Scripture: John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
Thought for the Day: I don’t usually start with a prayer, but a few days ago, I came across this prayer in an email from Sojourner’s Magazine. It felt like a Psalm, with its ruthless honesty. It reads:
Peace sounds nice, but to live it out
in the face of provocation —
this is a difficult teaching Lord!
Nevertheless, we have no one else to go to;
we trust you Jesus,
even when we don’t understand.
Too often the response to burdensome and even some farfetched ideas of the Jesus walk is to simply lob them onto the pile labelled: Impossible – Don’t try! What often occurs when demanding ideas are relegated to that pile is that people turn their passion on other people’s failures or perceived shortcomings. Suddenly they appear at first glance to be just as demanding as they would have been, but upon closer look, there is nothing demanded of them… only demands imposed upon others. The work of peace appears unfeasible, but that is to look at peace incorrectly. Peace is something already given to us, and if already given to us, then all we need to do is to be it.
Prayer: In my growing trust of you, O Lord revealed in the manger, let me more tightly embrace the gift of peace bestowed through your Spirit. Amen.
THIS SUNDAY
IS
JOY SUNDAY
Sermon Title: Two Stories – One Mission
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
At 9:00am in the Forum
&
Noon in the Centrum
Voting on the 2016 Leadership and Budget
And Sunday Night
