“As followers of Jesus, we follow his example and work to bring peace in the midst of chaos.”
Member churches around the world celebrated Peace Sunday 2021 using Mennonite World Conference’s Peace Sunday worship resource: “Finding hope and healing in crisis.”
Amos Ganjboir and Rajendra Masih at Bethel Mennonite Church, Balodgahan, India, worked for three days to paint a backdrop and prepare wave cut-outs for the Peace Sunday activity. Sankalp Jurri and Darshit Dadar helped them finish the job.
“I thank God for these youths and the talent God has given them,” says pastor Ashish Kumar Milap.
He used the Peace Sunday materials in all parts of the service.
For the activity, youth volunteers distributed wave shaped cut-outs and pens to church members. who wrote down things that stole their peace. The cards were collected and pasted around the boat painting.
“Some wrote that worry for their children’s future is like a storm; some wrote their bad habits are like a storm, some wrote that not having good relations with [a spouse] are like storm for them, etc.,” says Ashish Kumar Milap.
Deacons Divesh Dadar, Dr. Vinay Joseph, Dr. Shasheed Milap and Mrs. Madhulika Johnson shared their testimony of when they were comforted by peace of God in the time of physical illness, mental stress and surrounded with COVID-19 fear.
Bishop Dr. V.M. Jurri led the congregation in prayer for peace amid all the “waves” of life. After the service, the congregation was invited to pray for the “storms” fellow members had written on the wave cut-outs.
“We thank the MWC Peace Commission for leading us in such a wonderful blessed Peace Sunday. This has surely united and encouraged us to stand firm in the time of crisis by having faith on Christ Jesus, who has authority to calm all the storms that steal our peace,” says Ashish Kumar Milap.
How does your congregation celebrate special events and pray for the global church? Tell us your stories and share your pictures.
|
|
|
Amos Ganjboir and Rajendra Masih at Bethel Mennonite Church, Balodgahan, India, worked for three days to paint a backdrop and prepare wave cut-outs for a congregational activity. Sankalp Jurri and Darshit Dadar helped them finish the job before Sunday.] Photos: courtesy Bethel Mennonite Church
|
|
|
Emmanuel Chapel, a BJCPM member church in Kolkata, India, invited MWC regional representative Cynthia Peacock to share at their Peace Sunday service.The youth and Sunday school children at Mennonite Church Rajnandgaon helped prepare the “Boat in the midst of the storm” activity and performed the readers theatre. Agus Setianto’s testimony was read in Hindi, after which the congregation shared their experiences of God’s peace in difficult times. “It was a blessed time hearing those living testimonies, and we praised God for them,” says pastor Vikal Rao.
|
|
|
Iglesia Evangelica Unida Hermanos Mennonitas de Panama Photo: courtesy Jacobo Piraza
|
|
|
Le Voie du Salut congregation in Conakry, Guinea. Photo: Guilvogui
Click here to view full size photos