On the Outward Road

One in Ministry

One in Ministry – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with a reading from 1 Corinthians 13. Today is also another celebration of Communion as we’ve been considering the theme of gathering around the table as Paul wrote about this. The Rev. Stacey Harwell-Dye, our Pastor of Mercy and Justice Ministries, is delivering the Communion Meditation today and she cited some writings and actions by Clara Ester, who was with Rev. Martin Luther King when he was assassinated. She also cites an action by a couple in our church who acted out of love some years ago to help Stacey. The Greek word, agapé, that is translated “love” in this Corinthians passage, points out that our own love is based on and fulfilled by God’s love. Love is an equalizer, putting us together as one in ministry, whether we’re ordained as ministers or not. Stacey says that her own work means nothing unless it’s done through God’s love. And God’s love is not something we have to earn through our own actions because it is God’s gift to all. ...

One with Each Other

One with Each Other – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with a reading from 1 Corinthians 11. Today is also another celebration of Communion as we’ve been considering the theme of gathering around the table as Paul wrote about this. In this section of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he is quite critical of the gatherings of the believers in that they are not really treating each other equally, and here Paul is describing God’s economy to this diverse group. In the churches, all should be equal. Carol describes what may well have been happening in Corinth in those early gatherings. It isn’t simply that everyone can gather, but that all are equal. At the table the Holy Spirit weaves all into one body. That is who we are called to be, and through this meal we are called to be witnesses to and participants in God’s economy. Throughout today’s communion service, we receive commentary from Carol and Rev. Aimee Baxter about the history, meaning, and reason for the various pieces of our communion service.

One with Christ

One With Christ – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with a reading from 1 Corinthians 12. Today is also Communion Sunday. Much of Paul’s letter has to do with gathering around the table, and we will be gathering around the table through this month in reflection of that. Today’s section of 1 Corinthians is the familiar description of the parts of the body and how important each one is. As we read this, we’re listening in on a conversation that is directed toward the new Christians in Corinth. Paul spent about 18 months pulling together the diverse believers as that early congregation was being formed, and he offers pastoral instructions to help them. Saying that Jesus is Lord was somewhat dangerous in the Roman empire, and to say that every part of the body is as important as every other part would have been quite revolutionary. Paul ends by saying that we are the body of Christ, so that for the world to be changed by Christ it is up to us as the body of Christ to enable that to happen.

A Life Shaped by Grace

A Life Shaped by Grace – This past week was our annual Vacation Bible School, and much of today’s service reflects that, including the Children’s Moment, led by Maggie Jarrell, our Minister with Children and Families. We continue our journey through the writings of Paul with a further look at his Letter to the Romans. Although this is the first of Paul’s letters in the Bible, it was the last one he wrote, and, perhaps it is first because it’s the longest. But it reflects the maturity of Paul’s ministry. The overarching theme is the grace of God, who loves us unconditionally, and in this chapter, Paul tells us how the grace we are given transforms our lives and our acts. It goes way beyond being nice, setting aside one’s own purposes for the sake of others. The large challenge governs our acts for those in the world, and Paul instructs us in how to treat our enemies, to love our enemies. We likely could not do this on our own, but Paul says it is through the grace of God that we have been given the ability.

Paul to Rome: Know Your Why

Paul to Rome: Know Your Why – We continue our journey through the writings of Paul with a look at the first part of his Letter to Rome. Carol tells us about an experience of a family that always has a cup of spoons on the dinner table, but nobody in the family knew why that was, even though they had done so for several generations. Then she cites the book, Start with Why by Simon Stinek, in which the author says when we are about to start something, we need to state why we’re doing that, and Carol indicates that the first part of the Letter to the Romans underscores Paul’s “why,” and he gives others, including us, the “why.” She then recalls the historical situation in the time of Paul’s letter, with deep tensions between the believers and others in Rome, and between Jewish Christians and gentile Christians. Paul is coming to see them, but he sends this letter in preparation. At its core, the message from Paul is that at the root of everything is faith that God is love. For us, faith is our willingness to realize that we are all sinners and can hear the call of God’s love. This faith can transform us and open us to see that God’s grace is for all people. For Paul, the “church” was not an institution but a vision of a different kind of kingdom wherein all are accepted and included.