There’s a lot of division in our world right now. It’s everywhere and it’s frightening. Wars and political conflicts rage on and on everywhere —and even making a statement about them or voicing an opinion seems to have the potential to spark conflict with others.

It would be nice if our faith gave us resources to navigate this situation and to maybe even bring peace to our individual or collective lives.

But then we have stories where Jesus himself talks about bringing division. And not just to nations but to families and to parents and children as well. It’s enough to make us want to cry with frustration.

Let’s gather together in worship to try to sort some of this out and find a way to build connections in the midst of difficulty.

With hope,

Hardy

Please join us immediately following the service for our Coffee Hour

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

bit.ly/SVPCCoffeeHour

“A ministry that reconciles long-standing enemies will inevitably rend relationships that depended on the old status quo.”

Dr. Audrey West,

“Commentary on Luke 12”

"I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?