PCUSA AND WORLD MISSION

Pine Street Church has dedicated the month of January as Epiphany Month – a month to focus on world mission. Epiphany is the time for Christians when we commemorate the revealing of Jesus as the Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi (the Wise Men who brought gifts to the child). According to the dictionary, epiphany is a ‘moment of sudden intuitive understanding; a flash of insight’. I hope this month of focus on world mission is an EPIPHANY to every one of you to become personally involved in mission.

The Presbyterian Church, USA, has a commitment to share the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. In Luke 24 when Jesus was speaking to the disciples in the Upper Room after the resurrection He said "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations . . . "

Each one of us is charged by Christ to go out into the world and spread the good news. Christ calls us to serve in our church, in our community, in our country, IN THE WORLD.

Today, in Fellowship Hall after the 11:00 worship service we are having a Mission Fair. At least 12 local organizations will be represented and will display information about their work in our community. Pine Street Church supports each of these organizations either financially or through volunteer time, or both. We also will have information at the Mission Fair about the Presbyterian World Mission, including how we can help in the devastating earthquake crisis in Haiti. In Haiti, PCUSA partners with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. The Holy Cross Hospital in Leogane, is a ministry of that Episcopal Church and has been a major focus of PCUSA mission in Haiti for decades. It collapsed in the earthquake. Deaths and injuries resulted from the collapse. Presbyterian World Mission has accounted for all its mission personnel in Haiti – some are injured, but all are alive and safe.

Rebecca and Eric Hinderliter are members of Pine Street Church. They are mission workers in Klaipeda, Lithuania at the Lithuanian Christian College International University. They have been there since 2001. Eric teaches economics, sociology, and theology. Becky teaches accounting. Because they teach at an international university, they reach many countries beyond Lithuania through their students. They met God’s call for them and left their life in the United States behind to spread God’s word of love and peace to those in another country. Pine Street supports Becky and Eric financially each year, but our financial support is not enough. According to the PCUSA website on world mission, it costs at least $53,000 to support a missionary for an entire year.

Becky and Eric are back in the United States until August, living in a home provided by Second Church in Carlisle. They will present a forum in Fellowship Hall during the Sunday School hour next Sunday, January 24. They want to spend time with us. They want to teach us. To thank us for our financial support and our prayers over the last 8 years. They would love to share time with anyone who is interested in sharing time with them while they are here. Our church dinner group is meeting next Saturday and GUESS WHO’S BEEN INVITED!!! How about asking them to YOUR dinner group gatherings?

And how about taking one of the Epiphany special offering envelopes and giving a monetary donation to be sent to the General Assembly with the sole purpose of financially supporting world mission. In Luke 12 Jesus said "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required…" It’s important for each one of us to get involved. Every donation will help.

And come into Fellowship Hall after the worship service to learn more about the mission work of Pine Street church, locally, nationally and internationally.

Remember, we are called by Christ to serve in the world outside our doors at Third and Pine Street.

IT TAKES A WHOLE CHURCH TO REACH GOD’S WHOLE WORLD.