A Moment for Mission
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” —Colossians 3:14-15, NRSVUE
As we navigate the world’s complexities, we are invited to clothe ourselves with love. By participating in the Human Relations Day offering the Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, we embrace the power of relationships, the strength of community and the good news that all of God’s children are of sacred value.
Fifty-seven percent of the funds received support community developer programs that strive to build, maintain, promote and strengthen racial-ethnic minority congregations through local UMC congregations. Community developers engage depending on a community’s needs.
Thirty-three percent of the funds received support The United Methodist Voluntary Services (UMVS), which serves as a resource to congregations, volunteer-based groups and programs that challenge unjust political, social and economic systems that threaten people’s livelihoods.
Ten percent of the funds received support rehabilitation programs. These programs work to strengthen youth empowerment programs that provide positive avenues for youth participation in their communities through churches, mentoring programs and boys/girls clubs.
In a world that often feels uncertain and fragmented, clothed in God’s love we shift our perspective. By supporting the Human Relations Day offering, we channel our resources into servant leadership, community building and ministries that embody Christ’s peace with justice. Please give generously to this special Sunday by writing a check to this church and designating “Human Relations Day offering” in the memo line. Or visit UMC.org/SSGive to give online or set up monthly giving for sustained impact.
Children’s Message
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Many of us gave and received gifts to celebrate the birth of Jesus, God’s greatest gift to us.
In a few weeks, we will celebrate the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a minister who used his words to change hearts and minds. He organized people to change laws that were unfair to Black people in the United States. He wanted all people to be treated equally and to experience freedom.
The church honors Rev. King’s life by celebrating Human Relations Day Sunday. Our church will receive an offering that will join with gifts from other churches to share what we have with other people who are working hard to find and use their God-given gifts.
Each of you has what Rev. King called “a heart full of grace [and] a soul generated by love.” How will you use your gifts as servants to be truth tellers and organizers to build up the Beloved Community?
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for envisioning the Beloved Community for your church family.
Together we are so much more than the sum of our parts.
You have given each one of us a gift that is complimented by our neighbors’.
Join us together for the common good to strengthen relationships.
Move your Spirit to activate a sense of purpose
And to fully partner our gifts to embody your son, Jesus. Amen.
Offertory Prayer: Discipleship Ministries
Lord of Light and Love, we offer these gifts with hearts transformed by the miracle of your son’s birth. As the shepherds returned with joy and praise, may these offerings spread your joy and love. Use them to bless those in need, to bring hope and peace and to further your kingdom here on earth. In this season of Advent, may we continue to glorify and praise you in all we do. In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen. (Luke 2:15-21)
Newsletter Nugget
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” —Colossians 3:14-15, NRSVUE
Human Relations Day is a denomination-wide Special Sunday that celebrates and raises awareness about the strength of human relationships. A special offering is received the Sunday before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and contributes to building his vision of “the Beloved Community” through programs such as the Better Community Development, Inc.
Better Community Development (BCD) prioritizes the restoration of a community left behind through the Theressa Hoover Memorial United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Hoover Treatment Center is a faith-based substance abuse treatment center that provides a safe, drug-free environment for participants and their families.
On Human Relations Day, we celebrate stories of success. For example, one of the BCD’s current faith leaders struggled with addiction for her entire life before finding the Hoover Treatment Center. Not only did she find success in recovery but she also found Jesus.
She works with women who have exited the in-patient program to prevent relapse and nurture spiritual growth as an avenue for recovery. “When you strive to be the best version of you that you can be, you start to embrace who God created you to be,” she said, “because you start to get proud of yourself, and God truly shows you he’s proud.”
—excerpt adapted from a story by Caroline Loftin, contributing writer, Theressa Hoover Memorial United Methodist Church
One of six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church, Human Relations Day calls United Methodists to recognize the right of all God’s children in reaching their potential as human beings in relationship with one another. The special offering benefits neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, community advocacy through United Methodist Voluntary Services and work with at-risk teens through the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program.