From the Pastor

In ancient Israel, the proper worship of Yahweh entailed the fair and just treatment of everyone in society, especially the most vulnerable. The failure of the ancient Israelites led Zephaniah to call the day of the Lord a day of darkness and gloom (Zephaniah 1:7-18). Lest we become arrogant, think of our society’s reliance upon wealth over faithfulness.

As the sons and daughters of the light, we prepare ourselves for the day of the Lord by how we treat others and order society. May we bring brightness to the darkness around us (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11). In the midst of darkness and gloom, may we be the light that leads us to turn to our neighbors in kindness and fairness.

Paul urges us to live a life worthy of God (1 Thessalonians 2:1-13).  It is a huge responsibility to live an authentic Christian life of integrity in which our Gospel proclamation matches how we live among others. I wish I could tell you that I am flawless in this regard, but that would not be true.

To live a life worthy of God does not mean we are perfect, but it does mean we strive to be authentic, warts and all. Furthermore, by being authentic and real, we are able to minister to each other and others in the midst of our imperfections and theirs. We are grounded in the grace of God revealed in Jesus. May we follow the way of Christ that leads us to be honest with ourselves, and live authentic, genuine, sincere lives of Christian faith in which our concern for one another and others shows in our lives.