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matthew 25 church

OPW: Aggressive action is needed on COVID relief

As the country continues to struggle under the physical and financial weight of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is calling on Congress to support President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

Resetting the Coordinating Table

Established this summer by what is now the Moving Forward Special Committee, the Coordinating Table hit a snag Wednesday as members debated what changes the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Mission Agency and Administrative Services Group ought to consider to better serve Presbyterian congregations, their leaders and mid councils.

How ‘pew sitters’ become doers of the Word

April 22 marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Last year, a St. Louis church, Webster Groves Presbyterian, celebrated the 49th event in a big way — with a themed worship service, featuring a flowing fountain with blue and green fabric “water” cascading down the chancel steps. There was also an ethereal rendition of “Amazing Grace,” complete with the sounds of birds filling the sanctuary, and a slide show displaying photographs of water from the congregation, along with a soulful version of “Wade in the Water.”

Light of Hope Presbyterian answers Matthew 25 call

The Rev. Edwin Gonzalez Gertz says Light of Hope Presbyterian Church in Marietta, Georgia, didn’t hesitate to become a Matthew 25 church. It provided them the language to articulate who they are.

The ‘beautiful you’ blessing

The postlude played. I stood at the sanctuary door, greeting congregants as they made their way to coffee hour. On this day, though, I wasn’t sharing pleasantries as I shook hands, I was anointing with oil a hand of each person exiting the sanctuary, As I made the sign of a cross on each palm, I gave a blessing: Be the beautiful you God sees you to be.

Celebrating the gifts of new immigrants

Whole wheat bread, tortillas and Korean sweet rice cake served as emblems for the body of Christ during Wednesday’s Chapel service, “Celebrating the Gifts of New Immigrants,” at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

‘Are we doing enough?’

When the Rev. Stacy Cavanaugh was talking with the session of Union Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Wisconsin, about becoming their pastor, she asked ruling elders, “What’s the one thing I can change?”