If you’ve been paying attention to the things going on in our nation— congressional hearings about crises in government, economic difficulties for so many, tense conflict about our rights and responsibilities toward one another – you know that we are living through difficult times.

We often talk about our faith as something that should serve as a help during trouble. But do we really know how to think about our faith in times like these? Many folks seem to be using faith in less than helpful ways, and others are angry about the ways some are expressing their faith commitments.

What should we do, as people of faith, to apply our faith to the hard things we are facing as a society? What do we think Jesus—the one who always seemed to find a way to help others through his own faithfulness—would encourage us to be doing now?

This Sunday we’ll be looking at a story where he sent others out into a world in turmoil, asking them to bring a message about their faith. Perhaps we could find something to guide us as well.

Faithfully,

Hardy

Please join us immediately following the service for our Coffee Hour

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

bit.ly/SVPCCoffeeHour

“We are at the forefront of a new reformation, one that is freeing the Christian faith from the sinful structures of patriarchy, racism, classism, many phobias, and exploitive forms of mission and evangelism. The new reformation is all about the emergence of a generous, hospitable, equitable form of Christianity that heals the wounds of the world. I believe much of the work for the church in the years ahead must focus on healing the wounds inflicted by Christendom so that the beauty and inclusive goodness of the Gospel can be heard, seen, and experienced.”

Rev. Dr. Elaine A. Heath, Neighborhood Seminary, Founder

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."