How Long is Compassion?
It used to be one day. Then a week. Now it’s a year-round global mission fund.
South Elkhorn has long supported the long-lasting, long-reaching, and life-transforming work of disaster relief, refugee resettlement, and economic development through Week of Compassion. Through this denominational ministry, we bring the compassion of Christ to address real human suffering and material need in contexts near and far–local and global.
Every year South Elkhorn makes a general contribution and invites individuals to make additional over-and-above offerings. You can make one such offering this Sunday (or online right now using the “other” designated fund and the description “Week of Compassion”).
(Every year there are also a few people who scratch their head in a little confusion about the “Week of Compassion” name–scroll to the bottom of this email to read the brief (not long!) history that helped me better understand the ministry and its name).
In 2021, South Elkhorn was also a recipient of the generosity that flows through Week of Compassion. Week of Compassion offered a webinar to resource interested churches and leaders on how to welcome and support a refugee family. Jerry Shepard and I attended and learned a lot. That learning and Jerry’s leadership snowballed into a South Elkhorn sponsorship team welcoming an Afghan family to Lexington in 2021.
But that wasn’t the end of the story with Week of Compassion. The Outreach Team, led by Barb Ellerbrook, then applied for and received grant dollars from Week of Compassion to help with resettling and supporting that Afghan family here in Lexington. Many other churches have received grants and gifts for doing ministry and facing challenges: from tornado to hurricane damage, from resettling refugees to providing sustainable economic development addressing the root causes of poverty.
Week of Compassion does more than support churches. It also partners with agencies and organizations all around the globe to address disasters like famine and tsunamis, displaced peoples, women’s education and empowerment, conflict resolution, and child nutrition. You can learn more about all that Week of Compassion has done in 2021 here.
A BRIEF AND HELPFUL HISTORY
From the Week of Compassion website (here)
In the beginning…
The Week of Compassion emerged in the early 1940s, as World War II created a series of humanitarian crises around the globe. The International Convention (General Assembly) of the Christian Church made two recommendations regarding multiple aid and relief projects around the world. These recommendations outlined partnerships with multiple ecumenical ministries and counterparts. The Church designated a “Day of Compassion,” on which congregations would hold a special offering to raise funds to support these mission projects.In 1943, the “Wartime Service Fund” was approved by the International Convention. At this point, the Disciples of Christ designated a “Week of Compassion” to raise $250,000 for ongoing support of these relief efforts.
In the meantime…
Over the next several decades, the work of Week of Compassion and its partners expanded to include not just humanitarian aid, but also disaster response and refugee resettlement. The ministry’s leadership evolved as well, from a voluntary office to a full-time executive director; additional staff helped expand the reach of the ministry; and the annual fund grew over time from thousands of dollars to millions.
South Elkhorn is inspiring Christ’s deeper way of love with amazing generosity. Last week’s Souper Bowl of Caring offering at the end of the worship service made quite the impact, generating a social media response from Arbor Youth Services (see here). As our youth and Pastor Holly Fuqua depicted for us last Sunday, Arbor Youth Services is an agency committed to alleviating youth homelessness. South Elkhorn youth led the way with this offering, having partnered with Arbor Youth Services on previous mission trips and inviting all of us to share in this important mission.
This pattern of faith-fueled generosity is connected deeply to the teaching of Jesus. We’ll see this Sunday as Jesus continues the “sermon on the plain.” Having preached a vision of radical equality, Jesus then challenges and encourages those who claim to follow him toward a radical generosity growing out of the long-reach of love. It is a generosity of spirit, of compassion, and of material resources. That kind of expansive generosity can’t ever be contained–it will inspire, transform, and heal.
See you Sunday,
PS – Ash Wednesday is just around the corner! Begin the season of Lent in a beautiful, intimate, and perhaps new way. Learn more about Lent here or let the church know you are planning to attend the historic sanctuary service of ashes, prayer, contemplation, and song (RSVP). And if you are considering
The upcoming Lent Sermon Series “Good Enough” is inspired by a new book. Join me in the 40 days of Lenten introspection, contemplation, and transformation with the help of a raw and real devotional book. Read it yourself, with a spouse or family member, or get a group together. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (March 2) and ends with the surprise and new life of Easter (April 17).
SERMON SERIES
February 20 // Teach with Love // Luke 6:27-38
February 27 // Change with Grace // Luke 9:28-36
Meet Jim
I’m so excited to welcome Rev. Dr. Jim Abernathy to South Elkhorn! The Cabinet (South Elkhorn’s governing board), with recommendation from the Sabbatical Team and Personnel, unanimously voted to call Jim as Interim Sabbatical Minister for this summer (June 1 – August 31). He will be joining us for worship on May 22 and I can’t wait for you to meet him!
Surprise!
During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn’t leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.
Words that carry us
During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn’t leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.
Unfair
It seems everyone wants to be more authentic. Jesus points to a challenging counter-intuitive path with a surprising detour through denial.
Living in Denial
Holy ground hurts. Sandals don’t stay on when you sprint. I didn’t expect actual flames.
Holy Ground Hurts
Holy ground hurts. Sandals don’t stay on when you sprint. I didn’t expect actual flames.
Jumping In
I was grateful for Acts of Reconciliation resources provided by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). My heart is hurting and my spirit is stirred by the cries of black and brown people who are facing the crushing weight of structural racism. And not only those who are featured in television interviews and news articles, but also those I know personally: friends, colleagues, and siblings in Christ. I'm listening. I'm learning. I'm praying. I'm sitting with the [...]
The Colors of Christ
Growing up, "whiteness" was mostly invisible to me. I knew that I was white, that others were not, but I mostly didn't think about race. And if I'm honest, when I did think about it, it made me really uncomfortable. I quickly retreated to "colorblindness" (choosing not to see race, and pretending race had no impact on how I treated people). Maybe that's why I still remember when I was shocked by "whiteness"... it was when [...]
What does glitter have to do with God?
This weekend is special. You might just discover what glitter has to do with God. I'm so excited for you to experience the unique gifts of the South Elkhorn youth. The online worship service is led by youth sharing their music, song, prayer, short reflections, a children's moment, communion, and more. You can tune in on Facebook at 10:30AM on Sunday, or anytime this weekend here. Their joy, hope, and creativity lifted and elevated my spirit. I suspect [...]
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You might quickly realize where you are on the graph below. Perhaps it accurately describes your own roller coaster of emotional well-being, and maybe even our wider social situation. I don't know about you, but after a period of camaraderie and shared heroic effort, I now sense and see the disillusionment growing, circulating, deepening. Perhaps that's where you are. Maybe that's what you are sensing in others, too. Click the photo to enlarge. That disillusionment [...]
Monastic Moment
"We are all monks now." That headline stopped me in my tracks. Whatever else this moment is, what if it might be our "monastic moment"? What if "healthy at home" can be more than a pandemic precaution, but an opportunity for something more. No, this isn't the shallow cheer leading that suggests we should learn a new language, master a new skill, or build something new with a zealous discipline and loads of "free time." [...]
Sunday Morning Zoom Communion
Your invited to share Communion by Zoom on Sundays at 11:30 AM. Pause for a sacred moment to greet the church family, hear the words of institution, share bread and cup with whatever elements you have at home, and receive a blessing. To join, follow the links and use the password here.
Excarnation
You don't just have a body. You are a body. And bodies matter to God. So much so that God "became flesh" in Christ and lived among us (the "incarnation"). So much so that God raised Christ's body. So much so that when Christ was raised and appeared to the disciples and to Thomas he showed them his scarred body--his hands and his side. Bodies matter to God. And in Christ God embraces and relates to who we are [...]
A Blessing You Can’t Turn Back
My heart soared seeing so many faces yesterday. It was Maundy Thursday, and over 40 screens (filled with 70-100 people) gathered via zoom to remember Jesus' last supper, share in communion from our many different rooms and tables, and receive a blessing. If you weren't able to join, I want to share that blessing with you (at the very bottom of this email). I pray these words bless your soul as they have mine. See you (digitally) [...]
What you might be feeling…
I think it's grief. At least that's what I've noticed about myself. I'm grieving. It doesn't feel like the grief I expect when a loved one dies. But it's grief, I'm growing more sure of it every day. I've seen some powerful acknowledgment of this grief. Recently I read a beautiful one by a South Elkhorn Church and choir member and professor at Transylvania University, Jeremy Paden. Maybe you've noticed it, too, even if you have [...]
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