Scripture: Zephaniah 3:19
I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
Thought for the Day: On the eve of the second Sunday of Advent, I am taking a slightly different track to deal with a current issue in our neighboring community of Cypress. A few days ago, an act of hate was committed against the Islamic Outreach Center in Cypress. As Christians, we cannot turn away from such acts or justify them with some ignorant form of theological intolerance. We are a people of grace whose only instrument is love, and though others may encounter God differently, it doesn’t change our central task to be a delivery system of God’s unconditional love. Each expression of faith found within the Abrahamic tradition was never intended to be the source of oppression. Instead, Christianity, Judaism and Islam all have the high ideal of liberating each human being. At the same time, each faith tradition has had moments in their history when they’ve lacked such grace. Let us make sure this moment isn’t looked back upon 50 years from now as another sad moment when people of faith allowed their silence to be a quiet yet clear affirmation of hate.
Prayer: Lord, Jesus loved those who society deemed unloveable, and in doing so, he brought forth the beauty that hatred had dismissed. Teach us to do as he did. Amen.
Join Us Tomorrow
Sunday, December 9, 2012
2nd Sunday of Advent
Worship at 8:15am, 9:30am and 11:00am
Sermon: What’s My Weight Limit?
Psalm 80:30 & Isaiah 12:2-4
Don’t forget…
Congregational Meeting at 9:00am and Noon
Christmas Concert at 7:00pm
1 thought on “Ecclesiological Etchings: 12-08-12”
We are all people of the book together.