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A Worshipping, Praying, Learning, Nurturing, Sharing Community |
Jan 06, 2009 - 02:59 PM |
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So if anyone is in Christ there is a new creation:…II Corinthians 5:17
You see these words every time you walk into the church vestibule. You are named by these words, and Paul commissions you in the words that follow:
…everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
All this is from God who reconciled himself to us through Christ,
And has given us the ministry of reconciliation… So we are
ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us…
From these words, our mission and values have taken shape.
v We value being people who offer and practice reconciliation, hope, and healing.
We put these into practice through:
Inviting folks to share in our life together;
Nurturing our spirituality through prayer and Bible study;
Serving the needs of our neighbors and the communities we live in; and
Sending disciples out to spread the Good News to a world hungry for reconciliation, hope and healing.
Our guide in doing this ministry is Jesus. He offered God’s unconditional reconciling love to everyone he encountered. Healing was a central part of Jesus ministry with folks.
Hope then comes in a mixed bag, as we have seen through Lent and now in Easter. Jesus knew he would be killed for his ministry of reconciliation and healing. He knew that he was sending his friends and followers into a world of wolves. And then he conquers death and promises us that he goes before us on our way and will be with us to the ends of the earth as he breathes the Spirit of life into us. Praise God, we have such a concrete model for serving, and such an empowering commission in our theme passage from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian community!
It has been my observation that NCLC sits in a actual crossroads of cars, bikes, paths to the bus stop and grocery store, parents and kids going to school, and others on their way to various destinations. We need to meet these neighbors, and offer “bump-into” opportunities to meet Jesus. The Leadership Team has started calling these events “bumpers”.
v What is it we can do that provides comfortable bumpers to those who pass across our property?
v What is it we can do to offer security to ourselves and our neighbors as we address vandalism in our midst?
v What is it that we know about our neighbors needs and dreams?
v And how do we go about meeting them to ask these questions?
We Pray! We pray that God would guide us into encounters with all those around us that long to experience what we have to offer – reconciliation, hope, and healing. And we delve into the lessons of the Bible – God’s living Word. Let’s pay attention these next few Sundays to the stories of the disciples’ ministries during this time of Easter. And let’s prayer for “bumper” ministries we can offer.
Pastor Anne
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New Creation Lutheran Church -- 7275 Santa Teresa Blvd. San Jose, CA 95139 -- 408-972-9200
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