Friday, August 8, 2025

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, August 11 and Sunday, August 17, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

  • Monday, August 11, 2025 - That we be thankful for the blessings we've received.
  • Tuesday, August 12, 2025 - That college students develop the gifts and talents given to them by God.
  • Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - That companies and unions in America would flourish with new creativity and practice honorable work ethics.
  • Thursday, August 14, 2025 - That we celebrate the values on which our nation was founded.
  • Friday, August 15, 2025 - That workers be provided a safe workplace and paid a living wage.
  • Saturday, August 16, 2025 - That textbooks would honor and reflect the godly heritage of our country and the contributions made by all the different groups.
  • Sunday, August 17, 2025 - That we have the courage to deal with the violence within our society.


The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, August 3, 2025

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...: In the series,  Rooted in Christ: A Journey through Colossians , we're journeying through Paul's letter to the Colossians, discoveri...

Sunday's Message - Rooted in Witness (Colossians 4:2-18)

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message - Rooted in Witness (Colossians 4...: In the series,  Rooted in Christ: A Journey through Colossians , we're journeying through Paul's letter to the Colossians, discoveri...

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

World Communion Sunday Worship Resources

A colorful image of abstract art that look like silhouettes of people. The PC (USA) logo in white next to the World Communion Sunday logo with the date October 5, 2025.

World Communion Sunday Worship Resources

Use these resources to help in planning your interpretation of the Peace & Global Witness Offering
The logo for World Communion Sunday featuring this year's date October 5, 2025.

World Communion Sunday Worship Liturgy

Intentional worship planning just got easier with this World Communion Sunday liturgy. Just copy and paste the parts your congregation uses into your order of worship. Featuring a call to worship, prayer for illumination, prayers of the people, and other elements of a worship service, everything you need is here.
Download Liturgy
The coloring page for this year's Peace & Global Witness Offering.

Coloring Page

This makes a great activity to use during worship to help enrich the experience of children or adults who enjoy coloring. This is also great for your neurodiverse folks who may need something to help them focus and engage more deeply in the worship service. (This coloring page is offered in English, Spanish and Korean.) 
Download Coloring Page

Children’s Moment

We have a children’s moment scripted and planned for you that should fit right in with your worship planning. Use this time with children to help them learn more about peace and why it is part of our calling.
Download Children’s Moment
Thank you for your generous support of the Peace & Global Witness Offering.
Thank you for your generous support of Special Offerings. If you have any questions, reply to this email or call 800-728-7228, Ext. 5047. 
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Sunday, August 3, 2025

Friday, August 1, 2025

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, August 4 and Sunday, August 10, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

  • Monday, August 4, 2025 - That the leaders of the church maintain their focus on Jesus Christ and his teachings. 
  • Tuesday, August 5, 2025 - That we look past their differences and unite as a country.
  • Wednesday, August 6, 2025 - That we have the courage to confront the violence within our society.
  • Thursday, August 7, 2025 - That police officers remember that they are servants of their communities.
  • Friday, August 8, 2025 - That parents and communities would teach young people the importance of love and compassion.
  • Saturday, August 9, 2025 - That those in national authority would be given godly counsel and God-fearing advisors.
  • Sunday, August 10, 2025 - That we condemn racism in all of its forms.

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, July 27, 2025

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...: In the series,  Rooted in Christ: A Journey through Colossians , we're journeying through Paul's letter to the Colossians, discoveri...

Sunday's Message - Rooted in Fellowship (Colossians 3:12 – 4:1)

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message - Rooted in Fellowship (Colossian...: In the series,  Rooted in Christ: A Journey through Colossians , we're journeying through Paul's letter to the Colossians, discoveri...

Thursday, July 31, 2025

A Prayer for the Church Program Year

Parchment pink background with white silhouettes of doves flying. The text in black at the bottom reads, "We are the peacemakers."

A Prayer for the Church Program Year


Thank you for all the ways you participate in the mission and ministry of the PC(USA) through the Churchwide Special Offerings. Here is a prayer for you and your congregation as you begin a new program year:
O God, gather us back, gather us in, and surround us with community and your grace as classes kick off, studies return, and opportunities for formation and fellowship begin anew.

By your Spirit, walk with families as they resume familiar or even new routines of school and activities as time together becomes scarce again.

Support church staff and volunteers as they re-engage faithful people through worship, study, fellowship and prayer.

By your grace, grant us all a renewed spirit as we prepare for our stewardship season, the quickly approaching Advent season, curriculum changes, and session and committee meetings.

Strengthen us for the journey ahead by providing us with energy, wisdom, and enthusiasm for the mission and ministry we do in your holy name. Remind us of your love when the days are long, the task list seems to never end and the emails pile up. Give us the gift of levity and help us know that you, O God, are with us every step of the way.

Amen.
Thank you for all the ways you give, and especially for your leadership and love for the churchwide Special Offerings.

Did this prayer nourish you in some way? Let us know.
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Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Looking into the lectionary - Online dating and ancient wisdom

August 10, 2025
Genesis 15:1-6
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

"Count the stars."

Imagine if this was God’s response to your inquiries about what lies ahead. How would it make you feel if, when seeking comfort amidst the unknowns of the future, God asked you to undertake an impossible task: counting the stars?

Abram was obedient. The kind of guy who quietly and faithfully did as God asked him to do. As Daniel M. Debevoise writes in his Feasting on the Word commentary, “The biblical picture of God and Abram’s relationship is fairly straightforward. God speaks; Abram listens. God promises; Abram believes. God commands; Abram obeys. There comes a point, however, when Abram finally says, ‘Wait a minute. I have a question.’”

Genesis 15 marks a crucial moment where Abram seeks further assurance from God. He’s worried about his future, as his people’s survival relies on having descendants. But he and Sarai still have no children. Abram questions God, seeking clarity: How will this situation resolve? What does the future entail? How will your promises be fulfilled?

Abram’s questions still hold relevance today. Given recent events, the future seems unpredictable. There’s widespread concern about the stability of our democracy. Each new natural disaster prompts us to consider the impacts of climate change and ponder what lies ahead for our planet. We frequently hear about—and some of us are—individuals juggling multiple jobs but still struggling to afford rent and provide for their families. Scripture consistently reassures us of God’s promise to take care of us, illustrating how God acts on our behalf, guiding us towards the peace and abundance of the Promised Land. Yet, we eventually find ourselves questioning with Abram, “So, how will this actually work out for us?”

Uncertainty is uncomfortable. ...

Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org.
Order of worship — August 10, 2025, by Teri McDowell Ott
Horizons — Finding resilience, joy and our identity in Jesus Christ by Rosalind Banbury
Rethinking psychological evaluations in the PC(USA) ordination process by Jane L. Holtzclaw
20 years after Katrina, this New Orleans church is still rebuilding hope by Harriet Riley
Want the worship resources for August 3, 2025? You can find them here.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...


Union Theological Seminary President Serene Jones to retire after 18 years of leadership
Following a sabbatical, she’ll return to Union to teach and write. — Union Theological Seminary

The Emperor of Gladness
"Ocean Vuong’s richly imagined characters push back against the material and spiritual scarcity of their surroundings, recognizing collective strength in shared rejection." — Ross Fogg

Big truths for little readers
Three new children’s books explore big faith questions with beauty, joy, and hope — from Miriam’s dancing to a magical lunchbox and what the Bible really is. — Various contributors

[ … ] Poems
In "[...]," a Palestinian American author dedicates his poems to “the relatable and unrelatable, the translatable and untranslatable Palestinian flesh.” Andrew Taylor-Troutman offers a review.

What a wisdom text taught me about online dating
A modern search for love meets ancient insight as Katy Shevel seeks wisdom for navigating friendship, faithfulness and dating apps.
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WCC News: Music workshop in Germany brings power of unity

A music workshop in Ettlingen, Germany, organized on 12 July by local ecumenical leaders, drew 60 people, including two international delegations, one from the Church of South India and other from the Moravian Church is South Africa. 
A music workshop in Ettlingen, Germany gathered local ecumenical leaders and international participants to learn using songs from the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe in their own contexts. Photo: WCC
29 July 2025

Songs included “El Amor,” “Christi Liebe,” and “Lord, what a time to celebrate,” in addition to songs sung at the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany in 2022. 

Musician Christoph Georgii expressed appreciation to all who attended, especially those who had previously participated in the WCC assembly.

“This workshop showed how music can carry the spirit of a WCC assembly into local congregations around the world,” said Rev. Anne Heitmann, head of the Department for Ecumenical and Global Church Relations at the Protestant Church in Baden. “With partnership delegations from India and South Africa joining in, the experience became even more vibrant and meaningful.”

People sang with joy and felt the power of unity, she added. 

“The unity in the body of Christ is tangible in these moments,” said Heitmann. “The partners from South Africa and India left discussing how they will use and teach the songs in their context back home.” 

Rev. Bettina Fuhrmann, Ecumenical and Global Church Relations representative for Central Baden, said that, with the melodies and rhythms, the spirit of the assembly was immediately palpable. “Hopefully, they will continue to be sung in many more congregations!” she said. 

Rev. Dr Mikie Roberts, World Council of Churches programme executive for Spiritual Life, served as a song leader during the workshop.

Learn more about the WCC Spiritual life program

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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
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Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday,  August 11  and Sunday, August 17, we'll lay be...