As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make ever effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4.
On Sunday September 25th we gathered as one Body of Christ. We celebrated our One Lord through our worship, we loved others as we shared our faith with each other, and we broke bread together through our actions of the Love Feast. Also, we were blessed and greatly enjoyed an amazing spread of Brunch items as we celebrated being together.
Our world has been stressed with a devastating pandemic, political and cultural divisions which continue from the past or have been newly created, economic struggles, and personal mental health stressors which have become overwhelming for many.
We enter St. Paul's as many and become one Body of Christ through our sharing of a common faith in Jesus Christ.
This is where our Lord and the church which He created shines. This is where we come as we are but turn our focus away from ourselves towards a common worship of the God of all creation, the Savior of our souls, and the Spirit which guides our path. We enter St. Paul's as many and become one Body of Christ through our sharing of a common faith in Jesus Christ. As Ephesians 4 continues, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 'one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
St. Paul's is a great place to join with our fellow sinners as those who are living out our faith toward sanctification and eternal life. This promise is not only a future ideal, but also our present "to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." God will judge us someday but is also calling us to live as Christ followers ready for that judgement today.
May we all seek the Spirit, which is guiding us in unity, that is under God's direction and not on any of our own selfish paths. Also, may we "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
In the Grace of Christ,
Pastor Vernon
