Newsline: Worship resources are offered for 'One People, One King' Sunday, Nov. 25

[CoBNews <CoBNews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl 
Brumbaugh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

Resources are offered for 'One People, One King' worship emphasis

(Oct. 19, 2012) Elgin, IL --"One People, One King" is the theme for a special 
worship emphasis in the Church of the Brethren, being planned for Sunday, Nov. 
25.

Scheduled for an unusual Sunday that falls this year between Thanksgiving and 
the start of Advent--traditionally called "Christ the King" or "Reign of 
Christ" Sunday in the church calendar--this worship emphasis invites believers 
to be reminded, before a season of waiting, of whom we await.

In a year of contention and partisan rhetoric surrounding the national 
election, Christians also threaten to become a people divided. For the 
potentially divisive time after the election, this worship emphasis is based 
instead on the New Testament understanding that followers of Christ are a 
people with one ruler, from Philippians 3:20:

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a 
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Original resources written by a number of Church of the Brethren leaders are 
available at www.brethren.org/onepeople to help invite congregations entering 
into preparations for Christmas to spend this Sunday recalling that "our 
citizenship is in heaven":

-- A reflection by Annual Conference moderator Robert Krouse, pastor at Little 
Swatara Church of the Brethren in Bethel, Pa.

-- A prayer written by Annual Conference moderator-elect Nancy S. Heishman, 
interim co-pastor at West Charleston Church of the Brethren in Tipp City, Ohio

-- A sermon outline by Tim Harvey, pastor of Roanoke (Va.) Central Church of 
the Brethren

-- A litany, including scripture, written for four readers and congregation by 
Ray Hileman, pastor of First Church of the Brethren in Miami, Fla.

-- A responsive prayer by Jennifer Hosler of Washington (D.C.) City Church of 
the Brethren

Also offered is a link to a video clip titled "Kingdom Citizens," in which 
renowned Latin American theologian and author Rene Padilla discusses Christian 
citizenship and God's sovereignty

Find the "One People, One King" resources at www.brethren.org/onepeople .

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing 
the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in 
community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith 
traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated its 
300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 123,000 members across the United 
States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, 
Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org