{"id":1516,"date":"2020-09-04T13:42:41","date_gmt":"2020-09-04T13:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/weekly-offerings\/?p=1516"},"modified":"2020-09-04T13:42:41","modified_gmt":"2020-09-04T13:42:41","slug":"peace-global-witness-building-gods-household-of-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/weekly-offerings\/2020\/09\/04\/peace-global-witness-building-gods-household-of-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"Peace & Global Witness: Building God’s Household of Peace"},"content":{"rendered":"

The peace of Christ be with you<\/h4>\n

Congregations of many denominations extend the peace of Christ with a blessing during their service. \u201cThe peace of Christ be with you (and also with you).\u201d It is a blessing offered and a blessing returned in kind. The peace of Christ is part of what our faith offers to us. Extending the peace of Christ is part of an active, engaged faith\u2014a witness to what it means for us to be building the household of God.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"In God\u2019s house, there are people of every background. In God\u2019s house, there are people\u00a0 of every race, age and gender. In God\u2019s house, people who are different from each other in almost every way live together and seek ways to bring about Christ\u2019s peace in every part of our lives. We speak out and claim the truth in Second Thessalonians, \u201cMay the God of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.\u201d In our church gatherings, we practice offering Christ\u2019s peace, trusting that the blessing offered will also be returned. <\/span><\/p>\n

On World Communion Sunday, we celebrate that Christ\u2019s peace extends throughout all creation. We celebrate that we are all together at the table, in God\u2019s house. We\u00a0 celebrate that we are offered what we need to continue the work of building the household of God with active peacemakers here at home and around the world.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Gifts of peace<\/h4>\n

We take action by offering a blessing of our own. Through participation in the Peace & Global Witness Offering, the church is extending Christ\u2019s peace throughout our communities\u201425 percent of the gifts received stay with congregations to build God\u2019s house alongside their partners in ministry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Twenty-five percent will support regional efforts in our mid councils, and 50 percent will go the Presbyterian Mission Agency for its ministries of education and partnership with active peacemakers all around the world. <\/span><\/p>\n

Peacemakers in places like Cameroon, where violence and conflict threaten, peacemakers providing ministries of reconciliation inside prison walls, and peacemakers seeking to eradicate diseases like HIV-AIDS and their impacts on the most vulnerable, all gather with us at the table in God\u2019s house, and greet us, saying, \u201cThe peace of Christ be with you\u201d (let the people respond \u201cand also with you.\u201d)<\/span><\/p>\n

Please give generously.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let us pray<\/span><\/h4>\n

Extend your peace to us, O Christ, that we might build places of kindness and generosity, reconciliation and compassion. May our gifts join our voices in blessing all of creation with your justice and peace, at all times, in all ways. Amen<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Join us<\/h4>\n

For more information and resources related to the Peace & Global Witness Offering, visit the Special Offerings website.<\/a>
\n<\/u> This post is based on a regional Minute for Mission which can be found on our\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0as a\u00a0script<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Please give generously to the Offering:<\/p>\n