My prayers feel heavy as we head into Holy Week. The mass shootings in Boulder and Atlanta . . . the terrible storms in the Southeast US . . . the vulnerability felt by the Asian American community . . . the fire in the Rohingya refugee camp . . . the ongoing conflict in Myanmar . . . and all the smaller ways that people are weary and struggling to hold onto hope a year into the pandemic. Perhaps you'd like to join me in praying this collect for our world as we enter into Holy Week:
27. FOR THE PEACE OF THE WORLD
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Throughout Holy Week, we also have an opportunity to act on those prayers, to express our allegiance to our Prince of Peace whose strength is in love, not violence. We are collecting a Holy Week offering for Partners in Myanmar. Partners is a Christian organization that is providing emergency aid to families displaced by the violence, many of whom are ethnic minorities who have been targeted and mistreated for years, including Karen Christians, Rohingya Muslims, and others. Read more about Partners' work.
From Monday to Sunday, you will be able to give to this offering in two ways:
By clicking the link on our Give page
By texting the word "Burma" (not case sensitive) and a dollar amount to 843-21
I invite you to give generously to the vulnerable people of Myanmar this week. Thank you!