KANE — The Kane Christian community will observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with a gathering of Kane Area Ministerial churches at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Callistus Church at 342 Chase St.
On the occasion of the 500th anniversary year of the beginnings of the Reformation, the theme: “Reconciliation — The Love of Christ Compels Us” (2 Corinthians 5:14-20) has been chosen for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The traditional period in the northern hemisphere for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is Jan. 18-25.
The Rev. Sandra K. Jones will be the guest preacher for the Unity Service. Jones is an assistant to the Bishop for the Northwestern PA Synod, ELCA working in the areas of Leadership Development and Candidacy since 2002. She is also the lead pastor of the Good Hope/Zion Lutheran Ministry of Oil City, a position she began in September 2016.
All are invited to join in the prayer for Christian Unity. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.
The 2017 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has two accents: reflection upon the main concerns of the churches marked by Martin Luther’s Reformation and recognizing the pain of the subsequent deep divisions which afflicted the unity of the Church. In selecting this theme, it is viewed as an opportunity to take steps toward reconciliation.
Jones serves as a volunteer worship leader at the Venango County Prison and The Lutheran Home at Kane. While in former parish ministry sites, she was the volunteer spiritual counselor with Family Hospice of Indiana County and a chaplain employed part-time by the PA Council of Churches to serve the patients and staff of Torrance State Hospital.
Her educational background includes a doctorate in education from the Graduate Theological Foundation (2015), a master’s of divinity degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary (1994) and a bachelor of arts degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa (1979). Current areas of interest and research are bi-vocational ministry, clergy career development, change theory and practice, mental health ministries and forgiveness.
She is married to Bishop Ralph Jones. They share the parenting of four adult children and the joy of three grandchildren: Harper, Hudson and Judah. Together they enjoy serving the church, traveling, remodeling their home and watching old movies. In her spare time, Sandra Jones delights in music, reading, walking and the quiet of Forest County.
