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Worship Resources Support Week's Celebrations

(NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 13, 2009/GBOD) — Next week is an important time in both the life of the church and the nation. Sunday, January 18, is Human Relations Day. It is a time to "recognize the right of all God's children in realizing their potential as human beings in relationship with each other." This is a United Methodist celebration established in 1972 and held on the Sunday before the nation's Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Together these days celebrate the connections among all God's people.

This year the King holiday is followed by the inauguration of Barack Obama as president of the United States on Tuesday, January 20. Many people will be joining those festivities, both in Washington, D.C., and around the nation.

Lastly, next week is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It is the 101st observance of this week devoted to the hope of all Christians coming together. GBOD is providing several resources to help in planning worship for this important time and to show the connections among all the celebrations. These resources may be found online at www.gbod.org/worship. They include litanies, prayers, collects, and benedictions from bishops, pastors, and scholars throughout the connected church.

"As Barack Obama assumes the office of President, we pray that your Holy Spirit will enable him to light candles of hope," writes Bishop Ernest S. Lyght (West Virginia Area) in his pastoral prayer. "We pray that our global village will realize that hope is never stillborn, but always remains alive, even in the midst of chaos and confusion, illusion and delusion, oppression and suppression."

Other contributors include Bishop Linda Lee (Wisconsin Area), the Reverend Marilyn E. Thornton, Dr. Heather Josselyn-Cranson, and more. Keep checking back until January 18, as new items will be posted as they become available. There are also many links provided to sources of additional information throughout the World Wide Web. Each of these resources will help local churches connect further with the greater events of the church and the world during the week.

The General Board of Discipleship's mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD (www.gbod.org) is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at 877-899-2780, ext. 7017.