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Mission Yearbook
As a pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Missouri, my job is to make things happen that are sometimes out of the box — like starting a food pantry for musicians.
Early in 2010, our church drummer, Sam Johnson Jr., wondered if a pantry for musicians could happen. He stated that he “had all these cats to feed.”
The trend in the past few years has been one of church closings among the mainline churches in the United States. Statistics show that the median age in the United States is 37, and the average Presbyterian is 65 years old.
Native American Day is celebrated in recognition of the presence and contributions of Native Americans in our society and church today. It is recognized on the day of the fall equinox, in September, in conjunction with “harvest time” for many Native American tribes. For centuries it has been a time of celebration and preparation for winter. A corresponding celebration with Native leaders will take place Sept. 25 at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
Matthew 5:14–16 is one of my favorite passages. I love the way it reads in The Message. I am captivated by this idea that we are to “keep open house” with our lives. We are to live as generous people because of God’s generosity. Evangelism is simple: living the good news because we have received good news.
Do you ever wonder what is God calling you to do? The better question is, what is making you come alive? The needs in the world that God is calling us to address are all around us, but so are gifted children of God who are willing to respond.
An old farmhouse, converted into a conference center, sits atop Dem Heiligen Berg, “the holy mountain,” overlooking the city of Wuppertal, Germany. It is from this spot that many residents say Earth seems to touch heaven.
Eighteen years ago, our nation was stunned by attacks that took place against thousands of innocent souls. People of various economic classes, educational attainment, races, genders, countries of origin, religions and nearly any other distinction we can identify were senselessly wounded and killed. Millions are still affected by the aftermath of what we now call 9/11.
The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, believes that God has intricately woven our lives together at this time in history so we may be part of the healing work of God’s Creation.
As stewards of God’s Creation amid myriad challenges — devastating fires, floods, droughts and storms — we are to continue to bring glory to God and be a blessing to God’s people, particularly people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned or poor, she said.
Mark Eakin and Dennis Hartwig met at the recent Presbyterians for Earth Care National Conference — but not the way conference attendees usually meet. Eakin and Hartwig met while getting a fill-up on the grounds of the conference venue, Stony Point Center.
September is a time of change. The leaves change colors as the weather cools. The days are shorter and the shadows longer. Summer breaks are over, and kids are settling back into a new school year. At church, Christian educators, pastors and volunteers are diligently preparing for another program year, which kicks off on a Sunday often referred to as Rally Day.
