Minute for Mission: United Nations Day

Image

The Presbyterian young adult delegation to this year’s U.N. High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which took place in July.

This June marked the 80th anniversary of the signing of the U.N. charter, the foundational document that outlines the structure, purpose, and goals of the United Nations. When the charter was signed in 1945, the world was shaken by the horrific events of World War II. Nations were in ruins, tens of millions of people faced displacement, and peace seemed like a distant — perhaps impossible — dream. Still, the world was able to come together. Guided by the shared principles of international peace and security, diplomacy and friendship, human dignity, the self determination of people and multilateralism, the United Nations was established.

Eighty years later, our world finds itself in a similar broken state. As we see war, famine, mass-displacement, human rights abuses and climate crises ravage communities across the globe, many of us are left wondering, “What is the point of still having a United Nations?” The U.N. itself is also grappling with this existential question. And, in addition to global turmoil, the U.N. faces major budget cuts, which threaten the organization’s operations.

Still, the U.N. stands as a beacon of hope amid a broken world. Just block away from the Church Center for the U.N., which houses the Presbyterian Ministry at the U.N., stands the “Isaiah Wall,” inscribed with the text of Isaiah 2:4: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; they shall not lift up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war anymore.” The “Isaiah Wall” also serves as a popular gathering space for advocates and activists in the U.N. community who lead peaceful protests to show world leaders that their citizens remain committed to the same ideals upon which the U.N. was founded. In a time where walls are too often constructed to create division and hatred, the “Isaiah Wall” stands as a reminder of peace and solidarity with those whom Jesus referred to as “the least of these.”

The “Isaiah Wall” is not the same as the U.N., but its presence reminds us of why the U.N. was created in 1945, and why it continues to be important now. Let us be encouraged by the words of Isaiah 2:4, and continue to fight for, and believe in, a world where we shall “learn war no more.”

Clare Balsan, Advocacy Associate, United Nations Advocacy, Office of Public Witness and Presbyterian Ministry at the U.N.

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff:

Lindy Ebbs, Raiser's Edge Data Administration, Funds Development Operations, Administrative Services Group
Cynthia Embry, Senior Financial Reporting Accountant, Financial Reporting, Administrative Services Group

Let us pray:

God of justice and peace, we pray that you grant wisdom and grace to our world leaders as they make decisions about our world’s present and future. Give them the courage to be driven by the pursuit of justice, love, and peace, instead of power and profit. At the same time, guide us in our words and actions to help make this earth look and feel more like Heaven. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: From boats to submarines to helicopters, the gospel finds a way

There are those who spread the word of God from a pulpit at the front of a sanctuary, and there are those who recite verses hundreds of feet below sea level — it just depends on what the community requires. The folks pictured in these Religious News Service photographs from the Presbyterian Historical Society’s collections did what they could to spread the gospel to the folks who needed it.

Image

This boat’s cargo is religion, 1947. Pearl ID: 413182

To wish someone “Godspeed” is to send them off with hopes for a safe and prosperous journey. The Rev. John Bentley, seen on the right, bestowed the boat he stands on with the title Godspeed, imbuing the vessel with luck and intention, as he will use it to “carry spiritual strength to thousands … who live along the waterways beyond the Arctic Circle.”

Bentley, who at the time of this photograph was serving as the Episcopal Bishop of Alaska and had spent almost three decades in the state, declared that he was “just like a country person, except that I cover my territory by boat, airplane or dogsled.” To the left of Bentley is the man who built the boat, Norman Blanchard Jr. He made sure the specially designed vessel could easily maneuver in shallow water, as Bentley’s travels through the territory would involve rivers and narrow waterways.

Service aboard a submarine, 1947. Pearl ID: 413308

Bentley’s tiny Alaskan boat was built for the journey. Its main duty was to zip around shallow riverbends and deliver him to small communities off the beaten path.

Image

This U.S. Navy submarine was also built with the journey in mind, though a much longer one that kept its passengers from seeing much sunshine. The caption of this RNS image informs us that “Despite the absence of chaplains aboard submarines in the U.S. fleet, Sunday morning usually sees a member of the undersea crew lead the men in a religious service,” which includes a reading followed by the singing of hymns.

The end of the Second World War meant the demobilization of American military forces — including the chaplaincy, which accounts for the “absence” noted in the caption. In fact, “During the first five months of 1946, the number of separations averaged close to 200 per month,” with more than ¼ “of the peak strength of the Corps” returning to “civilian life” during the hot summer months of June and July.

By the end of September 1946, a little over a year since VJ Day was celebrated, “the demobilization of the Corps was practically complete, with the exception of nearly 200 Reserve chaplains who had indicated they were willing to remain on extended service.” A report issued at the end of January 1947 showed that there was a total of 493 Navy chaplains in the corps, with 146 being listed as stationed “Afloat” and the remaining 347 as “Ashore.”

Image

A chapel delivered by helicopter, 1948. Pearl ID: 416921

Eight miles below the rim of the Grand Canyon lives an Indigenous community that has called Supai, Arizona, home for over 1,000 years. The Havasupai Tribe consists of around 200 members; the tribe’s reservation, originally established in 1880 and enlarged in 1975, consists of more than 188,000 acres of canyon land. The village is so remote that if you hope to reach it, you must make the eight-mile trek either by foot or on horseback.

In this 1948 image, members of the Havasupai Tribe watch as the Rev. Arthur Kinsolving dedicates a Quonset hut chapel in the village. The villagers did not build it from scratch, and it was not dragged in by a team of horses.

Rather, it was a special delivery, made by helicopter. Sections of the hut were carried down from the lip of the Canyon between rugged cliffs to the floor of the valley below, where the Quonset hut pieces were then puzzled back together. Kinsolving headed the escapade, having come up with the idea in the first place. At the time, Kinsolving served as the Bishop of the Episcopal Missionary District of Arizona.

Want more? Check out the RNS Digital Collection to see what’s been recently digitized. 

McKenna Britton, Presbyterian Historical Society (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Christopher Drane, IT Specialist, Information Technology, The Presbyterian Foundation
Angela Duffy, CFO, Trust Services, The Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray:

Merciful God, we lift up our siblings as they bear witness to the gospel of your Son. Help us see your mission and the role you would have us play in making your love known to all people. Amen. 

Finding hope — Advent devotional now available 🌠

Dear friends, Advent is almost here. In the swirl of shopping lists, travel plans, and full calendars, it can be easy to lose sight of what the season is meant to bring: a quiet, steady drawing near to Christ. That’s why we created Draw Near: Lighting the Advent Path with Hope, Peace, Joy & Love — a devotional designed to guide you day by day through the heart of Advent. Each entry invites you into Scripture, reflection, prayer, and a simple practice, so you can step into the season with intention rather than hurry. Whether you’re reading on your own, sharing in a small group, or gifting it to your congregation, Draw Near offers a grounding rhythm to help you live the themes of Advent — hope, peace, joy, and love — not just read about them. Learn more A Glimpse Inside We thought you might like to experience it for yourself. Here’s a sample reading from Draw Near — the kind of gentle encouragement you’ll receive each day as you walk the Advent journey. "Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:42) Shug Avery, in The Color Purple, offers this bit of holy mischief: “I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.” It’s a startling image of divine disappointment, but it has always struck a chord with me. I imagine God, the artist of stars and oceans and wildflowers, yearning for someone – anyone – to stop and take notice. Jesus’ words in Matthew carry that same ache. Keep awake, he says. Pay attention. Don’t miss what matters. Advent begins not with sentiment but with summons: a call to wake up, to notice the beauty, the ache, the holy presence woven into our days. Scripture is full of moments when God’s people lost focus, when we drifted into distraction or despair. But even then, God did not turn away. Even then, the Artist kept painting. Kept reaching. Kept hoping we’d lift our eyes. This first Sunday of Advent is less about countdowns and candles and more about clarity: Where is God in your field of vision? What distractions have dulled your sight? This season is a sacred invitation to reawaken our attention and open our hearts to the presence of the One who never stopped noticing us. For reflection: Set a timer for 10 minutes and take an unrushed walk, outside if possible, inside if not. As you move, ask yourself: What “purple” have I been passing by? Notice one small, easily overlooked sign of God’s artistry — a splash of color, a sound, a scent, a fleeting kindness. Pause with that sign, name it aloud, and thank God for the awakening. Prayer: Awaken us, God, to your wonder and your artistry. Stir our sleepy spirits. Draw us near this Advent. Amen. View full sample You may also like ... Blue Christmas service by Christine Chakoian Family Christmas Eve Service by Jenny Lee Advent prayers by various authors Creator of the Stars of Night: An Advent Candle Liturgy by Carol Holbrook Prickett Wait for the Lord: An Advent candle liturgy by Montisa Anntoinette Watkins and Shavon Starling-Louis Advent hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

Copyright © 2025 Presbyterian Outlook, All rights reserved.

Mission Yearbook: Presbyterian Foundation speaker calls for shift in stewardship approach

Image

The Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley spoke on "Stewardship as Story" during the Presbyterian Foundation's Day of Learning June 26.

What does the word “stewardship” bring up for you?

For many, the word evokes joy — a chance to reflect on God’s generosity and all we have and the ways we are invited to participate in ministry. For others, it carries the weight of obligation, a once-a-year sermon about money that is often dreaded.

At the Presbyterian Foundation’s Day of Learning on June 26, the Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley offered both tools and inspiration in her presentation, “Stewardship as Story: How to Transform Giving Through the Love of Story.” She challenged church leaders to reframe stewardship not as a fundraising campaign but as a joyful, year-round act of storytelling.

Johns-Kelley is a Ministry Relations Officer with the Presbyterian Foundation, and as part of that, she works with congregations on financial and ministry matters, including stewardship and legacy giving.

“Whenever I talk about stewardship I think of my dad growing up,” Johns-Kelley said. “He was an only child and he and his parents never missed church, except for one Sunday a year when they would drive to see the leaves at their peak.”

This one Sunday per year was the day of the church’s annual stewardship sermon. When Johns-Kelley’s father grew up to become a pastor himself, for most of his ministry, he dreaded giving the annual stewardship sermon. It felt like an appeal focused solely on money. He feared it would burden those on the margins, forcing them to choose between giving to the church and feeding their families.

“My dad was always telling the story of Jesus and his love,” Johns-Kelley said. “The Bible is made up of stories. He was a great preacher and teacher, but for him, stewardship was isolated. It wasn’t part of that.”

This disconnect, she said, is where many churches miss the mark. “If only I could have gotten to him earlier to share that stewardship shouldn’t be a once-a-year event,” Johns-Kelley said. “It shouldn’t be a burden. When we reframe stewardship to be about storytelling, it is not an obligation but about living into what we are doing.”

This approach is rooted in a deep human need. Theologian Harvey Cox said all humans have an innate need to hear and tell stories and to have a story to live by.

The need for powerful storytelling in churches is more urgent than ever. In 2024, giving to religion accounted for 23% of all charitable dollars in the United States, down from 50% in 1995, according to the recently released Giving USA report. With more than 1.5 million charities competing for support, churches must articulate a clear and compelling reason for people to give.

“We want people to give because they believe in what we are doing, not out of guilt,” Johns-Kelley said. Research shows the top factors that influence a donor’s contribution are making an impact, the organization’s financial stability and a belief in its leadership.

A powerful story addresses all three. To tell that story effectively, a church must have a clear mission and vision that is owned by the congregation. Your mission statement articulates your purpose, while your vision answers the question, “How will the future look if our mission is achieved?” This clarity becomes the foundation for every decision, every sermon, and every appeal.

Johns-Kelley offered a wealth of practical advice for putting this into practice.

Tell your story year-round: Stewardship isn’t a season; it’s a constant conversation. Weave stories of your church’s impact into all your communications. She listed the following ways to share those stories.

• Preach on generosity at least once a month.
• Share brief, powerful stories during worship as part of a Minute for Mission.
• Tell stories online. Use social media, newsletters and video testimonials to share small, consistent narratives.
• Consider segmented appeals. When it’s time for the annual appeal, replace the “one-size-fits-all” letter with targeted messages for different groups within your congregation.

By embracing stewardship as an act of storytelling, Johns-Kelley says we can move beyond obligation and guilt and invite our congregations into a joyful, generous partnership in the mission God has given us.

The Presbyterian Foundation offers a wealth of free resources to help your church, including the Stewardship Navigator and the Church Financial Leadership Academy.

Erin Dunigan, for the Presbyterian Foundation (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Carla Dobson, VP, Director of Philanthropic Services, Trust Services, The Presbyterian Foundation
Susan Jackson Dowd, Executive Director, Presbyterian Women         

Let us pray:

Most gracious God, protect and strengthen your children, especially in times of crisis, that they might see your face and be living examples of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: UKirk’s national gathering focuses on justice and joy

UKirk Collegiate Ministries held its annual gathering at Washington University in St. Louis from June 24–27. This year’s event was intentionally ecumenical, partnering with the campus ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Episcopal Church of America and sharing through keynotes and workshops how to engage young adults in colleges and universities under the theme of “Justice & Joy.”

Image

PC(USA) partners and UKirk participants gather for a selfie at the UKirk luncheon (all photos contributed by UKirk).

“Joining together with folks from different campuses and denominations provided a meaningful space for collaboration,” said the Rev. Chris Bailey, campus minister at Marshall University. “I look forward to returning to my own campus with a renewed energy to work creatively alongside my local colleagues.”

"The Justice & Joy Conference was a beautiful ecumenical gathering that brought over 220 Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Lutheran campus chaplains and young adult ministers together to worship, pray and strategize about building ministry collaborations to grow the faith of young adults across our denominations,” said Canon Myra Garnes, officer for youth, young adult and campus ministries in the Department of Mission of The Episcopal Church. “Episcopal leaders are excited to continue these partnerships.”

Representatives of UKirk’s 200-plus ministries across the country were among the preachers and presenters at this year’s event. In some cases, these leaders represented ecumenical campus ministries, such as the preacher of the opening worship, the Rev. Kate Van Valkenburg of United Campus Christian Fellowship in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is a joint Lutheran Campus Ministry Network and UKirk ministry. The Rev. Nii Addo Abrahams of Pres House on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison preached the closing worship service and led a workshop. Other Presbyterian workshop leaders included the Rev. Joseph Moore with the Presbyterian Foundation, the Rev. Phil Dieke and Rudy Logan with the 787 Collective of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Carole Essen and Kristi Button from United Campus Ministry in Arkansas, and the Rev. Dr. Gini Norris-Lane, executive director of the national UKirk Collegiate Ministries.

Image

The Rev. Nii Addo Abrahams of Pres House preaches during closing worship.

According to Norris-Lane, a number of UKirk ministries receive ecumenical support, especially as denominational and congregational support for collegiate ministries wane. In addition to strengthening ecumenical partnerships, Norris-Lane said that "one of the reasons we decided to do an ecumenical conference was to help those campus ministers who usually have to choose which national gathering to attend each year have a space to connect with all of their colleagues."

Romans 12:15, which proclaims, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep,” grounded the event and the presentations of the three keynote speakers as they invited participants to “courageously face injustice, tribulation and brokenness in our world while faithfully bearing witness to God’s justice, joy and healing presence,” according to the conference’s registration webpage.

“What and where is the Spirit asking you to risk to resist incremental liberation?” the Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker asked in the opening keynote. Wise Baker is the assistant professor of contextual education and community engagement at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. In August 2014, she became the clergy caucus co-leader of the Gamaliel Network’s Metropolitan Congregations United, an organization that resourced clergy and congregations in the early stages of the Ferguson movement. She has also been involved in organizing movements to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline in Missouri and building long-term grassroots power with formerly incarcerated youth, adults and their families.

The second keynoter, the Rev. Aaron Rogers, was also a preacher, pastor and leader within the Episcopal Church with a background in organizing in the St. Louis area before taking a call to Southern Ohio. In his address, Rogers both cautioned and encouraged participants to understand how “justice moves you to uncomfortable places.”

The Rev. Traci Blackmon, ordained in both the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the United Church of Christ, emphasized the urgency of justice in our society, especially for young adults and those who minister to them. “You aren't babysitting the future, you’re midwifing the now,” she said. 

Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist, Interim Unified Agency (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Louis DiBiase, AVP, Trust Officer, Trust Services, The Presbyterian Foundation
Dawn Diggs, Manager, Compliance, Operations, The Presbyterian Foundation      

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, your unconditional love inspires us to be loving, welcoming and hospitable to our neighbors. Pour into our hearts your compassion and strengthen and guide us as we go forth to make your kingdom tangible. Grant us your peace and surround us with your presence. Amen.

Christmas Joy Offering Resources

Let’s prepare the way for the Christmas Joy Offering. We have a great slate of resources to meet your congregation’s unique needs as you prepare for this Advent season. Why wait? A variety of resources are available to download now. Leader's Guide Our comprehensive Leader’s Guide makes it easy and convenient for you to participate in this Offering, even if it is your first time. Included in this guide are Minutes for Mission, a Christmas Eve litany and many others. DOWNLOAD THE LEADER'S GUIDE Media Tool Kit Create your own custom images, announcements, e-newsletters and more using the images found in our media tool kit. This allows you to make sure everything is the right size for whatever you create to interpret and promote the Christmas Joy Offering. DOWNLOAD MEDIA TOOL KIT Social Media Images We have ready-made social media images with all of the information you need about the Christmas Joy Offering. This makes planning what to post easy. DOWNLOAD SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGES Powerpoint Slides Share information about Christmas Joy at your next session or committee meeting or even as part of worship with our premade and customizable PowerPoint slides. Use these slides as is or create your own using our provided backgrounds. DOWNLOAD POWERPOINT SLIDES Children's Activities Christmas is always a special time for children, and it’s even more special when they learn about the true meaning of giving. Use these activities to help fuel a faith to last a lifetime. DOWNLOAD CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES Still need more resources? View our whole collection. VIEW ALL RESOURCES Thank you for your support of our leaders — past, present and future — through the Christmas Joy Offering. If you have any questions, reply to this email or call 800-728-7228, Ext. 5047.

Copyright © 2025 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation, All rights reserved.