Tuesday, March 3

The Synod of the Covenant

A congregation in Holt, Michigan, begins a language and living skills program for Burmese refugees being settled in the Lansing area; a congregation on Cleveland’s east side, where the population is about 97 percent African American, creates a Teen Employment Training workshop; four university campuses in the Dayton, Ohio, area gather for an interfaith dialogue on Practicing the Vocation of Peace-Building; and a congregation in Middletown, Ohio, forms an after-school program focused on math and reading skills for at-risk children in the public schools — these are four of the ten new mission projects supported by the Synod of the Covenant through its New Covenant Grant program.

The grant program was begun in response to new and creative ideas for ministries that were not part of the regular synod budget. In fact, it has become a goal for the synod to increase a budget line of undesignated funds for just such emerging ministries. To do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God is to be ready to serve in new ways. The synod’s New Covenant Grants are not only responding, but are also encouraging the 167,788 members in the 783 congregations within eleven presbyteries to be aware of changing needs and new calls to ministry. Within the bounds of the synod there are six camp and conference centers and three Presbyterian colleges — Alma, Muskingum, and Wooster.

Let us join in prayer for
Synod Staff
George W. Baird, stated clerk
Bob Bidwell, church development and transformation
Janet Chapman, executive assistant
Marie T. Cross, executive
Karen Nottelmann, Mission to U.S.A. coordinator
Tammy Scheuermann, bookkeeper, Mobile Health Fair coordinator
Alicia Williams, treasurer

PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Dana Dages, OGA
Thomas Daly, BOP
Noelle Damico, GAC

Prayer
Holy God, take away the day-to-day habits that keep us from seeing the needs of the world and the apathy that drains away our best intentions. Make us see more clearly the way to walk with justice and kindness. Amen.

Daily Lectionary
Ps. 34, 146 Ps. 25, 91
Deut. 9:(1–3) 4–12
Heb. 3:1–11; John 2:13–22