Compassion Weekend

by Kathy Saunders

Ephesians 4:3 says; “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

As Christians, we know that not only are we one body within our own churches, but we are also one body combined, as brother’s and sister’s in Christ. Sadly, the world sometimes views Christians as divided, and oftentimes this creates mistrust. Maybe they’ve been hurt by the church, or by a Christian who betrayed them in some way. We long to share the message of Christ but our words fall on deaf ears in a world that has become increasingly cynical.  There are times when we have to do the practical to get to the spiritual.                   

A blanket, a hug, a listening ear; this might be the first glimpse of Jesus that person has ever seen. And when we serve in unity, the world sees that not only do we care for them, but also for each other. God moves through us when we open our doors, step outside and simply “be” the church in the world. And those we serve ask questions when they have no experience with the nature of unconditional love. “Why did you come here?” “I have nothing to give you, why would you do this for me?” What an amazing opportunity then for us to tell a hurting soul that God loves them beyond measure, and so do we!

On Saturday April 28^th we would like to encourage churches to step out into the world and serve in your communities for a unified day of serving. This is a great opportunity for small groups, and individuals to reach out to their own neighbors in order to form relationships. It can be as simple as raking leaves, baking cookies, or throwing a birthday party for a child living in a domestic violence shelter. If you need information, serving ideas, or resources, or if you are a smaller church and would like to join up with projects at a larger church, you can contact Kathy Saunders at 253-863-352 ext. 227.  We hope to see you Compassion Weekend!

What does the future hold around ecumenical advocacy?

By Michael Trice, Ph.D.

The season of Advent seems especially poignant, pressed by a contemplative silence as eyes turn to Bethlehem.  We might all have a special place for this season in our hearts this year.  The hopeful anticipation of the birth of new promise, of the message of redemption, stands in stark contrast to a form of hopeless sorrow that has been creeping up like cold air in significant quarters of public and private life today.  For others who advocate for social justice in its variegated forms, the in-breaking of the Advent promise is a signal of resiliency and determination in the face of institutional callousness and trespass of our fundamental human dignity.