Tuesday, August 2
Greece
In 1986, the first Christian rehabilitation center for drug addicts and alcoholics was established in Athens under the name "Philemon.'' Since then, the center has been practicing the commendation of Paul to Philemon in the New Testament epistle that bears his name: namely, to "receive as a beloved brother'' (v. 16) the believing Onesimus "who is mine own heart.'' The center has ministered to numerous people who now know freedom from addiction and have taken up their place once again in society. Many are now also members of various churches and have a living faith in the Lord.
Italy
Italy has changed. Our nation, which used to be an emigration country, today receives over a million immigrants each year. Many of them are Protestant sisters and brothers - particularly Presbyterians and Methodists — who are looking for a place where they can share and grow in their Christian faith.
Being Church Together is a program of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, strongly supported by the Waldensian Evangelical Church, a historic sister church of the PC(USA). We invite our sisters and brothers who immigrate to Italy to find their spiritual home in our congregations. At the same time we have committed ourselves to be an intercultural church, ready to accept and celebrate different traditions rooted in what we have in common worldwide — the gospel of love, peace, and reconciliation.
Vivian Wivoloku is a Nigerian-born lay preacher working in Palermo in an ecumenical project serving women who have been trafficked. She writes, "When we deal with reconciliation, we understand that to be church together we have to serve the urgent needs of uprooted and often exploited and even enslaved people. To live the gospel together, together we have to affirm their basic human rights.''
— Dr. Paulo Naso, coordinator, Being Church Together
Let us join in prayer for:
Partners/Ministries
Greek Evangelical Church (GEC): The Rev. Phaedon Cambouropoulos, general secretary
Waldensian Evangelical Church [Italy]: The Rev. Maria Bonafede, moderator
Confronti: Dr. Paolo Naso, director
Waldensian Theological Faculty [Italy]
Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy: Ms. Laura Casorio, general secretary, Ms. Bianca de Lecce, Refugee and Migrant Service
Casa Materna: Rosaria Vincenzi, administrator
Presbytery Partnerships: Presbytery of Kiskiminetas with the Waldensian/Methodist Church
PC(USA) Agencies' Staff
Elder Timothy McCallister, GAMC
The Rev. Annie McClure, PPC
Dianna McCombs, GAMC
Prayer
God who welcomes all, remind us to do likewise. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Morning Psalms 12; 146
First Reading 2 Samuel 7:18-29
Second Reading Acts 18:12-28
Gospel Mark 8:22-33
Evening Psalms 36; 7