September 8, 2019
Bible Story Time at Central Presbyterian Church in Denver (Photo by Glenn Ross)
September is a time of change. The leaves change colors as the weather cools. The days are shorter and the shadows longer. Summer breaks are over, and kids are settling back into a new school year. At church, Christian educators, pastors and volunteers are diligently preparing for another program year, which kicks off on a Sunday often referred to as Rally Day.
On this Sunday, Sept. 8, we begin another season of formation with Christian Education Week. We’ve set aside this week to remind ourselves of the importance of both Christian education and formation in the life of a faith community, but we also celebrate those wonderful souls who give of their time to prepare, teach and invest in the lives of our congregation.
Rally Day has expanded in our congregations to recognize that faith formation happens over a lifetime and in many contexts of our church life together. Our congregations mark the beginning of the program year in various ways:
- Celebration and commissioning of faith formation leaders and teachers
- Rituals to mark the beginning of the new school year
- Events that bring together members of a congregation for fun and recreation
- Intergenerational worship
- Outreach activities in the community
- Intergenerational service opportunities
- Mission and ministry fairs to introduce ministries
On this day, no matter how we may mark the beginning of the season, we are reminded that Christian education is a core value of who we are as Presbyterians. May we all seek out ways to nurture our faith and remember that it is our baptismal promise to nurture and pass on the faith to the next generation.
Stephanie Fritz, Associate Coordinator for Christian Formation, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, September 8, 2019, the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
First Reading Jeremiah 18:1-11
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Second Reading Philemon 1-21
Gospel Luke 14:25-33
Today’s Focus: Christian Education
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Richard Embry, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
Barry Ensign-George, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Let us pray:
O God, may we enter this new season with renewed hearts for nurturing faith. Today we especially give thanks for all those who hear the call to teach and nurture all of us. Amen.