The first Sunday in October is both World Communion Sunday and the Sunday we observe the Peacemaking and Global Witness offering. It’s a Sunday when we remember how the body of Christ is so much bigger than just our geographic footprint. We receive the elements of the Lord’s Supper and know that around the world, in their various time zones, people who love and follow Jesus are experiencing the same outward sign of an inward grace. Remembering the body of Christ is bigger than just the communion table we see helps us remember our partnerships outside of our church walls. Whether we are praying for our siblings around the world or physically engaged in work to build relationships with our siblings around the world, World Communion Sunday is the perfect time to celebrate our connectional Spirit.

We see many things happening along national borders. Sometimes the things we see make sense to us and sometimes the things we see break our hearts. May World Communion Sunday and the Peace and Global Witness offering remind us of how the body of Christ has no borders. The love of God knows no bounds. May we remember to love and support our siblings in Christ around the world throughout the year, as often as we can simply because we can. May our love strive to be as boundless and as borderless as God’s.

²⁹ Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.  -Luke 13:29-30

Rev. Rebecca Mallozzi, Faith Presbyterian Church, Emmaus, PA