Sermon from Matthew 5:1-12 for January 27

So…

Are you blessed?

I see nodding heads. Good. Just out of curiosity, what do you mean by that?

When you say, “I am blessed,” what exactly goes through your head? What do you see, what do you hear, how do you understand “blessing”?

I know we talk particularly at Thanksgiving about counting your blessings, and most of us can list quite a few, many material ones: food, shelter, a job, and relational ones as well, family, friends, co-workers.

But is that the totality of being blessed?

The other night when we had the Food, Friends, and Fellowship’s Holiday party, Allison asked us to tell what our favorite picture of the past year was.

It turns out for many of us it was a picture of a new grandchild, a new relationship, a reminder that blessings can come in the form of a new baby, a thought that certainly fits with Christmas!

Evidently there were a lot of grand-baby pictures, because after the event someone asked jokingly whether you had to be a grandparent to be part of the group!

The answer is no, but it was a reminder that sometimes while celebrating our blessings, we can miss celebrating the different blessings others have experienced.

So, are you blessed?

We count ourselves blessed, most of the time, I think. But is our understanding of blessing really what Jesus was talking about. Is being blessed just a matter of having been given something, or is Jesus trying to say that blessing ismore than that!

In Matthew’s Gospel, chapter five begins a section of the story known as the Sermon on the Mount. Over the next several weeks we are going to look at this “sermon” because in it are some of the most essential parts of what Jesus believed was important for his disciples and followers to know.

And remember, it is not called the “Sermon on the Mount” because Jesus entitled it that way, but because it was one of Jesus long teachings! It was all about what mattered in the Kingdom of God, and it just happened to be preached on a hill, a mountain!

Jesus most likely stood or sat at the bottom of the hill and the people sat on the up-sloping hillside, like an outdoor amphitheater.

And it’s here that Jesus make the distinction between religion and discipleship. It’s here that Jesus begins to announce his opposition to religiosity. It’s a distinction that will separate those who simple show up and look the part, and those who are living and breathing faithfulness.

This is all early in Jesus ministry, right after he chooses his disciples and heals lots people. He begins by laying out who it is that is blessed.

And here is the kicker. Being blessed, means having been made holy, set apart, prepared to be in the presence of Almighty God.

So, read these words this way, and for the first time, here what Jesus is saying!

³ God makes holy those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven!

⁴ God makes holy those people who grieve. They will find comfort!

⁵ God makes holy those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them!

⁶ God makes holy those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want!

⁷ God makes holy those people who are merciful. They will be treated with mercy!

⁸ God makes holy those people whose hearts are pure. They will see him!

⁹ God makes holy those people who make peace. They will be called his children!

¹⁰ God makes holy those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ God will make you holy when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. ¹² Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven.

So, remember, you are blessed, because in life and in death you belong to God. Amen.

Sermon from Matthew 4:18-25 for January 20

So…

Every time someone from the Presbytery calls, I shudder. It’s not because the people who are a part of the Presbytery are bad, far from it. I shudder because it usually means they want me to do something.

I got two calls recently.

One was to consider teaching folks from other churches how to do 60 second sermons. I could do that! Then they told me the presentation and question time was 70 minutes! Yeah no. I would be done in about 6 minutes.

I don’t write a script. I look at the sermon from the week before to make sure I remember what it was and then set in my mind what the theme was, scripture and the date.

I use an iPhone’s camera set to video, and the with the back-facing lens, showing me my pretty face, I push the button and I talk, kind of summarizing the sermon from the Sunday before for 60 seconds.

And because I am that good, I get it all in one take, or three or seven. Then I upload it to Instagram and put a title on it. Done.

I’ve also added it to Vimeo, a video hosting site, because from there I can send it to both the church’s Facebook pages (yes there are two – Facebook started one all on its own, because ours is Otisville Presbyterian and they noticed there was also the possibility of Otisville – Mt. Hope Presbyterian, and I have never figured out how to get rid of it, so I post to both).

I mean, this is not brain surgeon’s work. Have I used up six minutes yet?

So, I told them I didn’t think it made any sense to have me talk for six minutes.

Erin Moore, Teaching Elder from the Chester church said I was off the hook for January, because they have this really cool dude named Brian McLaren coming to talk about the future church. But she thinks I should be on in March.

I am hoping they don’t call. I don’t want to go. Whine, whine, whine.

I am also hoping they don’t see anything about Facebook Live or they will want to know about that. And soon, YouTube Live I hope, because we have folks, and there are lots of others out there in video land, that don’t have Facebook.

The other call was about the possible sale of the Stony Point Presbyterian Church. The congregation has closed and now the question about the sale of the building has arisen.

While I am concerned about the sale and how the proceeds are used, I am not going to get involved in that boondoggle. Except I am.

So, when I get a call, I tend to duck.

And that makes me wonder why Peter and Andrew and James and John didn’t.

Matthew doesn’t give us in his version of the gospel story any preparation for the calling of these four. Other gospel writers do. The miracle of the many fish in the boat for example.

But Matthew just says Jesus’ called and they responded; almost as if Jesus call, his authority, his presence, his spirituality was sufficient enough to move the hearts of these grizzled fishermen.

And I’m not saying it wasn’t. Matthew came on the scene not long after this so he would have known the story.

But it’s a stark reminder that Jesus’ followers don’t follow him just because they saw a miracle. And they didn’t follow him just because he was a great teacher.

Matthew suggests they followed him because he was Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ. They heard his voice. They heard his call. And they heard the voice of God in some way in that moment and knew they needed to respond, and did.

They got out of their boats, they left jobs and family behind and followed Jesus, to become part of his ministry, to become part of what God was doing.

And did you hear what they did? They went with Jesus while he taught, and they saw Jesus heal people. The story is amazing. Following Jesus must have been an adventure of a lifetime.

And here is another thing. You notice how Jesus calls ordinary people? Not rock stars, not religious leaders. Not politicians. Not Wall Street money gurus. He calls fishermen, and later on  guys like Matthew and Zacchaeus, and women like Mary and Martha, and folks healed from demons and leprosy.

They were just regular people. Because Jesus honored regular people. He wasn’t concerned about a person’s age or color or family history. He wasn’t concerned with whether you were male or female, tall or short, married or single.

Jesus saw people as people, as persons each created in the image of God, beloved by God and worthy, always worthy of the time and care and compassion of the Son of God.

Jesus had no time for racism or sexism or nationalism or religious intolerance that separates God’s people rather than bring them together. Instead he saw each and every person as valuable in the sight of God. Every person; a reminder on the Martin Luther King weekend we all need to hear.

Jesus is calling. So, how is God calling you? When recently have you heard his voice? And what was it you were supposed to do as you followed him? What were you to leave behind, at least for now? And what is it you were/are supposed to accomplish with and for Jesus?

It’s easy when things are busy to ignore the call, but be assured, if Jesus is looking for you, he will find you.

Maybe it’s time to get up and out of the boat, because the adventure ahead will be amazing, and so worth it.

I got another call the other day.

They wanted to talk about the electric bill. That one you don’t have to take.

Jesus is calling…

Amen.

Sermon from Matthew 3:13-17 for January 13

How many of you remember your baptisms?

All you undercover Baptists and Pentecostals likely remember, but for those of us baptized in the Catholic or Orthodox or Lutheran, or Methodist or Episcopal or Presbyterian or Reformed traditions, and boy oh boy there are a bunch of us, we don’t; in particular if it happened in our first year, and maybe even later.

It’s a question I always ask the Confirmation Class, because I want them to know why they are taking confirmation class. What are they confirming? Their baptism. Do they remember their baptisms? No! Then what are they confirming, since they can’t confirm the fact that they were unceremoniously swizzle-d by the pastor?

They are confirming that while they may have been baptized on the basis of their parent’s faith, they are now claiming that faith for themselves and with it their status as baptized believers in Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior!

It’s so cool, right! Baptism is amazing!

It is an opportunity to participate in a public event that symbolizes so many wonderful things: birth and the bursting out of the water to life, the washing away the sins that so stubbornly cling, the putting to death an old life in the flood, and rising out of the grave to resurrection.

But is also raises interesting questions, like should we baptize children and/or adults? 

And, why did Jesus need to be baptized?

And here in Matthew chapter 3, the question zooms large. Jesus, the incarnate son of God, who doesn’t need to have his sins washed away, who is already filled with God’s Spirit, who doesn’t need to put to death an old life and who will not only be raised from death, but who will raise others from death, and who will raise us from death at the end of time, why is he getting baptized?

And why would he come to John? Shouldn’t it be the other way around, that John, a mere mortal, filled with God’s spirit for sure, but still not God incarnate, should come to Jesus. 

Which is exactly John’s question!

Why do you need to come to me?

Jesus answer on the surface seems a bit cryptic. Jesus says in so many words, because this is how it begins.

You get that? This is how it begins, at baptism!

It is how it begins for all of us, a moment where we identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Where we commit ourselves to being his disciples. Where we cast off the old life and start anew.

It is where Jesus is to be consecrated to the Messianic task!

This is where Jesus begins his appointed ministry, as do we all, including our Deacons and Elders. We all start with baptism, with a commitment to the Messiah, to his kingdom, to his work of disciple making.

We ordain leaders. We don’t ordain to discipleship - that is the responsibility of all the followers of Christ.

We believe that every disciple is appointed to ministry at their baptisms. That discipleship and the gathering of others into the Kingdom is not just a task of the ordained, but of the whole community of the baptized.

Ordination, on the other hand, is the calling out of some, a few, to specialized ministry, to leadership and to particular tasks; Teaching Elders to the ministry of preaching the word and administering the sacraments, Ruling Elders to guiding communities of believers and seeing that they are all growing in faith, and Deacons to caring for the weary and worn among us who need special care and attention.

Even they are still called to discipleship: to prayer, the reading of scripture, to the gathering in worship, to support and further the growth of God’s kingdom by reaching out constantly to meet new followers of Jesus, to make new disciples.

To all of this we commit ourselves at the beginning of a new year of mission and ministry. We join Jesus at baptism and then take on the task of “getter done!”

So, the question becomes, how do we be the church God intends?

How do we become that community of disciples who are always on the lookout to help others into the Kingdom of God, a place where they will find the grace and the love they need?

What could we do together that would make us better disciples, and how can we open our doors even wider to the world?

This is no time to be shy!

Now is the time to speak up, so we like Jesus can begin our ministry!

To God be the glory. Amen.

Sermon from Matthew 2:1-12 for January 6

Have you ever gone on a trip without really knowing where you are going?

Get a Garmin! Because Google maps may fail you.

Last spring, Laura Lee Huttenbach, whose mother is Muriel Patterson Huttenbach, whose father was a brother to Glenn Patterson, who was Glenda Patterson Teabo’s father, and Laura Bendlin’s grandfather, asked if I would consider presiding at her wedding to Andy Sidford. Laura Lee, who grew up in Atlanta, was baptized here in 1988 when she was 6 on the occasion of a Patterson family reunion.

Laura Lee is the one who traveled in Africa and wrote a book about a former Mau Mau general entitled, “The Boy is Gone” and then wrote a book entitled “Running with Raven” about a man who had run every day on Miami’s South Beach, accumulating over 125,000 miles and who had run with 2500 people.

And I said yes to the wedding, even after she noted that the wedding was going to take place at a vineyard in Dahlonega Georgia. She had met Andy in NYC while studying for a journalism degree at NYU, and they had checked out NY and NJ possibilities, and even Charlottesville Virginia, since they had both at different times gone to university there.

But Dahlonega won, beautiful setting, near to Laura Lee’s family, and best of all, the right price! When Laura Lee then informed me that they would be covering my expenses to Atlanta (and Sue’s as well) it was a go.

Then I looked at airline prices. Wow! Talking to our son Brian, who does a lot of traveling, another option appeared: drive to Georgia and make it a vacation! And so, we did. Both Brian and Katie have used Enterprise for their business car needs, so I went to Enterprise and rented a car for $350 for a week!

Yes, it was a Nissan Sentra, but who needs a big car for a trip? And it was brand new!

Sue and I learned a lot about traveling on that trip. Like how handy those smart phones are with google maps and an app called “Waze” and another called “IExit”. One tells you about traffic, the other what is at every exit on the interstate, gas, food and lodging.

Because we are old school, we also brought the tried and true Garmin, and to tell you the truth, it saved us, as did that cute little Nissan. How?

Well in Dahlonega, which is in Northern Georgia, is the Gold Mine Museum. It turns out that well before the California or Alaska gold rushes, there was one in Dahlonega. We even went to a Gold Mine.

And there is really good and eclectic food: it’s a college town, University of Northern Georgia. And - it is the closest city to the Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail! Get A Garmin, just saying!

Since Sue has hiked a good bit of the trail with Allison and Tammy and a bunch of others, we thought it would be cool to get a picture at the trail marker as a souvenir. And as the crow flies, it is only 30 minutes from Dahlonega to Springer Mountain, which is inside the Chattahoochee National Forest.

So, early one morning we set off on our grand adventure, and all was well until at some point the paved roads became gravel, and then the gravel roads became red clay, and then the hairpin turns came at a 20% sideway angle, which on the lower side spilled down hundreds of feet over the mountain.

And, it had rained a lot in northern Georgia, and the slides, puddles, and ruts from run off were everywhere, and we were too far in to go back and we knew where we were going, kind of, until there was no longer any cell service!

No cell service, no Google maps. No calling for help. In a Nissan Sentra. New!

The Boy Scout motto is “be prepared”. The Troop 1 motto was “make due”. Get a Garmin. You see the Garmin uses satellites, not cell towers. And the road was only one car wide, and upward and onward was the only way to go, so we made due.

Almost three hours in, shaking from fear and anxiety, we came to a crossroad. And there deep in the forest, sat a camper, with a couple of dirt bikes and four wheelers, and the banjos started playing.

The Garmin told us to turn right, and down on the right was the parking lot for the Appalachian Trail. And Sue went and got her picture. And we went home another way!

According to the most recent interpretations, in April, the Magi, the astrologers from the East, saw in the constellation Aries, the Ram, the constellation of the Hebrew nation of Israel, a portent, when the moon, covered over Jupiter.

To them it was clear. Something amazing had happened in Israel. A birth. A new and cosmic king. And they decided to go and see him.

They knew vaguely what they were looking for, and vaguely where it was, kind of, and they came sort of prepared and then made due. They got to Judah. They saw Herod. He told them where they should look, and having found the new King of the Jewish people, one sent with miraculous signs of power, they Gentiles, bowed in deference and worshipped him.

They gave royal gifts. If they had had cell phones they certainly would have taken “selfies” and then warned by their Garmin, a dream, they went home another way.

Matthew alone of the gospel writers tells this story because he wants to make sure that his readers, mostly Jews in the early years, understood that Gentiles have always been part of the story. That seekers of the Christ child are always welcome. That one can always be perceived as an outside by some, and still be loved and accepted by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

For it has always been this way. From the very beginning. That all kinds of folks, from all walks of life, would seek out Jesus.

Just like you and me.

And that we, like those early readers of Matthew’s gospel, need to do all we can to invite even more to come and meet the child, the Messiah, our Lord and Savior Jesus.

Just a word of advice, along the way, get a Garmin.

Amen.

Music and Messages from December 30

Joy

Let’s begin with Joy. How is Joy different than happiness? I think is like uncontained happiness, delight, elation.

Here is a video of Joy. That is our grandson, Zak, blowing out his birthday candles for the first time.

This is the Joy we should be feeling as Christians. Excited, Eager and bubbling over with this Joy that we should be sharing with others.

I picked Joy to the World to sing with Joy but wondered whether I should have picked,

I have that Joy, joy, joy, joy, Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart. I have that joy, joy, joy, joy, Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart to stay. And I'm so happy, so very happy, I have the love of Jesus in my heart. And I'm so happy, so very happy I have the love of Jesus in my heart.

In scripture, we are all familiar with the 100th Psalm, “Make a joyful noise, all ye lands, serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing”.

Acts 2:25 & 26 says, “What David said are really the words of Jesus, “I always see the Lord near me and I will not be afraid with him at my right side. Because of this my heart will be glad, my words will be joyful and I will live in hope”.

Psalm 35:9 says, “I will celebrate and be joyful because you, Lord, have saved me.”

1Thessaloinians 5:16 - “Always be joyful!”

Jude1: 24 “Offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ! Only God can keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence”.

Let’s make a joyful noise by singing # 270 Joy to the World verses 1 & 4.

Next let’s look at Peace

I’m sure some of us after all the excitement and joy of Christmas Eve and Day, were happy to take a moment and say, Ahh, finally, peace and quiet. We all need that calmness to gather our thoughts and strength to keep going.

I wonder if we polled people to see what their top 5 wishes would be for the New Year, how many would say, World Peace? We all definitely want it. Peace among nations, among people, among family, friends and more. We want inner peace.

Christ is the Prince of Peace.

Jen D’Esposito presented the idea of Jesus being the “piece” needed for “peace”, Perhaps sometimes we’re are missing the right Piece. Jesus is the piece to peace.

Scripture tells us:

Psalm 62:25 Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on him.

64:10 - May the Lord bless his people with peace and happiness and let them celebrate.

85: 8 & 10 I will listen to you, Lord God, because you promise peace
to those who are faithful and no longer foolish.

1 Love and loyalty will come together; goodness and peace will unite.

Numbers 6:26 May the Lord be good to you and give you peace.

Matthew 5:9 God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children!

Luke 2:14 Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.

John 14:27 - I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.

Lets join together in singing hymn # 617 Near to the Heart of God, all verses.

Next is Love

Ahh love. There are so many kinds of love. Our daughter and her family live in Philomath OR. Philomath means the love of learning. Too bad they put the Oregon State University in the bordering city of Corvallis. We all know about romantic love. And of course, we can love friends, our church, ice cream and various other things.

What about the unconditional love of a parent? Recently, I was trying not to impart some motherly advice to our daughter about some decisions they need to make. I just couldn’t help myself and when I did, I said, I won’t mention this again but I just had to say a few things. Then I said, I love you more than you can ever know. Then added, but perhaps now that you are a mom, you might have some idea. Folks, that is the kind of love God has for us. That parental, unconditional, never-ending love, one in which He tries to let us do our thing even though it may not be the right choice and yes, sometimes that nudge that maybe we don’t appreciate. God loves us so much, more than we can ever know.

That love that John 3:16 tells us, God love the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.

God wants us to share love with others, too. Hear this from:

1 Corinthians 13: 1- 8 & 13 What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge?
And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others. What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive?
I would gain nothing, unless I loved others. Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude.

Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails! 13 - For now there are faith, hope, and love.
But of these three, the greatest is love.

John 13: 34-35 says, But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.

Let’s join together and sign # 256 Love Has Come, verse 1

Hope

Hope is when our dog sees my husband and I put our coats on, I get my pocketbook and the car keys. She is so hopeful that we are going to take her and she will be getting a ride.

I think hope is kind of the half - glass full and expecting it to be filled. It is a positive feeling. Hope you have a nice day. Hope all your wishes come true. Hope you feel better. We never say, hope you don’t get that raise you wanted. Hope you stay sick. No, we want the best for others.

Hope is a lifeline. Those that don’t have hope, we have nothing and give up.

The Israelites had hope that the Messiah would come and save them. That hope came in our savior Jesus Christ

In scripture we hear -

Romans 12:12 Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.

Hebrews 6:18-20 from the Message says - We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us,(in the order of Melchizedek).

Romans 15:13 - I pray that God, who gives hope will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.

Ephesians 1:18 - My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.

The next hymn is # 542 My Life is in You Lord

Faith

Faith is believing or trusting in someone or something based on spiritual understanding rather than proof. In many ways Faith and Believe go together. Ever heard of a Faith Fall or Trust Fall? In a classroom I shared, a substitute teacher had the students try it. She had one boy stand on the counter and the others locked arms together to form a net sort of. Then the boy had to fall backwards and have faith that his classmates would catch him. Did he have proof they would be able to do it? No, he had to have faith. It worked. We often need to take a leap of faith as did people we read about in the Bible.

There are many stories in the Bible where people were healed due to their faith or the faith of others in Jesus. A crippled man walked, a woman healed, an officer’s servant healed, the blind could see, some raised from the dead.

Hear are other messages of Faith:

Hebrews 11:1 says - Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives proof of what we cannot see. ( Hebrews 11 is entitled The Great Faith of God’s People)

1 Peter 1:21 - And when he did come, it was to lead you to have faith in God, who raised him from death and honored him in a glorious way. That is why you have put your faith and hope in God.

Matthew 21:22 - If you have faith when you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for.

Acts 8:17 - Peter and John placed their hands on everyone who had faith in the Lord, and they were given the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:39 - But everyone who has faith in Jesus will be set free.

Romans 10:17 No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.

Galatians 2:16 - But we know that God accepts only those who have faith in Jesus Christ. No one can please God by simply obeying the Law. So we put our faith in Christ Jesus, and God accepted us because of our faith.

And then there is this passage from James 2:14-17

My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you? 15 If you know someone who doesn’t have any clothes or food, 16 you shouldn’t just say, “I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? 17 Faith that doesn’t lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!

Let’s join together in the first verse of # 245 - O Come All Ye Faithful

Believe

We all believe a little differently and believe in different things. It is the way we interpret things and why we have misunderstandings and disagreements. In fact, that is why we have so many different religions. We are fortunate in our church as Jeff, who openly says we are free to disagree with him but he preaches what he understands from his readings and interpretations.

We have several creeds that have been written to help state what we believe. We usually said the Affirmation of Faith but today, please stand and join in saying the Apostles’ Creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Some scripture references for Believe -

Mark 1:15 - He said, “The time has come! God’s kingdom will soon be here. Turn back to God and believe the good news!

Mark 16:16 - Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be save. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned.

John 2: 22 - And when he was raised from death, his disciples remembered what he had told them. Then they believed the scriptures and the words of Jesus.

Romans 10:9 - So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord”, and you if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death.

James 2:24 - You can now see that we please God by what we do and not only by what believe.

Church World Service put out this message on magnets and sent them to participants last year - Believe

there is

good in the world.

I believe God wants us to Be The Good

So for the New Year ahead take this message - We are called to not just have joy, peace, hope, love, faith and beliefs but to use all those things together to be Christians of action. Go out and do things in a way that people will know we are Christians.

Our final hymn is # 429 They’ll know we are Christians By Our Love. (1,2,4)

Benediction

From Romans 15:13

I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the Power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.