Dear Friends in Christ:
This Sunday, October 6, 2024, is designated as “World Communion Sunday,” a Sunday when churches all around the world and from all denominations, will celebrate the fundamental unity of the church in Jesus Christ. World Communion Sunday is a gift of the of the Presbyterian Church to the larger ecumenical church. The first celebration occurred at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1933, and grew out of the efforts of that congregation’s leadership to bring churches together in the Pittsburgh area as a way of showing to the church and the world how each congregation is interconnected to each other. The idea slowly spread, adopted by Presbyterians in 1936. Then in the midst and aftermath of World War II, the idea of a World Communion Sunday took off because there was such a concern not only to hold the church together, but also to hold the whole world together.
This Sunday, we will all worship together at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary. We will be led in music by the band and choir and be joined by our Arabic and Chin-Burmese siblings in Christ, who will lead some parts of the service in their native language. We will then share the bread and cup and be reminded of how we are all branches of the vine of Jesus Christ. We will also dedicate the special Peacemaking and Global Witness offering. As on other Sundays when there is one service, there will be no Faith Formation hour on Sunday. We hope you will join us on this meaningful Sunday for worship together.
On Sunday, October 13, I hope you will also join me and other members of First Presbyterian in the annual Allentown CROP Walk. You can walk 1 mile or 10k, beginning at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, 140 S. Ott Street. The walk begins at 1:30 with registration at 1:00 p.m. Or you can support the walk financially. To sign up or make a donation, please go to the Allentown CROP Walk page: https://events.crophungerwalk.org/cropwalks/event/allentownpa
Grace and peace,
P.S. More FPCA car magnets came in. Pick up a car magnet or a sticker for your water bottle or other object to let people know about the church you are grateful to call your church home!
