The Main Ingredient

This past Sunday we eavesdropped on a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus and found the beloved verse, John 3:16--"For God so loved the world..."

Some of us remember “Rainbow Man” from the 1970’s who appeared at major sporting events wearing a rainbow wig and holding a “John 3:16” sign. His determination in making certain everyone see his message led to his conviction for multiple kidnapping felony charges--crimes which he claimed were ploys to get more publicity in sharing the “Gospel.” He is now serving three life sentences in prison.

How tragic it is that the Rainbow Man did not include John 3:17 where Jesus reminds us that he did not come to the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved.

In contrast, Quarterback Tim Tebow wore eye black bearing the inscription "John 3:16" during the 2012 NFL Championship Game. It has been reported that, in the course of the game, 90 million people googled John 3:16. And no one was kidnapped!

As we continue this journey from Ash Wednesday to Resurrection Sunday, how are we choosing to offer space for folks like Nicodemus who need time to process what a new relationship with God looks like?

We all know that the foundation of a good gumbo is the roux. Even though there are only a few steps in making an roux, the main ingredient is patience. It is the same with "making disciples." How patient we must be both with ourselves and with those who are struggling with faith. For truly, God so loves all of us.

May those who look into our eyes see the acceptance that comes from no condemnation, and may how we treat one another be a sign of God’s unconditional love.

Pastor Jo

March 6, 2023

Let's Make Gumbo!

Pastor and author Jonathan Augustine suggests that we are not meant to be a melting pot where we are all blended until we are all the same. Instead we are like gumbo! Each one of us is a unique ingredient, and, because of our uniqueness, each one of us brings great value to the whole recipe.

So many of us want to either blend in or to stand out. We want the creativity that comes from a variety of points of view, but we prefer that everyone sees things from our point of view! It sounds as though we are caught in a conundrum, but maybe what we really want is a place where the love is bold enough to hold us all together, as many and as different as we are, as one body— where you see me and I see you, and where each one of us--along with the Holy Trinity, of course!-- is a necessary ingredient for the perfect recipe.

This Lenten Season we are taking Augustine’s analogy of gumbo and using it as a metaphor for what it looks like to truly be the body of Christ — to be bold in living our unique lives so that others can feel safe in being who they uniquely are, asking questions, staying curious, both blending in and standing out...like all the ingredients of a good gumbo!

Let us love Jesus and love others until there are no others… only sisters and brothers in Christ.

Pastor Jo

February 27, 2023

To Embrace the Newness

When I created our "New Year, New You, New Us" sermon series my concern was that it included too many Sundays. Now I see that we only have 3 Sundays left before Ash Wednesday! How does this happen?

Let's let that question settle in from the perspective of our series thus far - a new covenant, new plan, new purpose, new courage, new orientation - How does this happen?

What have we done to embrace the newness of God's mercies and the new opportunities to share these mercies with others? What are we doing to enhance the ministries of our church in new ways so that everyone around us may know of God's redeeming grace?

Becoming a "new creation" through Jesus Christ is not a "new" invitation, but it does invite us to consider how we are inviting this newness into our lives.

How does this happen? With intentionality, dedication, attentiveness, prayer, and commitment. Life was never meant to be lived in “autopilot” mode. Embrace the newness and celebrate the freedom that is yours through Jesus Christ!

So then, if anyone is in Christ,

that person is part of the new creation.

The old things have gone away,

and look, new things have arrived!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Pastor Jo

February 1, 2023