This Sunday is the Second Sunday after Pentecost. We are in that part of the church year called “Ordinary Time” which encompasses that part of the Christian year that doesn’t fall within the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent or Easter. Covenant, like many churches that follow a liturgical tradition, change from a more formal to a causal worship format during “Ordinary Time.”
The assigned scriptures for this part of the Christian year are designed to help us grow in our life of faith, while allowing the message, the teachings and the ministry of Jesus to permeate every aspect of our lives. We are to be in prayer for God to show us the ways we are to fulfill God’s call on our lives. Then it’s up to us to follow Jesus’ steps in doing so.
In John 17:20, Jesus prayed “…that all of them may be one, …” The Apostle Paul proclaims this “oneness” becomes our reality when we learn to shed the rituals of religion that keep Christians separated into camps of “us” and “them.” So, Paul tells us in Galatians 3:27–28, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves in Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, (since this is Pride month, let me add there is neither gay nor straight,) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
What a difference we could make in this world if all who call ourselves Christians would start acting as one in the family of God. I received this saying from a friend this past week: “My sibling is a reflection of me. I can’t fly if he or she is falling.” (inclusiveness added) This sentiment of us all being one would make a tremendous difference in our community and our world. Let’s do our part to make it happen.
Start by joining us for worship at Covenant this Sunday. The sermon will be “Help Us to Be One in You” based on “Galatians 3:23-29.
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