May Missions Reflection
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom God will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.”-John 14:26 (NRSV)
I love Pentecost! I love wearing reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks. I love seeing these bright vibrant colors decorate the church. I love celebrating the birthday of the church, thinking about how it was formed thousands of years ago, creating the foundation for who we are today as Christ followers. And, I love seeing how the Holy Spirit was so actively present in that moment and continues to move in all of us today. The Book of Acts describes those early stages of the church. As the early church continued to grow, Acts Chapter 6 describes how the first persons were called to servant leadership to care for those in need within their communities.
This compassion for the most vulnerable continues to be an important part of our faith today. In fact, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, recognized that acts of piety, such as prayer and the study of scripture, and acts of mercy, caring for those suffering, were both important components of Christian Discipleship, of living a life devoted to God. These acts of mercy can show up in different ways, through acts of service and kindness as we care for those hurting in our world, or through acts of advocacy, justice, and compassion as we seek to end oppressions for those often pushed to the margins. First Church has a long history of being involved in all of these ways and this work continues today. Below are some upcoming ways to make acts of mercy part of your Christian Discipleship, to care for the vulnerable and marginalized in our communities and throughout the world:
- Throughout much of May, we have been collecting letters of advocacy with Bread for the World, writing to our U.S. Senators and Representatives out of a sense of justice and compassion to end hunger, focusing on Nutrition, Equity, and Sustainability. This Sunday, June 4th, we will collect all the letters and celebrate the work we have done. Visit our Offering of Letters Webpage to learn how to participate.
- On June 11th, at a Lunch & Learn after worship, participants of a recent mission trip to the U.S./Mexico border in Nogales, AZ will give a presentation about their experience working with immigration ministries at the border and their time with a local congregation. You’ll also learn about future mission trip opportunities. Visit our Nogales Lunch & Learn Webpage to register to attend.
- Every Sunday morning, we run a service-oriented ministry out of our Fellowship Hall, providing a warm meal to those that are hungry. Visit our Shared Breakfast webpage to learn how to support and volunteer with this ministry.
- And at the end of June, we will celebrate Pride Sunday on June 25th, to celebrate and affirm the LQBTQ+ members of our community, making a public statement about the care, love, and appreciation we have for each beloved child of God. Visit our Pride webpage to learn more about volunteering.
As always, reach out to me if you have any questions on how to participate or if you want to talk further about how you can help transform the world through justice, kindness, and love.
Jackie Celin
Student Pastor of Missions
jackie@firstchurchseattle.org