Peace & Global Witness Offering 2025
Pursue what makes for peace. ROMANS 14:19
On World Communion Sunday, we celebrate that Christ’s peace extends throughout all creation. Whenever the church gathers for worship, we are assured of Christ’s peace. We celebrate that we are connected, we are loved and we are not alone. We worship together and are fed from Scripture and at Christ’s table of peace. The pursuit of peace in the name of Christ is part of an active, engaged faith — a witness to what it means for us to be the Church, together.
Through participation in the Peace & Global Witness Off ering, our church is extending Christ’s peace throughout our community and our world. We begin at the communion table, with our siblings in every time and place, and we celebrate the peace we fi nd there and commit to building a more just and peaceful world. God is with us … and God in Christ is with us through the Sacrament of Communion, celebrated on World Communion Sunday. We are not alone. Peace begins with each of us.
QUICK FACTS
• Since 1940, World Communion Sunday is an ecumenical celebration of our oneness in the Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, bringing churches together in Christian unity.
• World Communion Sunday (October 5) is the most common Sunday for receiving the Offering, but many congregations promote the Offering throughout A Season of Peace (September 7 – October 5).
• 25% of the Offering stays with local congregations, and 25% with mid councils to unite congregations to support peacemaking in their regions. See page 5 for examples of how others have used their retained funds. 50% of this Offering supports the work for peace and reconciliation being done by Presbyterians across the globe.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: IDEAS FROM OUR CONGREGATIONS
Peace education & training for children
• Organize local peace camps that teach children how to resolve confl ict and handle angry and sad feelings.
• Work with your local middle or high school to create a monetary “peacemaker award” for a student per grade. That student then donates the money to an organization they feel promotes a kinder and more compassionate way of life.
• Support volunteers at a summer youth program.
Help for families in need
• Help families with laundromat expenses — SNAP benefi ts don’t cover cleaning supplies.
• Support a family resource center with things food stamps don’t cover: diapers, shampoo, laundry soap, toilet paper, etc.
• Implement a backpack program, sending food home with schoolchildren over the weekend.
Assistance for teens and young adults
• Work with young women in correctional facilities.
• Support a ministry to help young adults who have “timed out” of the foster system but are still in college. Community care and engagement
• Help fund educational assistance for veterans.
• Support suicide prevention programs.
• Work with a support center for individuals transitioning out of prison or homelessness.
• Begin a Senior Companion Program that pairs senior citizens to help with light chores, errands, and transportation to the doctor.