Indonesia is a nation consisting of tribes with cultural and religious diversity. In Java, where I live, the majority of the people are Muslim.
When my mother died at the age of 81 on Nov. 3, 2021, young women in the village made flower arrangements called “rencong” at the front of our house. Before the coffin was lifted up, they put the rencong on top of the crate.
The Presbyterian Mission Agency approved 12 Mission Program Grants to worshiping communities during its latest grant cycle. Among them are eight $7,500 seed grants to help an assortment of 1001 new worshiping communities get started in various presbyteries across the country.
A small congregation has set its sights on making a big impact in its community.
Earlier this year Olivet Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a church of about 65 members, became the first church to officially accept the Matthew 25 invitation from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Nelson Mandela once wrote, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” People in Mangochi, Malawi, know this is true, as they have watched their community be transformed by the Muliko Literacy Project.
For nearly 50 years, the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) has worked with Presbyterians and global partners toward the common goal of ending hunger and poverty. Now PHP is recognizing congregations involved in hunger work through a covenant called Hunger Action Congregations.
The 2016 Season of Peace is under way, with the theme “Come to the Table of Peace.” The emphasis is designed to encourage congregations to seek or enhance their focus on becoming peacemakers.
The Season of Peace leads up to World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October. Various denominations observe World Communion Sunday, which promotes Christian unity and ecumenical cooperation. In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) the Season of Peace culminates with the receiving of the Peace & Global Witness Offering on the first Sunday in October.
Mission co-workers share God’s love through multifaceted ministries
For PC(USA) mission co-workers in Latin America and the Caribbean, doing the work of the Lord can mean serving in many ways. A few examples:
Call to Prayer for the 222nd General Assembly (2016)
Henry was way past 80 when I first met him. He had not attended our congregation for many years because of his wife’s illness. Although I tried to visit with them often, it was not until she was hospitalized that Henry and I had regular conversations. Henry had been a deacon in this congregation almost 30 years previously. One of our conversations led to the solution for a maintenance issue that had puzzled us for a long time.
