Pray for the Dominican Republic on Sunday, February 19, 2017

Lectionary Selection: Matthew 5:38-48

Prayers for the Dominican Republic:

Holy God,

We are grateful for the many blessings you provide. From spiritual health to physical sustenance, we know that we are always receiving your grace in one form or another, for this we thank you. As we journey together to build a healthy future, teach us new ways to practice these gospel lessons. We pray for our brothers and sisters at Servicios Sociales de Iglesias Dominicanas (SSID) as they practice the compassionate wisdom Jesus teaches in the Gospel of Matthew. We pray their strength as they witness the many ways that rural communities experience political and social dismissal. For each opportunity to retaliate, we pray your perfect Love become their inspiration and guide their responses. We lift up each family represented in the network of SSID, may their deepest needs be met…may the power of the peace that comes from this carry into each project, community, and workshop facilitated by SSID that your endless love abound with greater and greater force.

Amen.

Mission Stewardship Moment from the Dominican Republic:

“Celebrating the Family” was the theme for the latest workshop at SSID. Regional directors from throughout the Dominican Republic were trained on how to guide their communities through confronting the reality of the past to be free in the present in order to make space for a blessed future.

In this workshop, we shared stories from childhood as we confronted our past. Some stories were funny, others violent and still others impartial. It is inevitable that moments of profound impact, good or bad, will influence the way we think and dream.

The Gospel of Matthew is filled with alternative approaches to serious life moments; suggestions on how to use compassionate wisdom to stay in tune with God’s song. The regional directors and staff of SSID practice and teach these alternative responses to misuses of power on the most intimate of terrains – the family. What from the past lingers for you? What does going the second mile to release that pain look like for you? How will you use the present moment to clear your past and make space for a blessed future? It is not too late to attempt to love perfectly as does our God in heaven.

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Toni Reynolds)

Mission Partners in the Dominican Republic:

More information on the Dominican Republic: http://www.globalministries.org/dominican_republic

Global Ministries Missionary in the Dominican Republic:
Toni Reynolds serves as a Global Mission Intern with Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas (SSID). Her appointment is supported by Week of Compassion, Our Churches Wider Mission, Disciples Mission Fund and your special gifts.