Jesus talks about foreigners in Luke 17:11-19? A sermon on this passage might examine the implications of living with a skin disease during Jesus’s day, and the social implications of chronic illness today. Another might focus on how the shared experiences of the nine Jews and one Samaritan brought them together in a context in which their differences would ordinarily make them enemies. A preacher could invite worshipers to reflect on our human inclination to forget our reliance on God, or to practice gratitude and praise, acknowledging God’s blessings in their lives. A focus on the last verse of Luke 17:11-19 could lead the preacher to consider what Jesus meant when he said, “Your faith has made you well.” With so many potential threads to follow, why bring in politics? Well, because Jesus did. Luke 17:11-19 became political when Jesus identified the one person who returned to offer gratitude as the only foreigner in the lot. He was a Samaritan. The reviled rival. The exemplary enemy. The archetypal antagonist. What could have been a simple healing story took a sharp partisan turn when Jesus took the wheel. The complementary reading from 2 Kings 5:1-3,7-15c already made a cameo in Luke’s gospel, in Jesus’s first sermon at the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:14–30). After reading from Isaiah’s scroll, Jesus began to teach. He was off to a good start. People were proud to see this hometown boy, all grown up and coming into his own. Unfortunately, he kept going. The offensive turn in Luke 4 focused on God’s historic favor of the outsider, including Naaman, the Syrian, who was healed from his skin disease. A perfectly palatable sermon quickly became the impetus to throw the preacher off a cliff. ... Thank you to this week's writer, Stephanie Sorge. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Order of worship — October 12, 2025 by Stephanie Sorge How a bold choice can reach beyond the pulpit by Jenny McDevitt Seeing Palestinian suffering through Christ’s eyes by Hunter Farrell A prayer for all who suffer in the wake of October 7 by Teri McDowell Ott Bread from the world: World Communion Liturgy by Heather Prince Doss The power of weekly preaching in a world of noise by Thomas Long Want the worship resources for October 5, 2025? You can find them here. Join us on WEDNESDAY for a webinar with former Nike executive John Olinger. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Editorial & digital media intern Presbyterian Outlook is hiring! How a small New Jersey church connects with migrant workers Hammonton Presbyterians join with local partners to put their faith in action. — Lydia Griffiths Unification Commission sets priorities for new structure Leaders outline five priorities and four work areas to guide the PC(USA) forward. — John Bolt For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional Hanna Reichel’s "For Such a Time as This" offers brief, rich reflections and concrete practices to sustain faith, courage, and community in crisis, writes Amy Pagliarella. Affordable housing rises from the ashes of Northwest church fire Spokane’s Bethany Presbyterian Church was already looking at using part of its building for housing. Then a fire inspired them to expand the project. — PNS The Cost of Ambition: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us Worse Ambition or grace? Miroslav Volf challenges America’s competitive spirit, offering a countercultural vision of worth rooted in Christ, writes Aram Feinberg. The future of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Decline, renewal and shifting trends Reporter Gregg Brekke digs into the statistical trends of the PC(USA) so you don't have to. Here's what you need to know. 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

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, October 6 and Sunday, October 12, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, October 6, 2025 - That God would protect our service men and women both home and abroad.
• Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - That international tensions decrease and all nations learn to live in peace with one another.
• Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - That we put aside our self-interest for the sake of our neighbors.
• Thursday, October 9, 2025 - That our church leaders have the strength and faith to stand up for the truth.
• Friday, October 10, 2025 - That our community, state and national leaders would be presented with the Gospel and a loving Christian witness.
• Saturday, October 11, 2025 - That we listen to those who have experiences different from our own.
• Sunday, October 12, 2025 - That our judges would adjudicate with godly wisdom.

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, September 28, 2025

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...: During the sermon series  I Believe: Exploring the Apostle's Creed , the congregation of Sligo Presbyterian Church is using  The Apostle...

Sunday's Message - I BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit,

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message - I BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit,: During the sermon series  I Believe: Exploring the Apostle's Creed , the congregation of Sligo Presbyterian Church is using  The Apostle...

United in Prayer – Join Believers Worldwide This Wednesday!

Join us on Wednesday, October 1st

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 5 – Peace for the Far and Near (Eph. 2:17) The peace of Christ is for everyone—those who feel far from God and those who think they are near. Too often, we assume some are “closer” to Christ than others, but Paul reminds us that all are saved by the same grace through the same cross. Prayer Focus: Pray for the Gospel to reach all people, near and far. Regional Focus: Costa Rica: As the nation enters a critical election season, pray for integrity and peace. Papua New Guinea: The Church steps into a new season of national witness following a historic declaration as a Christian nation. Prayer Point: Lord, as You preached peace to those far and near, guide Costa Rica’s electoral process and Papua New Guinea’s national identity. May the message of GA2025 bring Your peace across nations, cultures, and political divides. Join us Wednesdays at: 10:30 am ET 4:30 pm CET 10:30 pm Singapore This is a short, focused time of collective prayer. Together we lift up the nations, the Church, and one another before God. Join us. It takes each of us living the gospel for the gospel to be with everyone. Pray With Us Join us Wednesdays at: 10:30 am ET 4:30 pm CET 10:30 pm Singapore This is a short, focused time of collective prayer. Together we lift up the nations, the Church, and one another before God. Join us. It takes each of us living the gospel for the gospel to be with 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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