Pray for Mexico on Sunday, October 26, 2014

Lectionary Selection: Deuteronomy 34:1–12

Prayers for Mexico:
Gracious and loving God, we ask your blessing upon the churches of Mexico and the people who ARE the church in all places. Help us to remember with thanksgiving the work of the past prophets, ministers, missionaries, and visionaries of your church, even as the people of Israel have honored Moses. But let our hearts be with the Joshua’s who continue to embrace, to lead and grow the life of the church in this day and at this time. Lead us in our journeys of personal growth and help us to mature in our faith as we affirm and are affirmed by others on the journey. Let us be witnesses to the signs of your continued presence in our lives. Give us strength to know and do your will and to join in your work of justice, love, and grace in our time on your earth. In the name of Jesus Christ who shows us the way, we pray. Amen

Mission Stewardship Moment from Mexico:
“There has never been a prophet in Israel like Moses…” The changes in the image of the prophet in the Hebrew Bible remind us of the changing image of the missionary in our time. Missionaries today are definitely a change from the missionaries of the past hundred years in Central Mexico. We have no role in governance in our work with the Disciples of Christ and Congregational (UCC) churches of Mexico. Missionaries of former years in Mexico served congregations as pastors, determined the priorities of leadership development, and represented the Mexican churches in international conferences. Today, we participate in a new era of missionary service, an era of equal partners learning from and sharing the journey in faith of autonomous churches in the sending and the hosting country.

As ordained ministers, we preach and teach and are supervised and supported by the Joint Table for Mission Development, the “Mesa Conjunta” of the Mexican Disciples and Congregational Churches. And we are often reminded that we follow in the footsteps of the missionaries of the past who are fondly remembered, especially by many of the older Christians.

But it’s a new era with new relationships and we ourselves are a different breed. Prior to our presence, nearly all former missionaries are remembered as having difficulty with the spicy nature of the food in Mexico. Everyone is shocked that Kate thrives on the hot peppers and spicy salsa. She jokes that in her heart and in her stomach she is a true Mexican! (“En mi corazon y estomago, yo soy Mexicana!”)

Ours is a ministry of presence and we feel richly blessed to accompany Mexican sisters and brothers as they live their vision of mission in this new era of partnership. Ours is also a ministry of affirmation as church leaders meet today’s challenges. In praying and working for the churches in Mexico, we often find ourselves using the word “affirm.” We affirm the ministry of our partners and are in turn affirmed in so many ways by them. Even as Moses and Joshua affirmed and encouraged one another in a time of dramatic change for the people of Israel, we pray that our presence affirms our Mexican hermanos y hermanas, our brothers and sisters.

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Kate Moyer and Doug Smith)

Mission Partners in Mexico:

More information on Mexico:
http://globalministries.org/lac/countries/mexico/

Global Ministries Missionary in Mexico:

Kate Moyer, a member of Delhaven Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), La Puente, California,serves with the Joint Table for Mission Development formed by the Christian Congregational Churches of Mexico, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Mexico (ICDCM – Iglesia Cristiana Discípulos de Cristo de Mexico), and the Fraternity of Evangelical Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Mexico (CICEDCM – Confraternidad de Iglesias Cristianas Evangélicas (Discípulos de Cristo). She serves as a consultant for Mission Development, with emphasis on women’s development and theological education. Her appointment is supported by Our Churches Wider Mission, Disciples Mission Fund and your special gifts.

Douglas Smith, a member of Delhaven Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), La Puente, California,serves with the Joint Table for Mission Development formed by the Christian Congregational Churches of Mexico, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Mexico (ICDCM – Iglesia Cristiana Discípulos de Cristo de Mexico), and the Fraternity of Evangelical Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Mexico (CICEDCM – Confraternidad de Iglesias Cristianas Evangélicas (Discípulos de Cristo). He will serve as a consultant for Mission Development, with emphasis in stewardship and resource development. His appointment is supported by Our Churches Wider Mission, Disciples Mission Fund and your special gifts.