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Saipan Methodists to mark
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Posted on Sep 30 2005
Three Saipan Methodist congregations—Korean, Filipino and English—will join together tomorrow, Oct. 2, at 10am, in the Kagman Elementary School cafeteria for the annual World Communion Service celebration. Persons unable to attend their own church services at that time or have no church home are warmly welcome to join in this annual celebration.
The service will include special anthems in Korean, Filipino, and English and a liturgical dance. Following the service there will be a potluck luncheon and time of fun and games for children, youth and adults. Each family unit is invited to bring a dish. Drinks and tableware will be provided.
The first Worldwide Communion Celebration for Protestant Christians was held in 1936 as America struggled to overcome the economic difficulties of the Great Depression. A group of Presbyterian pastors met in 1935 to discuss ways to provide better spiritual care to America and the wider world. One idea was to hold an annul communion service the first Sunday of November when Christ would be especially honored as the Lord of Peace. The time coincided with the November 11th Armistice Day commemorations, honoring those who served and died in World War I. The organizers’ dream was to show that world communion was more powerful than world conflict.
Over the years, other Protestant churches around the world have joined in this annual celebration on the first Sunday of October. American Methodists first participated in the celebration in 1940, on the eve of America’s entry into World War II. A special offering was received for the Fellowship of Suffering and Service and overseas relief efforts, especially for war-torn European nations. In recent years the special offering has been designated for educational scholarships for ethnic minority college students. This year there will also be a special offering to support ‘Guma Esperansa, CNMI’s shelter for women victims of domestic violence.
For further information, call Pastor Lee Myung Taek [Korean, 235-7777], Pastor Jimmy Sembrano [Filipino, 288-0261] or Pastor Bud Carroll [English, 322-6158].
