Greetings in Christ!
As I set my thoughts and prayers to leading worship in the month of May, I noticed a theme running throughout both the Scriptures and "theme's" of the liturgy/calendar: Communion, a.k.a. The Eucharist, a.k.a. The Lord's Supper.
This has prompted me to create a Sunday Sermon Series for the month of May: "What the Heaven is Communion?"
Together, we'll be exploring in worship, through song and thought and prayer and fellowship what "the table" of Christ has to say to us - each Sermon speaking about the table does: unites (5/2), persuades (5/9), saves (5/16), inspires (5/23), and teaches (5/30).
For this Sunday, 5/2, take a look at Acts 11:1-18.
This passage is a confrontation - Peter is in BIG trouble! In spite of Christ's own command to spread the Gospel, the "good news," to ALL nations, one powerful component of the "early Christian Church" is promoting the concept that "salvation in Christ" is for Jewish law-observers only.
As complicated as this passage is, it gets at a very simple reality - in all times and places human beings endure great temptation to become control freaks.
If we are not careful, we assume that our own thoughts about God, ourselves, and others are what God in fact thinks too - we must be careful to be listeners, and followers, though we are, at times, called by God to speak and lead on God's behalf.
As I look at this Scripture in which someone is in trouble for "sharing the grace of Christ with someone who didn't deserve it," (one way to paraphrase the sentiment of the Jerusalem leaders) I wonder in a metaphorical sense, "who" or "what" is it that exists outside of my concept of grace?
This might not nessecarily mean a "type" of person, but could even be a situation - "I'll never be friends with that person again," or "they'll never forgive me for this," or "I'll never get over that,"
In what ways might the grace of Christ come over your life and unite something you believed to be broken?
Christ's peace guard our hearts and minds,
Rich
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Preparation for Sunday...
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
This coming Sunday, April 25, in worship we will prayerfully engage God's Word as expressed in Acts 9:36-43.
This passage exists in a long dynamic series of "ressurection" stories all the way back in 1 Kings 17:7 with Elijah, to Jesus himself in Luke 8:40, to our passage with Peter.
Consistent in each of these stories is an "implicit" message about the importance of God's covenant community, the Church, being a place of social equality. As such, the ressurection, the "new life" that each of the characters receives in these different passages not only continues their earthly life but affirms that "salvation" and "everlasting life" are to be pursued and practiced in tangible ways during this lifetime: each one is restored in order to do the right thing.
In a way it doesn't matter whether it is Elijah or Peter who "performs" this miracle, it is God, whom they represent, who is responsible for the gift of new and everlasting life.
In what ways is God giving you and I the everlasting life to do the right thing? What can you and I do this week to show the love of God in tangible ways as we pursue a more just and equitable society?
Jesus give us eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to care and hands to help, in your name we pray, Amen.
This coming Sunday, April 25, in worship we will prayerfully engage God's Word as expressed in Acts 9:36-43.
This passage exists in a long dynamic series of "ressurection" stories all the way back in 1 Kings 17:7 with Elijah, to Jesus himself in Luke 8:40, to our passage with Peter.
Consistent in each of these stories is an "implicit" message about the importance of God's covenant community, the Church, being a place of social equality. As such, the ressurection, the "new life" that each of the characters receives in these different passages not only continues their earthly life but affirms that "salvation" and "everlasting life" are to be pursued and practiced in tangible ways during this lifetime: each one is restored in order to do the right thing.
In a way it doesn't matter whether it is Elijah or Peter who "performs" this miracle, it is God, whom they represent, who is responsible for the gift of new and everlasting life.
In what ways is God giving you and I the everlasting life to do the right thing? What can you and I do this week to show the love of God in tangible ways as we pursue a more just and equitable society?
Jesus give us eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to care and hands to help, in your name we pray, Amen.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Faith Presbyterian Church Online
Grace and Peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Please pay attention to the above greeting as it speaks of the importance of being grounded in the freely given, undeserved, unearned, Grace through Faith we have as followers of Christ.
I've been looking for a way to connect our conversations and discipleship through the week as we seek to grow in and live our faith together - so why not blog a bit for those so inclined?
I'll be posting daily-weekly reflections as I prepare for worship, study scripture, pray for personal growth and guidance, serve God's people, reflect on God's Word, and seek to discover God's will for me and us all as part of the body of Christ made up of the members of our wonderful community here in Valley Village.
It is my hope, prayer and intent that this blog and the ensuing reflections will help all involved (myself included) grow in their faith, I by no means, intend for this to be a space where I seek or recieve any recognition: I am not looking for an audience, but rather, as I hope to pursue in all things - a community of equal conversation, reflection, respect and growth as an act of thankfulness and gratitude to God, to whom belongs the glory both now and forevermore, Amen.
Please pay attention to the above greeting as it speaks of the importance of being grounded in the freely given, undeserved, unearned, Grace through Faith we have as followers of Christ.
I've been looking for a way to connect our conversations and discipleship through the week as we seek to grow in and live our faith together - so why not blog a bit for those so inclined?
I'll be posting daily-weekly reflections as I prepare for worship, study scripture, pray for personal growth and guidance, serve God's people, reflect on God's Word, and seek to discover God's will for me and us all as part of the body of Christ made up of the members of our wonderful community here in Valley Village.
It is my hope, prayer and intent that this blog and the ensuing reflections will help all involved (myself included) grow in their faith, I by no means, intend for this to be a space where I seek or recieve any recognition: I am not looking for an audience, but rather, as I hope to pursue in all things - a community of equal conversation, reflection, respect and growth as an act of thankfulness and gratitude to God, to whom belongs the glory both now and forevermore, Amen.
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