Dear Ones,
Jesus taught us to pray to God: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We may not agree on what heaven looks like or where it is to be found, but chances are good we’ll all agree we’re not there yet. Indeed, we’re in a season of momentous upheaval. So where is hope to be found and, as we practice life with Christ, what heavenward choices can we make – as individuals and as a church community?
In coming months, Jason, Amy, and I will each preach a series of sermons. In this first series, I’ll talk about “Living with Hope.” I want us to dig deeper into the 5 Practices* and, in particular, to look at how we discern and use the unique gifts God has given us. At the same time, I am struggling with the steadily increasing polarization of our society, so I feel compelled to frame the discernment of our individual gifts in the broader context of our call, as Isaiah says, to be “repairers of the breach” and “healers of the nation.”
I’ll weave these themes into three consecutive Sundays as we celebrate All Saints’, Stewardship Celebration / Veteran’s Day, and our Annual Parish Meeting – November 4, 11 and 18. You won’t want to miss these – or any – Sundays this fall. We’ll save you a seat.
