This weekend we celebrate World Communion Sunday in a joyous and joint worship service with our sister congregation, the Church of the Covenant. A half century ago, Clarendon gave birth to Covenant at a moment when the future of the Mainline Protestant church in America seemed limitless. We live in a fundamentally different time now, and National Capital Presbytery is encouraging neighboring congregations to find creative ways to cooperate to extend the reach of our limited resources. What better way to begin that work than in a worship that celebrates our global unity in Christ through sharing the sacrament of his table!

In a compromise start time, worship begins this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Come and welcome our sisters and brothers from Covenant!

World Communion Sunday is also when we receive the annual  Peacemaking Offering, which supports peacemaking efforts locally, nationally and internationally both through our own work at Clarendon and through the work of the denomination's peacemaking program. The local portion of the offering will go to AFAC to promote food justice, without which peace is impossible.

We'll also receive a food offering that morning for AFAC, as we celebrate both the bounty of our Plot Against Hunger garden, and the bounty of our own pantries!

Come and worship!

peace,
David

PS: The garden has now produced more than 100 pounds of food for AFAC! This weekend we'll include some of the final harvest and bless it with our food offerings.

This month we will hold a series of "exploring membership" gatherings for anyone interested in learning more about Clarendon, about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and about what it means to become a member of this congregation. Our meetings will provide a great opportunity for learning, growth and meeting other folks who are also exploring. Participation is open to anyone, and "exploring" does not mean "joining."

The first gathering will be this Sunday, October 7, following coffee time, and will last no more than 45 minutes. During that time we'll schedule additional meetings.

A couple of folks have already let me know they would like to be part of these gatherings. It will help us prepare for you if you let David know if you intend to participate. Thanks!

Patrick Evans, interim national director of More Light Presbyterians, will be at Bethesda Presbyterian Church Monday evening, Oct. 8, 7:00 p.m., for a sung evening prayer and update on the work of MLP nationally.

Patrick is a joy to make music with, and this event will lift your spirit as well as informing your mind.