November 8—Organ Tissue and Donor Sunday (no Churchwide Offering)
A Moment for Mission
“We’ll tell the next generation all about the praise due the Lord and his strength—the wondrous works God has done.” —Psalm 78:4b, CEB
When you got your driver’s license, did you check a little box designating you as an organ donor? If you are like me, you probably marked it without a second thought.
However, the topic is so important that delegates to the 2000 United Methodist General Conference approved a new churchwide Special Sunday without offering: Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday. The preferred date—the second Sunday in November—is close to Thanksgiving and is viewed as a time to gather around the issues of life and gratitude. Congregations are encouraged to support this observance by including the topic in their worship services. The General Board of Church and Society is responsible for supervision and promotion of this Special Sunday. Worship resources are available through various nonprofit donor programs in the United States.
According to Geisinger “one organ and tissue donor can save and enhance the lives of up to 50 people. An organ donor can give a second chance at life to up to eight people. Through tissue donation, a donor can enhance the lives of countless others through bone donations to repair fractures and prevent amputations, skin donations to heal burn patients and heart valve donations to repair life-threatening defects. Donors can also donate their corneas, which can give the gift of sight to recipients.”
Think about that: one little check mark can make a lifesaving, life-changing difference!
Offertory Prayer
Loving God, you are our strength. Thank you for your wondrous works. May our praise to you continue from generation to generation. In your name, we pray. Amen.
From Discipleship Ministries: Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost – Ever vigilant God, you watch over us every night as we sleep and every day as we rise to do our work and as we gather at tables to feast on the food you provide. Your care for us is never ceasing. We long to be as vigilant as we strive to be the kingdom-ready church you desire here on earth. Help us to keep our eyes and ears open to the needs around us. May we give so generously that when it is time to close our eyes in sleep, we will rest knowing we have been faithful and vigilant in our caring and compassion. in Christ, we pray. Amen. (Matthew 25:1-13)
Newsletter Nugget
“United Methodists are committed to medicine and to science and ways of healing all,” said the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, top executive of the General Board of Church and Society. “Because we believe in health care for all, we believe that organ donation and transplantation is a gift that we can give back. It is one of the great gifts that many of us in our own families have supported our family members and those we love to make this kind of donation.
“We know that sometimes it is a hard decision but that it gives you and your family an opportunity to think about ways that you can contribute that you may not have considered. Organ donation is a gift of love and we hope that it is one that you will prayerfully consider.”
Delegates to the 2000 United Methodist General Conference approved a new churchwide Special Sunday without offering: Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday. Please encourage your congregation to consider this life-sustaining gift. Thank you!
—Adapted from “United Methodist Beliefs: Organ Donation,”UMC.org, November 3, 2017
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