Laity Sunday, October 21, 2018
Laity Sunday, October 21, 2018
October 11, 2018
Dear Friends & Colleagues,
I write today to share with you some words of encouragement for our upcoming celebration and recognition of Laity Sunday.
Laity Sunday is a special Sunday which has been established and promoted over the years as an intentional way to focus on and celebrate the ministry of the laity throughout the church. This year Laity Sunday has been set for October 21st, 2018.
The theme of this year’s Laity Sunday is, "Therefore Go! With Hope Through Offering Christ." The core process for every local congregation to live out this theme is to offer H.O.P.E.
• Hospitality—We go into the world in outreach and mission, offering hope through proclamation of the gospel, seeking, welcoming, and gathering as we offer (and receive) hospitality to (and from) those not yet in the body.
• Offer Christ—We provide opportunities for people to commit their lives to God through baptism by water and Spirit and profession of faith.
• Purpose—We nurture people in Christian living to help them find a true sense of purpose in life, as they learn what it means to live out their beliefs through acts of piety and acts of mercy, Christian conferencing, and regular participation in the sacrament of Holy Communion and other means of grace.
• Engagement —Through engagement, we again offer and receive hospitality.
When I was the pastor of a local church, I quickly came to realize that the laity are the true disciple makers in any vital congregation. Through the faith, love, and witness of our laity, people in our local communities see clear examples of Christ at work in their midst. The combination of laity and clergy working toward a common vision of spreading God’s love throughout the world enables some amazing transformations to take place. In other words, we need the whole Body of Christ working together to change the world!
I hope that you will consider offering your full support to make this Laity Sunday a significant and meaningful day as we congratulate and recognize our Laity leaders on Sunday, October 21st, 2018.
The Journey Continues, . . .
Grace & Peace,
Thomas Bickerton
Resident Bishop
