Who is My Neighbor?
Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. —Matthew 25:40.
A new year offers an opportunity to reflect on what’s important. Where do we want to focus our energy and priorities? How can we make a meaningful difference? At St. Peter’s, we start with our mission statement: To nurture a community of courageous followers of Jesus and inspire love of God and neighbor. This begs the question: Who is our neighbor?
Our theology and the global realities of the 21st century tell us that everyone across the globe is our neighbor. Indeed, one of the pillars of St. Peter’s strategic goals calls us to engage more deeply in our outreach in order to impact the world. How can we do that? Engaging in the work of Episcopal Relief & Development is one avenue.
Episcopal Relief & Development is The Episcopal Church’s compassionate response to human suffering in the world. As Episcopalians, everyone at St. Peter’s is part of that response. Hearing God’s call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being, Episcopal Relief & Development collaborates with local leaders and community members around the world who are best equipped to identify and address the most pressing needs in their communities. This collaboration results in fit-for-context programs that help alleviate hunger and disease, empower women, provide children with a foundation to thrive, and enable communities recover from disasters.
How can you engage in this work? Learn more about Episcopal Relief & Development’s work by attending the adult forum on February 5. Visit the website (episcopalrelief.org). Sign up for newsletters and stories about the work. Subscribe to the organization’s Lenten meditations. Support the work financially with donations or Gifts For Life purchases.
As we work together for lasting change, we move closer to God’s dream for the world.
Josephine Hicks
