The church sees spiritual gifts as being for the good of the community and as being exercised to empower the five main tasks of the church: Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service and Witness. Today, we look especially at two of these: prayers and witness.
The church sees spiritual gifts as being for the good of the community and as being exercised to empower the five main tasks of the church: Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service and Witness. Today, we look especially at two of these: prayers and witness.
We look to Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth as we seek to understand his description of the church as a "body" and how spiritual gifts distributed among its members benefit the entire body of believers.
We look to Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth as we seek to understand his description of the church as a "body" and how spiritual gifts distributed among its members benefit the entire body of believers.
As we look at hope as a road map for life, we see how the Gifts of the Spirit play an important role as we cope with barriers along the way and also how spiritual gifts work for the good of the community in empowering us to work for the common good.
As we look at hope as a road map for life, we see how the Gifts of the Spirit play an important role as we cope with barriers along the way and also how spiritual gifts work for the good of the community in empowering us to work for the common good.
As we recall the baptism of the Lord we think of our own baptisms and how this sacrament impacts our lives.
As we recall the baptism of the Lord we think of our own baptisms and how this sacrament impacts our lives.
On this Epiphany Sunday we look to Matthew's Gospel account of the magi bearing gifts to the child, Jesus, led by a star and thwarting the plans of Herod. We see how the magi, the star, and the gifts serve as signs that point to the Lordship of Jesus and that reject the Lordship of all others.
On this Epiphany Sunday we look to Matthew's Gospel account of the magi bearing gifts to the child, Jesus, led by a star and thwarting the plans of Herod. We see how the magi, the star, and the gifts serve as signs that point to the Lordship of Jesus and that reject the Lordship of all others.
How do we bring about change in our lives, both as individuals and as a community? We look to the wisdom of the Apostle Paul who, in Colossians, shows us how to aim with high specificity at worthwhile change. As we face a new year, we are challenged to be better than we have been, and Paul points us towards Jesus as the Way.
How do we bring about change in our lives, both as individuals and as a community? We look to the wisdom of the Apostle Paul who, in Colossians, shows us how to aim with high specificity at worthwhile change. As we face a new year, we are challenged to be better than we have been, and Paul points us towards Jesus as the Way.
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent we light the Candle of Love in our Advent wreath and ask the question, "What's love got to do with it?" We conclude that love has everything to do with it and that the new commandment of Jesus calls us to be a community of love.
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent we light the Candle of Love in our Advent wreath and ask the question, "What's love got to do with it?" We conclude that love has everything to do with it and that the new commandment of Jesus calls us to be a community of love.
On this Third Sunday of Advent we light the Candle of Joy and look to joy as a characteristic of the pathway that characterizes hope. We see that joy can be found, even for a moment, in situations that otherwise appear joyless.
On this Third Sunday of Advent we light the Candle of Joy and look to joy as a characteristic of the pathway that characterizes hope. We see that joy can be found, even for a moment, in situations that otherwise appear joyless.
On this Second Sunday of Advent we light the Candle of Peace and look to the concept of shalom as "the way things ought to be" and our role in bringing shalom into a dark and troubled world.
On this Second Sunday of Advent we light the Candle of Peace and look to the concept of shalom as "the way things ought to be" and our role in bringing shalom into a dark and troubled world.
On this First Sunday of Advent we light the candle of hope and look at what it means to be a community of hope in a world in which hopelessness seems to surround us.
On this First Sunday of Advent we light the candle of hope and look at what it means to be a community of hope in a world in which hopelessness seems to surround us.
On this Christ the King Sunday we look at the words of Jesus as he separates the sheep and the goats based on their response to the needs of "the least of these." We are reminded of our allegiance to Christ as King and that our goal is the Kingdom as described by Jesus.
On this Christ the King Sunday we look at the words of Jesus as he separates the sheep and the goats based on their response to the needs of "the least of these." We are reminded of our allegiance to Christ as King and that our goal is the Kingdom as described by Jesus.
In the final words of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes the importance of not simply hearing his words but acting on them. He again uses two scenarios to outline the options available to those who have heard his message; one is hearing and acting, the other is hearing and then not acting. One endures while the other does not.
In the final words of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes the importance of not simply hearing his words but acting on them. He again uses two scenarios to outline the options available to those who have heard his message; one is hearing and acting, the other is hearing and then not acting. One endures while the other does not.
Jesus warns against being misled by false prophets who might cause his followers to stray from the path he has earlier described in the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus warns against being misled by false prophets who might cause his followers to stray from the path he has earlier described in the Sermon on the Mount.
In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of two scenarios, the first consisting of a wide gate, an easy (broad) road that is taken by many and that leads to destruction (ruin) and the second consisting of a narrow gate, a hard (confined) road that is found by few and that leads to life. This "two scenario" model for life is one familiar from Hebrew Scripture and Jesus uses it to examine his proposition that love of God and neighbor, along with the Golden Rule, provide the guidanc...
In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of two scenarios, the first consisting of a wide gate, an easy (broad) road that is taken by many and that leads to destruction (ruin) and the second consisting of a narrow gate, a hard (confined) road that is found by few and that leads to life. This "two scenario" model for life is one familiar from Hebrew Scripture and Jesus uses it to examine his proposition that love of God and neighbor, along with the Golden Rule, provide the guidanc...
In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches on the reciprocity of justice, concluding with what has become known as the Golden Rule, "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets." We see how his reference to the law and the prophets takes us to his teaching on loving God and neighbor and that on this love hangs all that is contained in both the law and the prophets.
In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches on the reciprocity of justice, concluding with what has become known as the Golden Rule, "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets." We see how his reference to the law and the prophets takes us to his teaching on loving God and neighbor and that on this love hangs all that is contained in both the law and the prophets.
