Scripture: 1st Corinthians 1:1-4
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus
Thought for the Day: As some of you may have heard, the wonderful preacher and teacher of preachers, Fred Craddock, died yesterday. Fred was a brilliant storyteller, and one of the many stories he told was from a little mission church in a small town in Tennessee.
It was the custom in that church at Easter to have a baptismal service, and it was held at the lake on Easter evening at sundown. After all the candidates had been baptized in the lake, everyone changed into dry clothes and gathered around a fire. Once we were all around the fire, one parishioner always introduced the new people. He gave their names, where they lived and their work. The newly baptized people stayed close to the warmth of the fire. Then the rest of the church members gathered around them in a circle. The next part of the ritual was that each person around the circle gave her or his name and said,
“My name is …and if you ever need somebody to do washing and ironing, call on me.”
“My name is …If you ever need anybody to chop wood, call on me.”
“My name is …If you ever need anybody to babysit, call on me.”
“My name is …If you ever need anybody to repair your house, call on me.”
“My name is …If you ever need anybody to sit with the sick, call on me.”
“My name is …If you ever need a car to go to town, call on me.”And around the circle we went.
We cooked dinner and at together. We sang. Then we had a square dance. Finally . . . a parishioner named Percy Miller, with thumbs in his bibbed overalls, would stand up and say, “It’s time to go.” And everybody left. He lingered behind, and with his big shoe kicked sand over the dying fire. . . He looked at me and said, “You know, folks don’t ever get any closer than this.” In that community, their name for that kind of togetherness is church. They call that church.
Today, I am thankful for those moments when the church truly reveals its intended purpose. Thanks to Dr. Fred Craddock for helping to remind us how the church – the expression of the Kingdom here on earth – is something very attainable if only we choose to do so.
Prayer: Today we give you thanks, O Gracious King, for providing some amazing witnesses whose lives challenged us to be the kingdom right here and right now. Amen.
TONIGHT
Don’t Forget To Spring Forward
