Scripture: Colossians 2:13-14
And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.
Thought for the Day: As Christians, we celebrate God’s eternal mercy that provides forgiveness for all sin. We speak of that idea in liturgies, prayers and other aspects of worship; we create bumper stickers and t-shirts that declare our belief in such a God; we hear sermons that clearly impart this core conviction. You would think that this central idea would never be questioned, but as a pastor, I find forgiveness has a real struggle moving from theory to practice…especially when it comes to being able to forgive ourselves. Because of this difficulty, we have rituals and traditions that help us to more fully claim this important idea. Whether it is baptism or communion, a prayer of confession that is followed by words of absolution, or the burning of little pieces of paper on which we wrote our sins, these tangible expressions of our basic beliefs help us to more fully embrace what is too often nothing more than some distant concept.
Prayer: Whether it is water or bread or flame, I give you thanks, Gracious Lord, for those things that help me understand and take hold of your love and forgiveness. Amen.
ELDERS AND BOARD
RETREAT THIS WEEKEND
Friday–Elders at 6:30pm
Saturday–Elders at 9:00am
Board at 10:30am
