A Moment for Mission
“Praise the Lord! Let my whole being praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with all my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. Don’t trust leaders; don’t trust any human beings—there’s no saving help with them! Their breath leaves them, then they go back to the ground. On that very same day, their plans die too. The person whose help is the God of Jacob—the person whose hope rests on the Lord their God—is truly happy! God: the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, God: who is faithful forever, who gives justice to people who are oppressed, who gives bread to people who are starving! The Lord: who frees prisoners. The Lord: who makes the blind see. The Lord: who straightens up those who are bent low. Lord: who loves the righteous. The Lord: who protects immigrants, who helps orphans and widows, but who makes the way of the wicked twist and turn! The Lord will rule forever! Zion, your God will rule from one generation to the next! Praise the Lord!” — Psalm 146, CEB
Psalm 146 begins and ends with praise: “Praise the Lord! Let my whole being praise the Lord!” (v. 1–2). In between, the psalm reminds us why God is worthy of our trust. Unlike rulers or human power, God is the One who “secures justice for the oppressed, who gives bread to the hungry, who frees prisoners” (v. 7). God cares for those who are often forgotten—the immigrant, the poor, the hurting—and calls us to do the same.
This is where the mission of the church connects with Psalm 146. Through the World Service Fund, United Methodists support ministries that embody this very psalm. One of those is the Hispanic/Latino National Plan. This plan develops leaders and churches within Hispanic and Latino communities so that more people can hear the good news of Jesus in their own language and cultural setting. It also strengthens the wider church by helping us live into the psalm’s vision: a family of faith where all God’s children are valued and have a place.
This month, during Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the gifts, languages, and traditions that Hispanic and Latino brothers and sisters bring to the church. Without the Hispanic/Latino National Plan, our ability to reach across cultures and languages would be deeply limited. Through our giving, we are part of God’s work of building bridges and making sure the good news of Jesus is not bound by language, culture, or borders.
Psalm 146 reminds us that God’s kingdom is built not on power or privilege, but on love, justice, and care for all. When we give through the World Service Fund, we put our trust not in earthly rulers but in the God who is “forever faithful” (v. 6). Together, we join in God’s mission of lifting up the lowly and welcoming all into God’s great family.
Reflection Question:
How might I use my gifts—time, prayers, or resources—to help lift up the voices and ministries of people from cultures different from my own?
Children’s Message
Title: God Loves Everyone, Everywhere
Materials: A globe or a picture of the world. It would also be helpful to show children from different countries
Good morning, friends!
(Show a globe or a picture of children from different cultures.)
Do you know what this is? (Let kids answer.) That’s right—it’s our world. There are people everywhere—some speak English, some speak Spanish, and some speak other languages too. But all are loved by God.
The Bible in Psalm 146 tells us that God cares for everyone—those who are hungry, those who need help, and even people who are strangers to us. That means God wants us to love and care for everyone, even if they are different from us.
This month is called Hispanic Heritage Month. That means we take time to celebrate our friends and brothers and sisters from Hispanic and Latino families. In our church, we celebrate too—because they share special songs, languages, food, and traditions. All of these gifts remind us how big and wonderful God’s family is!
Some of the money we give goes to something called the World Service Fund. This helps a program called the Hispanic/Latino National Plan. That’s a big name, but what it really means is it helps churches and leaders in Hispanic communities so more people can hear about Jesus’ love in the language they speak at home.
So just like a garden is filled with many kinds of flowers, God’s family is made up of many people, languages, and cultures. When we grow and bloom together, we show the beauty of God’s love.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for making your family so colorful and full of love. Thank you for our Hispanic brothers and sisters who share their songs, words, and gifts with us. Help us to celebrate and love each other, just as you love us. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Gracious God, you lift up the lowly, feed the hungry, and welcome the stranger. Today we give thanks for your work through the Hispanic/Latino National Plan, supported by our World Service Fund. Through this ministry, leaders are raised up, communities are strengthened, and your Word is shared in many languages and cultures. Bless these gifts we bring, that they may join with others across the connection to extend your love and justice to every place. Make us one body in Christ, serving together in your mission. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
From Discipleship Ministries
Sheltering God, our refuge and relief, you draw near when the wilderness is too much, when the heat of the day drains our hope. Receive these gifts as signs of our trust in your abiding love, a love that does not always keep us from trouble but never leaves us to face it alone. May what we give today bring shade to the weary, hope to the hurting, and a glimpse of the salvation you are always working out in us and through us. In gratitude and faith, we offer these gifts. Amen
Newsletter Nugget
“Praise the Lord!” Let my whole being praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with all my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. Don’t trust leaders; don’t trust any human beings—there’s no saving help with them! Their breath leaves them, then they go back to the ground. On that very same day, their plans die too. The person whose help is the God of Jacob—the person whose hope rests on the Lord their God—is truly happy! God: the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, God: who is faithful forever, who gives justice to people who are oppressed, who gives bread to people who are starving! The Lord: who frees prisoners. The Lord: who makes the blind see. The Lord: who straightens up those who are bent low. Lord: who loves the righteous. The Lord: who protects immigrants, who helps orphans and widows, but who makes the way of the wicked twist and turn! The Lord will rule forever! Zion, your God will rule from one generation to the next! Praise the Lord!” Psalm 146, CEB
Psalm 146 reminds us not to place our trust in human power, but in God, who lifts the poor, feeds the hungry, and loves the stranger. This month, during Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the ways God works through diverse cultures and languages to share the good news. The Hispanic/Latino National Plan—supported by the World Service Fund—develops leaders, plants faith communities, and ensures Hispanic and Latino voices are present across The United Methodist Church. Without this ministry, we could not reach many communities in their heart languages.
Join us this Sunday for worship as we celebrate God’s love for all people and the gift of diverse voices in the church.