Nov. 14—25th Sunday after Pentecost/Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday (no special offering)
A Moment for Mission
“Let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds.” — Hebrews 10:24, CEB
United Methodists celebrate Thanksgiving month by observing Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday on the second Sunday of November.
Our church’s Social Principles state the following (Par. 162.W): “We believe that organ transplantation and organ donation are acts of charity, agape love, and self-sacrifice. We recognize the life-giving benefits of organ and other tissue donation and encourage all people of faith to become organ and tissue donors as a part of their love and ministry to others in need. We urge that it be done in an environment of respect for deceased and living donors and for the benefit of the recipients, and following protocols that carefully prevent abuse to donors and their families.”
According to the Donate Life America website, 110,000 people are awaiting lifesaving organ transplants. Each day, 22 people die because the organs they needed were not donated in time.
Loving our neighbor means being willing to reach out in unexpected, yet lifesaving, ways. Organ and tissue donations save—and change—lives.
Offertory Prayer
Loving God, it’s easy to serve the people we know. Inspire us to seek new ways to show love and to reach out, especially to people we may never meet. In your name, we pray. Amen.
From Discipleship Ministries: Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost — Mighty God, Architect of the Universe; your work of creation and building is always before us! We give our gifts this day in hopes that we might be co-builders with you in the creation of your kingdom here on earth! May our gifts also reach others who are hurting, who feel disconnected from your love, that they too may join us in the stonework of kingdom-building, whose mortar is the sharing of Christ’s love with the world. In Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we pray. Amen. (Mark 13:1-8)
Newsletter Nugget
Most of us take our health and our bodies for granted. We check that little organ-donation box on our driver’s license and, most likely, forget about it. But when we, or someone we love, is in need of an organ, cornea or tissue transplant, the situation becomes personal.
That’s why Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday is so important.
One of five special days without a churchwide offering, Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday is viewed as a time for United Methodists to come together around the issues of life and thanksgiving. Congregations are encouraged to include the topic in their worship services. Worship resources are available from nonprofit donor programs in the United States.
Jesus said, “I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest” (John 10:10b). Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday is an opportunity to consider new ways to follow Jesus and to help others find abundant life.
Adapted from Donate Life America website.
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