Jesus said the most important commandment is
to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and
the second is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12: 29-31). But just
who is our neighbor? Our neighbors are not only the people who live next
door, but also people across town, in another state, or in a different
country. Jesus clarifies who our neighbor is by telling us the parable of
the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37). Just like the Samaritan, anyone we
come across who is hurting is our neighbor and we are to love and care for
them.
This Lenten season we have an opportunity to make a
difference in the lives of our neighbors both near and far. We will be
doing a Lenten Mission Offering that will last from Ash Wednesday,
February 25, until Easter Sunday, April 11, to help fund the missions of
Peakland UMC for the whole year. Our goal is to raise $10,000! With the
money that is raised we will support six local missions -- Meds Help, Free
Clinic, Habitat for Humanity, Interfaith Outreach, Street Law, and
Churches for Urban Ministry -- that will impact our neighbors here in
Lynchburg. We have the ability during Lent to care for our neighbors like
Jesus is asking. Without our help, our neighbors are still there in need.
Let’s not ignore them like the other characters in the parable.
I challenge you to be like the Good Samaritan and see
the need and want to help. We can raise $10,000 and more to help people
right here in Lynchburg. Any amount you can give can make a difference and
by combining our gifts we can truly be in mission with our neighbors.
The Good Samaritan did not just give the man money
though. He also dressed his wounds, carried him to an inn, and checked on
his neighbor later.
During Lent, I encourage you not only to give money to
help our neighbors, but to go and help them where needed and to pray for
them. There is a Lenten calendar included in this newsletter (see
insert) for ideas of things you can do every day for our neighbors.
You will also be hearing more information about each of our missions as
Lent goes on, so listen for even more ways to help. This season of Lent,
let us all become more like Jesus by serving our neighbors near and far.
Loving Our Global Neighbors
By Dr. Richard Giles
The third mission trip of the Central Virginia Medical
Mission Team (CVMMT) leaves for St. Thomas Parish Jamaica March 25 and
will return April 3. There will be three physicians, two nurse
practitioners, and seven nurses making the trip. The major objectives are
to have eight medical clinics in remote areas of St. Thomas and to bring
endoscopic equipment to Princess Margaret Hospital. The team will instruct
the staff in the use of the equipment and the procedures.
An operating room nurse at Princess Margaret Hospital will visit
Lynchburg in about three weeks. She will receive training at Centra Health
in the use of the equipment that the team plans to take to Jamaica. Centra
Health is sponsoring her trip and we look forward to her visit.
Peakland UMC will have two of our own doctors
representing us on this third mission trip. They were part of the team
that worked in Jamaica last year. Other PUMC members have
participated in previous trips to Jamaica. As a special project, the
Peakland United Methodist Women are collecting toys and small items for
the children who come to the clinics. Peakland members have supported this
mission through the family dinners and their prayers.
The CVMMT looks forward to renewing friendships and to
working with our friends in Jamaica. We ask for your prayers and look
forward to sharing this experience with you when we return.
