Posts Tagged: matthew 25

Structural Racism

‘Taking Action’ Against Structural Racism When God promised to be present through life’s floods and fires, the assurance was of little comfort to Trell, whose house burned to the ground. To make matters worse, his car, where he sought refuge, had a flat tire. That was when a local pastor made God’s presence real to… Read more »

Climate Change

  Exposing the Upheaval of Climate Change Farmers rely on tools to bring in a successful crop — tools like resources to control weeds, fight pests or build healthy soil. Kotema (kō-tā-muh), a farmer on Nui (nū-ē) Island, one of a group of low-lying Islands in the South Pacific Ocean that make up the small… Read more »

Peace & Global Witness Offering

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4, NRSV).   You Are With Me “God, you are with me.” What a powerful statement of faith that is! Say it with me: “You are with me.” One… Read more »

Pentecost Offering: We Are All Builders

You may never have thought of yourself as a builder, but you are — we all are. Some people you know actually do build solid things like houses and bridges or maybe roads and highways. But we all build things that support our future. Perhaps you build a garden each spring or a menu plan… Read more »

Pentecost Offering connects youth in the body of Christ

Fifteen-year-old Grace Reck usually can’t wait to try new things, but when given the chance last year to attend her first churchwide youth conference at Montreat, she dragged her feet — for a minute. “For both Grace and her twin sister, Emma, the Montreat Youth Conference was a pivotal experience in their faith journey,” said the Rev…. Read more »

Pentecost Offering Helps Young People Challenge the World’s Injustices

Yuriko Beltran wants to change the world — which is exactly why the 23-year-old entered the PC(USA)’s Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program. “I like the fact that I actively contribute to change, which is what the YAV program mainly seeks to accomplish,” she said. The YAV program is an ecumenical, faith-based year of service in sites across the U.S…. Read more »

Pentecost Offering Sets At-Risk Youth on the Road to Success

Everywhere he looked, the Rev. Allen Shelton saw tremendous gaps — gaps keeping high school-aged young people of color from succeeding in life. Rev. Shelton, a veteran educator, community advocate and pastor in New Jersey, was determined not to watch promising youth fall through the cracks of an increasingly broken educational system. He wanted to… Read more »

Pentecost Offering: How did they do that?

“… building up the Body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12 How many times have we seen a modern building, an historic landmark, a great cathedral or a monument and thought, “How did they do that?” Regardless of when it was built, the skill and craftsmanship needed to not only imagine it, but to make it sturdy… Read more »

OGHS: We Are There

During One Great Hour of Sharing, we hear the call in Isaiah 58 to become “repairers of the breach, restorers of streets to live in.” During this Lenten season, we have heard stories of empowered and empowering women. Tenacious and faithful women, binding their families and communities together in strength. In every time and in… Read more »

Pentecost: Living a Life Through Faith

The branches of their family trees are filled with Presbyterian pastors and elders, so it’s no wonder that Akilah Hyrams and Noah Westfall — both alums of the PC(USA)’s Youth Adult Volunteer or YAV program — have lives rooted in their faith-building experiences. The YAV program is an ecumenical, faith-based year of service for young people ages 19–30 in sites… Read more »