Scripture: 1st Peter 4:10
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
Thought for the Day: I’m excited for Sunday, and it’s not just because someone else is preaching. In fact, three other people are preaching. Don’t get nervous, they’ve been working on it and I’m sure it won’t be three 20-minutes sermons. But I love the tradition of Laity Sunday within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It gives us the opportunity to remember our history, specifically those congregations started along the frontier. At the time, we were the fastest growing denomination (we didn’t refer to ourselves as denomination yet) on U.S. soil. This happened, in part, because of our willingness to empower lay leaders to serve as preachers, teachers and ministers of the sacraments (baptism and communion). On the growing edge of the frontier, churches of every denominational stripe were being built, but often they did not have a minister to serve within the building. Our tradition was doing full services, with the ‘sacraments’ (we call the ordinances), before the roof was even on the building. A lot of our growth was connected to the impatience of people in other churches, but it also came from a growing appreciation of a church that celebrated the gifts of all people. This Sunday, Shane Burks, Marshall Martin and Ray Miller will be our preachers and worship guides. Jimmy Jacobson will provide music, including directing the choir at the 11:00 service. I give thanks for both their gifts and their willingness to share these gifts… along the hundreds of others at Cypress Creek Christian Church who do the same every week.
Prayer: For all the many gifts you have given, O God of Grace, we are grateful. Let us be mindful of how each gift can be used to serve our sisters and brothers, whether they are currently neighbors or enemies. Amen.
THIS SUNDAY MORNING
Worship at 8:15, 9:30 & 11:00
