Mission Moment 3.25.26

Laura Foushee
Field Personnel in Kanazawa, Japan

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." –John 15:27

The words of Jesus in John 15:27 have always been moving to me. Among the last words to his disciples as he prepared for the cross were to pray for them and bless them with his peace that would be more than anything the world could give them. The disciples are blessed with a peace that would carry them forward through the coming dark and unknown days.

Some churches follow the tradition of “passing the peace” in their worship services. When we speak the words “the peace of Christ be with you” and then “and also with you,” we are passing on the peace that Christ bestowed on his dearest friends in his last days. It is not a light gesture to do so; it is a part of the ministry of the Church to be holy spaces where Christ’s peace is spoken into the lives of those who gather; a balm for all those who may be troubled or afraid. 

Every Sunday as internationals from our city gather for worship, we end our services with a time to share prayer requests. Not a Sunday goes by that we do not pray for peace over someone—one who is new to our city and experiencing isolation; one who is living far away from a family member with serious medical issues; one who is struggling with how to make a life in Japan and discerning whether they need to leave difficult working conditions. Our gathering becomes a place to share and receive the peace of Christ with one another as a blessing to go back into the world. 

The disciples were certainly still troubled and afraid in the days surrounding Jesus’ death, but the peace inevitably quieted their hearts for what would come next. Out of the peace came strength, courage and a renewed spirit for carrying on the mission of Jesus. So it is with us, and with those among whom we serve, who no doubt have days of trouble and fear. This peace of Christ that we share and bless among one another will inevitably calm our hearts, preparing us for what comes next. 

May the peace of Christ be with you. 

Pray...Give...Go.

Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries is in need of macaroni and cheese.

 To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.  Thank you!

Midweek Meals

TONIGHT, March 25 at 5:30 p.m.

Our winter midweek meals will continue tonight at 5:30 p.m.
in the MFC. We look forward to seeing you there!

1st Explorers After-School Program Recap

This week at First Explorers, we talked mainly about St. Patrick’s Day and what it means and who it’s about. We did not have after-school on Monday due to the storms that day. On Tuesday, Kaitlyn read us a story about St. Patrick and what he did for the people of Ireland and then made a cool craft. Wednesday we had our usual RAs, GAs, and Mission Friends. Thursday Generation Kids came, and they did a lesson for us and played several different games with us. And on Friday, Debbie led the kids in a leprechaun hunt where they tried to set a trap with a cardboard box. Unfortunately for the kids (and fortunately for the leprechauns!), none were caught. Overall, it was a fun week at First Explorers! 

Holy Week Gatherings

• Palm Sunday: March 29

• Midweek meal is moved to Thursday, April 2, followed by the Maundy Thursday service at 6:00 p.m.

• Easter Sunday: April 5 at 7:00 a.m., Community Worship Service at Bridge Park

• Holy Easter Worship: April 5 at 10:30 a.m.

Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries is in need of macaroni and cheese.

 To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.  Thank you!

Mission Moment 3.18.26

Karen Alford
Field Personnel in Togo, West Africa

In his book, The Tears of Things, Richard Rohr says that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. May we live boldly in the freedom of not needing to be certain, but/and strong in our faith.

A Blessing for Troubled Times
by Karen (with edits from Karen’s inner cynic/critic/worrier)
May the God of justice walk beside us,
Guide us
(but first teach us how to follow…?)
as we labor to mend what is broken,
to speak truth in the face of judgment and silence,
(And not judge. And not keep silent!)
(…even if we are judging),
and to love boldly in an increasingly exhausted world,
exhausting world.

May Christ, who showed us the power of compassion,
(Show us again, please, it didn’t stick that time)
fill our hearts with courage when fear surrounds,
fear abounds
(Does any but the privileged NOT feel fear right now?)
and grant us peace that passes understanding
even as we carry the burdens of the world.
(Even when we are really really tired, oh God…especially then)

May the Spirit stir within us
like wind through dry leaves, 
dry bones, dry souls—
watering our hope, watering our imaginations,
growing and greening in us new visions,
(it’s too dark to see…New visions?) 

Enliven our hands for holy work
Serving, giving, receiving
Enliven our hearts for holy work
Loving, praising, grieving
(or/and/also, help us get out of bed)

Take heart: you are not alone.
Holy Spirit, come…
(Waiting…Holy Spirit…?)

The arc of love is long, and we are part of its bending,
mending, wending
Be gentle with yourself, fierce for others,
and faithful in the small, quiet acts of resistance and care of others,
care of self
(Have I been faithful in practicing self-care?)

Go forth in grace, held and upheld by the Divine
who still moves, still speaks, still heals.
Hallelujah!
(Hallelujah!) 
Amen. (Amen). Amen. (Amen)!

Pray...Give...Go.

1st Explorers After-School Program Recap

This week at After School, we talked about rainbows since St. Patrick’s Day is coming up. We learned all sorts of cool facts about rainbows including what a moonbow is. Look that up if you’ve never heard of it. We also did several crafts including making a shamrock and seeing how a rainbow is created using two cups of water and a sheet of a paper towel with markers. Wednesday we had RAs, GAs and Mission Friends. Gracen made the RAs a traditional Philippines dish which consisted of rice and chocolate.We had a short week since there wasn’t any school on Thursday and Friday. 

Midweek Meals

TONIGHT, March 18 at 5:15 p.m.
(Please note the change in time.)

Our winter midweek meals will continue tonight at 5:15 p.m. in the MFC. Dinner this evening will be hamburger steak/gravy, rice, slaw, roll and dessert. We look forward to seeing you there!

Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries is in need of macaroni and cheese.

 To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.  Thank you!