As we light the candle of peace this week, we are reminded of the transformative power of Jesus’ peace—a peace that surpasses all understanding and calls us to action. In a world often marked by uncertainty and division, the Advent season invites us to be instruments of God’s peace in our community and across the globe.
At Hyde Park Community UMC, our mission and outreach ministries are a reflection of this divine call. Whether we extend radical hospitality to families experiencing homelessness through our partnership with Found House, provide educational support through weekly tutoring at Rothenberg in Over-the-Rhine, serve nourishing meals at The Center for Respite Care, or supporting our global partners in Haiti, Romania, Russia, and Mexico as they minister with children in their communities, we live out Christ’s peace in tangible, life-changing ways.
This peace is not passive but active. It challenges us to build bridges, mend broken relationships, and extend grace to all. When we provide shelter, food, and education, we are offering more than physical resources; we are reflecting the light and love of Jesus in a world that longs for hope, joy, and peace.
This week, I encourage you to consider how you can be a peacemaker through mission and outreach:
Pray for our local and global mission partners, asking that they feel the peace of Christ in their work and ministry.
Engage by participating in a mission opportunity—serve at an upcoming Super Serve Saturday, or consider joining a mission team traveling to Tijuana Christian Mission in Mexico this June or a Methodist church in Cartagena, Colombia in July.
Give generously to support the mission and outreach efforts of our church. Through the Christmas Alternative Gifts or the Special Christmas Offering, your contributions ensure the light of peace continues to shine in places of need throughout the year.
As we approach the celebration of Jesus’ birth, let us hold fast to his words in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
May these words be an invitation to pause, breathe deeply, and embrace the presence of the Prince of Peace, whose birth changed the world forever.
May the peace of God guide us as we serve alongside our neighbors near and far as we strive to embody the hope and love of Jesus to all.
Peace,
Pastor Kate