A Moment for Mission
“Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.” —James 3:13, NRSVUE
Holy Communion joins us in Christian unity. This sacrament invites us to focus on the holiness of communion with God and one another. On World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October, United Methodists, in conjunction with other denominations and believers worldwide, participate in communion to recognize our unity in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. This universal and inclusive connection is the foundation of the special offering for World Communion Sunday.
The World Communion Sunday offering provides scholarships and leadership development opportunities for international students and U.S. racial-ethnic students who are pursuing advanced degrees. Gifts not only make an impact in the lives of individual students, but also the religious, social and civic communities in which they lead and serve. These funds are administered by Global Ministries in collaboration with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
Your donations support racial and ethnic students in achieving their educational goals and transforming communities. In 2021, World Communion Sunday offerings awarded 242 scholarships and grants. Your generosity continues to provide scholarships, grants, mentoring and training for leadership development. The needs exceed what we can fund and your gifts can further growth and success. Learn more about the racial and ethnic scholarships and grants here.
Children’s Message
Repeat after me from James 3:13 (NRSVUE)
Who is wise and knowledgeable among you?
Show by your good life
that your works are done
with gentleness born of wisdom.
That means that when we do things with wisdom, we do them with thoughtfulness. And when we do things with gentleness, we do them with kindness and care.
One way we can show wisdom and gentleness is by sharing the bread and juice during Holy Communion. We remember that Jesus loves us all, no matter where we come from or what we look like. We celebrate the different languages, cultures and traditions in our church family. And when we share God’s love with others, we show wisdom and gentleness in action!
Prayer from the Africana Worship Book, Year B
God, we confess fumblings and failures in accomplishing unity, as we set aside World Communion Sunday to remind ourselves of the task. Give us eyes to recognize your reflection in the eyes of Christians everywhere. Give us a mind to accept and celebrate our differences. Give us a heart big enough to love your children everywhere. We thank you for setting a table with space enough for us all! Amen.
Newsletter Nugget
“Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.” —James 3:13, NRSVUE
Through the World Communion Sunday offerings on October 6, you are part of sharing wisdom and knowledge with young leaders, equipping them to pursue God’s call in their lives.
For example, Christian Love Daroy-Gagno, the fifth of seven children in her immediate family, grew up in the Philippines, where her father served as clergy for The United Methodist Church. She studied business administration, but then joined the UMC young adult mission program and became a mission intern. After mission service, she worked for one of the church’s mission institutions, Kapitiran-Kaunlaran Foundation, Inc. (KKFI). Today, she works with the Indigenous community of T’boli in South Cotabato, Philippines.
On average, 50 scholars like Christian receive United Methodist scholarships for higher education through the World Communion Sunday offering each year. The lives these scholarships impact and the dreams and aspirations they fulfill are not just those of the scholars but of the many people reached by them as they complete their studies and develop ways to fulfill Go’’s calling in their lives.
Your gifts on World Communion Sunday benefit World Communion scholarships for graduate students from the U.S. and other countries and support Ethnic Scholarships for U.S. and international undergraduate students in the U.S. and Ethnic In-Service Training. These funds are administered by the United Methodist General Boards of Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry to equip gifted, qualified students from around the globe to become the world changers God created them to be.