The statistics for gun violence jump off the page:
40,614 gun violence deaths in the United States this year
919 children under age 12 have been shot
985 teens have been killed
10 million guns flow into the United States every year
The work of the Compassion, Peace and Justice ministries will be among those highlighted during #GivingTuesday, a 12-hour virtual celebration of the collective power of Presbyterian generosity.
In the Introduction to her new book, the Rev. Jennifer Butler wrote: “America is one election away from a one-party system,” specifically the Republican Party.
Beth Mueller got a note from a man who saw the virtual choir of international peacemakers video she created for the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and had a question.
“He wanted to know how we got all those people from around the world to sing at the same time on Zoom,” Mueller said, laughing.
During the final day of the virtual workshop “Dipping Deeper Into the Well of PC(USA) Ministries,” more than 50 Christian educators, pastors and other Presbyterian leaders heard panel discussions and wrestled with questions on how to form lifelong disciples who are grounded in the Reformed tradition and equipped for peacemaking, witnessing and working for justice and equity for all God’s people.
More than 50 Christian educators, pastors, volunteers and others are taking part in a three-day virtual workshop “Dipping Deeper into the Well of PC(USA) Ministries,” Oct. 5–7. Sessions are focused on the formation of lifelong disciples who are grounded in the Reformed tradition and equipped for the work of evangelism, peacemaking, witnessing and working toward justice and equity for all God’s people.
Not surprisingly, Hannah Lundberg’s sermon on peacemaking for World Communion Sunday opens with a series of questions:
“What is peace for you? Is it a simple state of being? The way things are until something goes wrong? Is peace the absence of conflict?”
Imagine learning your family member’s home was burned down by the army, or that your brother-in-law was brutally murdered by soldiers in your hometown.
The desire to gather around common prayers, shared music and the communion table brought several Presbyterian Mission Agency ministries together to create a Worldwide Worship Kit, launched in time for World Communion Sunday, October 4.
The first-ever International Peacemaker Virtual Symposium will provide a rare opportunity to hear from 16 outstanding individuals who had transformative experiences while being hosted in the United States by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
