This week our faith community will experience the global nature of the Church and the unity of the Body of Christ in two significant ways.
On Wednesday, October 3, Bishop Cardona and Pastor Luis from Columbia came to speak to our staff. They shared the significant impact of the Methodist Church in being peacemakers in a nation torn by violence. Their strategy for planting new faith communities involves going into areas, sometimes new communities that form as people flee from violence, and listening to the needs of the people. Ministries across the country vary depending on the response of the community.
Today, we will share Holy Communion with our sisters and brothers in Samara Russia. The Samara United Methodist Church, one of our global mission partners, will gather at 5:30 p.m. in Samara Russia while we gather at 9:30 a.m. here in Hyde Park. A translator, Max, from Samara, will help us bridge the language barrier as we gather at the Lord’s Table together. Although I understand how it works, it is still an amazing experience to worship with people, in real time, that live halfway around the world! The Disney song is true: “It’s a small world, after all!”
Come and join us at the Table this weekend, invited by Jesus, the Christ, who invites and welcomes all, embracing each one of us as beloved sons and daughters of God.
Peace,
Pastor Cathy Johns