I am energized to preach at Sunnyvale this Sunday. At Calvary Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, I offer spiritual care to our large seniors group, a large number of whom came to the Bay Area back in the day, who now age alone—isolated from their families of origin. I grieve with them for the families they lost, but we rejoice in their families of choice.

As a new More Light congregation, you have taken a bold step toward ensuring that Sunnyvale’s children will not feel the need to leave their families of origin because of who they are—or who they love. Practicing unconditional love is the hardest thing in the world, but when we stand on the promises of Jesus, aka The Infinite Yes, we realize God’s blessings far outweigh our concerns.

Peace,

Rev. Victor H. Floyd

Please join us immediately following the service for our Coffee Hour

(in-person in the sanctuary or online via Zoom).

bit.ly/SVPCCoffeeHour

“The opposite of faith isn’t doubt, it’s certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns.” Anne Lamott (via Paul Tillich) in Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith. Those whom he calls his family are his through love and not reward: sisters and brothers we can be, if we but take him at his word. And so we join to celebrate the life of Jesus Christ, our friend and Lord.

- Bell & Maule, 2002

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.

When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation— I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.