God commands us to love one another. We must remain faithful to that commandment. We should also reject power over, and embrace power for others. By using our power to give to others, we are living God's will.

When the kingdom of God arrives, even institutions face the existential question of whether to resist or to join the ragged blessed company of the transformed following along in Jesus’ wake.

And we must be vigilant, that defending an institution we value does not blind us to the unauthorized, scandalous, disruptive work of grace. Christ moves among us with no credentials but himself and his work, and invites us as individuals and as communities to follow.

The outrageous mercy and generosity of God are for us. The outrageous mercy and generosity of God are for others.

God’s scale of generosity is not bound by our expectations, requirements or judgements. What might feel too late to us and to the world may be perfectly on time for God.

The church runs on forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not one practice among many for the Christian community of faith. It is not a menu option that we might choose from time to time. It is woven into the very fabric, the foundation, the bedrock of the community. A church that has forgotten how to forgive is a community that has ceased to be a Christian church.

b God calls us to be gentle on the person and hard on the conflict. Gentleness, vulnerability and patience allow a heart to transform. Grace is a conduit for a liberated soul, giving you the freedom to fly.

Do our part in love and leave the rest to God.

We are called to give our lives away in a thousand small ways as we follow Jesus: feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, welcoming the stranger, befriending the lonely, speaking the truth even when it is hard or dangerous, giving up our Sunday morning to make it easier for others to worship the way they need to.

Jesus has shown us that true life is not a finite resource to be hoarded. It is a gift to be shared, a gift that only grows as it is given away. Amen

Bringing our gifts together in Christ is what makes the church. Church is not a building but a people. We who are many, are one body in Christ, like an orchestra playing individual instruments coming together to play a beautiful symphony.

We need each other to live in unity under God. We are stronger together as one. The church is a collective unit functioning to represent Jesus on earth.

When Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” it is not a trivia question, it is an invitation to relationship with him.

God is welcoming new members into his community as additions, not replacements. The grace of God is a bottomless well, an ever expanding universe. His kingdom is open to all who maintain justice and peace.

Amen