First denominational Service Sunday to be celebrated on Feb. 4.

A new annual observance of Service Sunday begins Feb. 4. The recognition is sponsored by ministries of the Church of the Brethren General Board, and will be held annually on the first Sunday of February. The text for the observance comes from 1 Peter 4:10b: "Serve one another...with whatever gift each of you has received."

The ministries sponsoring the observance are the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.; Brethren Volunteer Service; Emergency Response/Service Ministries; and the Youth and Young Adult Workcamps program.

The observance encourages Church of the Brethren congregations to "celebrate those who serve in our communities and throughout the world; discover opportunities to serve through the Church of the Brethren ministries; explore possibilities to serve in our local communities; and be transformed by serving one another in the name of Christ."

Resources for Service Sunday are available at www.brethrenvolunteerservice.org and include a bulletin insert, a downloadable flyer, ideas for special events, sermon thoughts, scripture suggestions, and worship resources including prayers, litanies, and recommended hymns.

Source: 1/3/2007 Newsline