Celebrating Christian Care Sunday in your community

Volunteering can be lonely work. Giving your time – with what may seem like little thanks – may sometimes feel like a hard and lonely slog. However, volunteers and others in caring ministries bring Christ’s love to life with a myriad of people in myriad ways every day. Carers and volunteers deserve our recognition and thanks for their everyday care.

The LCANZ encourages every congregation to celebrate the ministries of care happening in our local churches and communities by choosing one Sunday every year to focus on the vulnerable people in our midst and the individuals and organisations who assist them. By taking the time to acknowledge, pray for and bless these people and places, we trust that the Spirit of God will inspire and sustain us in our future care work.

Emeritus Bishop John Henderson wrote, ‘It’s a wonderful thing that the LCANZ has resolved to mark Christian Care Sunday. It is an even better thing that the love of Christ compels us to care for one another fully, giving ourselves for each other as he has given himself for us.

‘There we will find our true selves and our true authority, which is to love one another with the same love we have in Christ. May we always thank God for those who have cared for us in life, as we too, in our turn, care for others.’

As you consider how your congregation can celebrate the caring that happens in your community, you may like to:

• Be encouraged by this video of Bishop Paul Smith’s call to celebrate Christian Care in your community.
• Consider the steps required to plan a Christian Care Sunday by viewing this handy one-minute how-to video.
• Check out the ready-made resources found on this webpage.
• Be inspired by this short video on the care provided by our Lutheran aged care and community services.

May God bless your celebrations as you acknowledge those who care in your community.

Tania Nelson is the LCANZ’s Executive Officer – Local Mission.