Presbyterian Mission Agency st. francis of assisi Archives

Blessing of the Animals service brings in the community

Posted October 18th, 2024

In the heart of Petaluma, California, a town steeped in agricultural history, First Presbyterian Church has found a unique way to connect with its community: through a yearly Blessing of the Animals service.

First Presbyterian Church of Fredonia, New York displays hundreds of creches

Posted December 13th, 2022

The Rev. Holly Clark-Porter, though, found herself doing more than stepping into the Christmas story her first holiday serving at First Presbyterian Church of Fredonia, New York. She found herself swimming in a sea of hundreds of creches.

‘If bigotry is your game, Jesus is not the name’

Posted May 19th, 2021

The Most. Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church, told about 1,700 people who tuned in for opening worship Monday at the Festival of Homiletics something of what he learned during a sabbatical spent learning to play the violin and studying both supporters and opponents of enslaving African Americans during the 19th century — especially from Frederick Douglass, who was himself formerly enslaved.

A small building in the Republic of Georgia with a large impact on interfaith dialogue

Posted February 10th, 2021

In the early 13th century, St. Francis of Assisi traveled to Egypt to meet with the Sultan so Francis could show the people there the way of salvation. What happened instead was a conversation about peace, interfaith dialogue and the necessity to join in service together regardless of religious differences.