A Moment for Mission
“Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us.” —Ephesians 2:14, CEB
As United Methodists, we understand our call to break down barriers of social, economic and political systems that result in poverty, conflict and oppression. The relationships we form in our communities, often through our direct service and mercy ministries, lead us to be advocates for justice.
Advocating alongside our neighbors, we call leaders to account and demand policies and practices that reflect our understanding of justice and dignity for all. While the journey toward justice is long, God encourages us and sustains us through community.
Thanks to your congregation’s World Service Fund support, General Board of Church and Society educates, equips and connects advocates with other United Methodists and faith- and community-based partners as, together, we build a justice movement.
For current legislative advocacy actions in the United States, click here.
Children’s Message
In the second chapter of the Letter to the Ephesians, the author expresses how Jesus came to bring peace and unity to all people, breaking down the walls of division between us.
Imagine a big, beautiful bridge stretching across a wide river. This bridge connects two sides that were once separated, allowing people to come together and share in one another’s lives. Just like this bridge, Jesus came to bridge the gap between us and God, bringing us closer together as one family. But not only that, Jesus also came to bridge the gaps between people, breaking down the walls of division and bringing peace and unity to all. In Ephesians 2:11-22, we read that through Jesus Christ, we are no longer strangers or outsiders, but members of God’s household.
Think about how you can be a bridge. Reach out with love and compassion, and work together to build a world where everyone feels like they belong.
Prayer from The United Methodist Book of Worship
From self-righteousness that will not compromise,
and from selfishness that gains by the oppression of others,
O Lord, deliver us.
From the lust for money or power that drives to kill, O Lord, deliver us.
From trusting in the weapons of war,
and mistrusting the councils of peace, O Lord, deliver us.
From hearing, believing, and speaking lies about other nations, O Lord, deliver us.
From suspicions and fears that stand in the way of reconciliation, O Lord, deliver us.
From words and deeds that encourage discord, prejudice, and hatred;
from everything that prevents us from fulfilling your promise of peace, O Lord, deliver us.
Amen.
Newsletter Nugget
“Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us.” —Ephesians 2:14, CEB
Many United Methodists are eager to take down walls of injustice but don’t know where to begin. The Building Power Together tool kit, produced by the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society, provides guidance and instruction on how to get started at home. Unpack education as a foundation to advocacy, learn how to build a team to work alongside and identify ways to sustain advocacy campaigns for maximum efficacy.
Inside Building Power Together, you will find strategies to seek justice and pursue peace from a United Methodist perspective. With an emphasis on building sustainable movements for change, topics include researching resources to learn with your community, mapping your community to identify needs and assets, building and maintaining your team, drafting legislation for annual and general conference and documenting your work for movement building.
Thanks to your congregation’s World Service Fund support, Church and Society educates, equips and connects advocates with other United Methodists and faith- and community-based partners as, together, we build a justice movement.