Tuesday, February 5
Brazil
Moderator Anita Sue Wright Torres speaks in the Beréia United Presbyterian Church, Osaco, São Paulo.
How many loaves have you? When Jesus challenged his disciples with this question, he was involving them in the solution to the problem: the need to feed the crowd. Jesus had the power to do the miracle all by himself but chose to use his disciples, urging them to go and seek the resources needed: “How many loaves have you?”
The United Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPU)—with 47 churches, eight presbyteries, and almost 100 pastors—celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. In July 2011 it elected, for the first time, a woman as moderator.
We are challenged to seek and offer the resources needed to enable Jesus to perform miracles. Our partnership with the PC(USA) gives us the support to promote theological and Christian education, evangelism and church growth, social awareness, and solidarity.
As a granddaughter and daughter of Presbyterian missionaries who dedicated their lives to mission work in Brazil, I was called to be the leader of our church—to bring the bread and fish the IPU has into our Lord’s presence and to offer our hearts and hands to the work Jesus has for us.
—Anita Sue Wright Torres, moderator of the United Presbyterian Church of Brazil, 2011–2014
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) People in Mission
Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil: Rev. Dr. C. Timothy Carriker, curriculum designer, education consultant, Marta Carriker, delegations coordinator; Joshua Vis, professor of biblical studies, Instituto Ecumênico de Pos-graduação, Methodist Univ of Sao Paulo, Kimberly Vis, team ministry • United Presbyterian Church of Brazil: David(Gordon) and Dorothy Gartrel l, church planters and trainers, Farris Goodrum and Rev. Thelma Goodrum, seminary professors, evangelism and social outreach, Center of Theological Formation Richard Shaull
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Patricia Ann Brown, Presbyterian Mission Agency/Office of the General Assembly
Sondra Brown, Board of Pensions
Andrew Browne, Board of Pensions
Let us pray
Dear God, like the disciples who brought the bread and fish to Jesus, we come to you with our resources and skills and ask you to multiply them to benefit Christ’s church. Grant us always a missionary vision, a spirit of solidarity, Christian fellowship, and your love—which is above all, within all, in spite of all, unconditional. Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Morning Psalms 12; 146
First Reading Isaiah 52:1-12
Second Reading Galatians 4:12-20
Gospel Reading Mark 8:1-10
Evening Psalms 36; 7
