Pray with East Timor Sunday, October 6, 2019

Lectionary Selection:  Luke 17:5-10

Prayers for East Timor:  

Loving God, in our fractured world you have brought us together with partners all over the world. You call us to unity and make us one in the sharing of bread and cup, the water of baptism and meditation on your Word. You ask us to be your people wherever we are. We are thankful for all that we learn from all our global partners. On this day we pray for the Protestant Church of East Timor. We ask that you lead and guide them in their ministry of the Word. Bestow upon its ministers wisdom, patience, and courage. Strengthen the faith of its members. Bless the clinic workers, teachers, and young people. May their ministries in your name be salt and light for all your children in East Timor. In Jesus name, Amen.

Mission Stewardship Moment from East Timor:

The ministry of the Protestant Church of East Timor is a ministry of the Word. Does that seem antiquated? I think not. In the Internet age, our world is teeming with words — mostly empty words. And then there’s the instantaneous, ever-present digital image with accompanying sound bite. It’s a barrage of babel intent on forming diligent producers and obedient consumers. Over and against this, the church speaks of the Word of God. The Protestant Church of East Timor has a vital home ministry dedicated to the study and proclamation of the Word. What underlies such a ministry is the confidence that the Word available to us in the Bible is also a vital presence in the world. Thus, a life spent meditating on the Word forms people who are like “…trees planted by streams of water” (Ps. 1). And the Word proclaimed “…goes out and does not return empty,” as the poet in Isaiah says. I think U.S. churches have something to learn from this. Quite often our church ministries mirror the culture’s obsession with “efficient action implementation” schemes. A ministry of the Word, however, is long-term, contemplative work that fosters an alternative life-map outside the realm of fear, conformity, and prattle. Instead, meditation on the Word creates faith and fosters freedom. It opens the imagination and bestows on us space for living humanly in the midst of death.

Prayer and Mission Moment by Tom Liddle

Mission Partners in East Timor:

More information on East Timor: https://www.globalministries.org/east_timor

Global Ministries Mission Co-worker in East Timor:
Tom Liddle serves with the Protestant Church of East Timor (IPTL). His appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Church’s Wider Mission, and your special gifts.