{"id":51583,"date":"2023-08-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-21T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/?post_type=resource&p=51583"},"modified":"2023-08-15T11:23:08","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T16:23:08","slug":"pray-with-puerto-rico-august-27-2023","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/resource\/pray-with-puerto-rico-august-27-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Pray with Puerto Rico, August 27, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
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en espa\u00f1ol<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lectionary Selection<\/strong>:  Exodus 1:8-2:10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayers for Puerto Rico<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God of life, we ask you to enlighten those who claim their rights on the streets of Puerto Rico so that their actions bring positive solutions to the country’s problems. Lord, may we take this moment of prayer as an opportunity to unite as a church and work together in the search for the common good to overcome the crisis, corruption, violence, and other evils. God of life, have mercy on our Puerto Rican people!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


We also pray for the accompanying ministry of the Iglesia Evang\u00e9lica Unida de Puerto Rico<\/em> (United Evangelical Church of Puerto Rico) and its different community ministries: Bartimeo, Jesus Bread of Life, CINERET, Onesimus, Right to Mana MAVAC, Lunch of Love, Dorcas and his friends, and Heart to Heart.  We lift up prayers for the leadership of women and men in those ministries, knowing that you call us to lead by service. We implore you, in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mission Moment from Puerto Rico<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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I think we have all read or heard this passage from the Bible on more than one occasion. The one who gives does it with simplicity. The one who occupies a position of responsibility performs his role with all care; the one who helps those in need does it with joy. We enter this reading of the Exodus with the happy note of how God saved Israel from hunger through the leadership and the call of Moses and Joseph. Without a doubt, God redeemed the people of Israel through the leadership of Moses, Joseph, Miriam, the daughter of the Pharaoh, the mid-room, and the mother of Moses. Through the exercise of this call and leadership, the health of all the bitterness they accumulated during captivity.<\/p>\n\n\n

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It is straightforward to know if we are true Christians when, through our leadership and call, we accompany all those victims of slavery and bitterness generated by a society that becomes increasingly unjust and throws people into loneliness and despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without a doubt, faith is what saves. Still, true faith is manifested by assuming the call and exercising it without fear of the leadership that this entails. In the Hebrew scriptures, fearing God means trusting him, having reverence and faith, and obeying God’s will. Let’s look at the example of Hebrew midwives. Although Pharaoh exercises power over the life or death of these women, they are determined to fulfill God’s will and trust that God will vindicate their loyalty.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I believe this continues to be our great challenge in this time as a church, one of accompanying God’s will and acting in justice. The wisdom of the heart is to go out of itself toward our neighbors. Let us not forget the dimension of gratuitousness, of caring for the other. May Jesus help us remember that we must live the life he has given us in solidarity and always with our hands full of concrete acts of love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayer and Mission Moment written by The Reverend Edward Rivera Santiago, General Pastor, Iglesia Evang\u00e9lica Unida de Puerto Rico (United Evangelical Church of Puerto Rico)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mission Partners in Puerto Rico<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n