Radiance

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.

Radiance

Radiance – This is communion Sunday. In recent weeks we have followed some of the stories of the early Christian movement through the Book of Acts, and today we begin a series of looking at the writings of that most famous apostle, Paul. We also read a translation of Psalm 34. Our guest minister is the Rev. Jeff Chu, a journalist, author, speaker, and preacher visiting from Michigan. Peace, glory, and pride are foremost in this section of Paul’s writing, and this is audacious, especially considering the people to whom Paul was writing, Christians who were undergoing Roman oppression. Jeff talks about the gatherings of believers who were quite diverse and listened together to Paul’s words. He also outlines the situation they lived in that place and time, with “church” being held in gatherings in humble homes, not churches like we have. Essentially, all the believers had were this gospel and their belief, not personal possessions or status. Jeff tells his own story and how he experienced salvation. He had us read Psalm 34 today because it reflects that God is present and good always, and Jeff spoke of it and challenged us to realize that not only we but all others are loved by God. In God’s love we find our radiance. He cited the history of our own church to review how, at times, we, too, have shown radiance.