A Season of Peace: Sunday, September 1, 2019

Observing A Season of Peace

Rev. Ginna Bairby

 1 Timothy 4:7b–8

 Train yourself in godliness, for while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Reflection: Today we begin the Season of Peace. Over the next five weeks, we will journey together through the Scriptures and through our own faith journeys to hear where and how Christ is calling us deeper into the work of holistic peacemaking.

For nearly 40 years, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program has called churches to practice the things that make for peace and has helped us seek a just, holistic peace that is more than just the absence of violence. The money raised by the Peace and Global Witness Offering makes this work possible. This year, as we journey through the Season of Peace, we will reflect on four specific areas of peacemaking:

Poverty – How does addressing the root causes of poverty further prospects for peace?

Racism –What does it mean to make peace by disrupting the structural violence of racism?

Violence – How are Christian peacemakers called to respond to explicit violence?

Refugees and Migrants – How can the church support people who have been displaced by violence and are subject to more violence on their journey?

The author of 1 Timothy likens the journey of faith to a physical training regimen. I invite you to join Presbyterians around the world this month as we “train ourselves for godliness” and strengthen our capacity for peacemaking.

Action: As you begin your walk through the Season of Peace, what are you hoping to learn? To gain? To let go of? Today, identify one goal for these next five weeks — one change you’d like to see in your own social and spiritual practice.

Prayer: Gracious God, you came to this earth in flesh and blood as the Prince of Peace. Come again today. Train my heart for godliness, my hands for service, my voice for advocacy, my feet for obedience. Walk with me and with your church through this Season of Peace. Amen.

Rev. Bairby is pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Taos, NM. She has worked in the PC(USA)’s Compassion, Peace and Justice ministries and served as a Young Adult Volunteer in Peru 2009-2010. She holds an MDiv from Union Presbyterian Seminary.

This year’s A Season of Peace Resources are designed to help Presbyterians explore different forms and lenses for peacemaking. From the personal level to global issues, these reflections and prayers will help grow the faith and witness of the whole church. Through the 29 days of this year’s Season of Peace, we are invited to reflect upon:

1. What does it mean to commit to Peace?
2. Making peace by addressing root causes of poverty
3. Making peace by disrupting systematic racism
4. Making peace by ending violence
5. Making peace by supporting refugees and migrants
6. Partaking in peace in worship and at table this World Communion Sunday and through the Peace & Global Witness Offering

Each author represents a variety of vocations and experiences in peacemaking efforts. Individuals and households are invited to make use of these daily reflections beginning on Sunday, September 1, and concluding on World Communion Sunday, October 6.