Expressing thanks for Christian care

Many people know the story of the Good Samaritan. When an expert in the law asks Jesus, ‘Who is my neighbour?’, he answers the question with a story and another question. Our neighbour is the person in need in our place and time.

In our communities, people offer loving care to their neighbours in different ways. Recognising this care and thanking God for it are the aims of the LCANZ’s Christian Care Sunday. Developed from a proposal to the 2018 Convention of General Synod, the project has gathered resources to help congregations celebrate, honour and bless people engaged in care. This includes congregational care ministries, individuals in formal and informal care roles, and Lutheran aged-care and community services.

Every LCANZ congregation is encouraged to celebrate Christian Care Sunday, choosing a Sunday in the next year to suit their calendar and local organisations.

LCANZ Bishop John Henderson blessed and endorsed the resources during an online launch last month, saying: ‘It is the love of Christ who compels us to care for one another fully, giving ourselves for each other as he has given himself for us. May we always thank God for those who have cared for us in life, as we too, in our turn, care for others.’

There are Christian Care Sunday resources to help choose a date, in line with the lectionary or other relevant celebrations, while intergenerational worship resources have been provided by Grow Ministries and liturgical helps in line with the Commission on Worship’s Worship Planning Page are available too – including a ‘ready to go’ service order.

The resources are available for free to download from the LCA website at www.staging.lca.org.au/ccs

Email me at anna.kroehn@staging.lca.org.au for assistance planning your Christian Care Sunday celebration. Once your congregation has held an event, send us your feedback on the resources here.

Anna Kroehn is Christian Care Sunday project officer.

• Visit www.staging.lca.org.au/spread-the-word to find promotional materials (A5 flyers, PowerPoint slides and social media posts) to help you spread the word about our Story of the Week.
• Read the full Story of the Week and others like it in The Lutheran. 11 editions/year. Only $30 (digital) or $45 (print or print & digital – Aust), $47 (NZ). Gift subscriptions available. To subscribe: online www.thelutheran.com.au email lutheran.subs@staging.lca.org.au phone 08 8360 7270.