Experiencing God’s grace, Seeking God’s mission, Sharing God’s love….
Love, Leadership, Fun/Joy, Faith, Welcoming community
From the Pastor…
Romans 12:9-16
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good, love one another with mutual affection, outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, preserver in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you, and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.
Paul is writing to the church in Rome, words that they need to hear. Paul is also writing to us, words we need to hear and absorb, and live. This Lent I have been using the words, “let God be in your heart”. Instead of focusing on our actions, we are working to let God be in our heart. God accepts us all, because we are all sinners, we have fallen short, missed the mark. God doesn’t say, ok you… I like you because you have red hair, and you… I like your size, and you, because you are a male, or you because you are white…. God says, I love you all because you are my children, loved and blessed.
I believe that we need to all be better about acceptance. Accepting people who are different than us, maybe they are younger and working really hard to serve someone, maybe they have a different color skin, maybe they are old and ill and grouchy, maybe they have earrings in places we would rather not know, maybe they wear black leather, maybe they are not always dressed the best. We are not the judges. How are you being who God is calling you to be? How are you standing up for justice, and loving with genuineness?
Lent is about looking at ourselves, and how we are living and what we are doing, and are we following, being good disciples. It is about forgiveness and love, and acceptance. Lent is about having a discipline, prayer and meditation. It is about remembering who we are, and why we are God’s. It is asking for forgiveness for the life style we live, one that we all sin in.
God calls us through Jesus Christ to love one another with mutual affection. Paul is writing to the Romans here, reminding them to expand the circle of who they love. Love is what calls us to be Christians. Hospitality is what Koinania, community, is all about. We are called as Christians to welcome into our community all children of God and to live in harmony with one another.
I believe that we are moving in the right direction… We are a community of faith, a family that works together and supports one another. Let’s continue to do that and act as Jesus calls us to. God loves us no matter who we are.
Yes, we are in Lent, but on March 27, Easter happens. So a few words about the rest of Lent and moving into Easter. March 2 at 6pm, we will gather for soup, and our discussion will be around a Lent game, followed by making bracelets. March 9 at 6, we will gather for soup, and our discussion is based on Peace cranes and we will be making peace cranes. March 16 we will gather for soup at 6, and our discussion will be on Holy Week Symbols, with making mandalas. March 20 is Palm/Passion Sunday and we will have a parade and shout Hosanna. March 24 is Maundy Thursday and we will gather in worship at 7, where we will remember the last days of Jesus’ life, we will end in silence and darkness. March 25 is Good Friday and the church will be open for mediation and prayer till noon. On Sat. March 26 the worship board, and anyone who wants to help will decorate for Easter. On March 27, at 8AM we will have a celebration of Easter, at 8:45 there will be an Easter breakfast, at 9:30 there will be an Easter Egg hunt, and at 10:30 the Easter celebration with communion will be shared. Come for all… Come for some… But Come, be in fellowship and love together.
Sharing love and hospitality together,
Pastor Mindy