NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2022
This Sunday is the Second Sunday after The Epiphany. In reading the assigned lectionary scriptures for this liturgical season, I noticed a theme developing in them and so I began developing a series of sermons based on that theme.
Psalm 36:7 assigned as one of the texts for this Sunday, says, “How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.” That is a comforting reminder that God’s love toward us never ends. And it is important that God’s steadfast love toward us is continually emphasized. We love to hear the preacher speak about it; but what about our response to God’s in return. As Christians, we profess that Jesus is our Great Example; but are we committed to follow the example of Jesus’ commitment demonstrating in the ways Jesus responded to God’s steadfast love while He lived as a human among us.
In the assigned lectionary text for Epiphany 2022, love manifest itself in a variety of ways from I Corinthians. This week it does so with an emphasis on giftedness. The evidence of God’s steadfast love for us is shown in the work that we do using the gifts to which God has entrusted us. And it is not just in the doing itself, but we get to see God’s love in the ways service builds relationships and then those relationships create community.
Please join me in prayer during this Epiphany Season, asking God for help in us discerning and demonstrating the ways God is at work at Covenant in us as we worship, work and living out our vision of “Offering Hope + Showing Faithfulness + Sharing Joy.”
Also, join us for worship this Sunday by Zoom or Facebook Livestream as I begin a sermon series titled, “The Ways of Steadfast Love.” This week my sermon is “Part 1 – Loving Through Our Giftedness,” based on I Corinthians 12:1, 4-11.
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