Romans 12.4-5 (RSV)
For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. A community is critical to a maturing faith. Time and time again, God has brought people together. Adam and Eve helped us see companionship is important. The people of Israel found strength to be a blessing through which God would bless the world. The twelve disciples discovered challenges to their own thinking as they followed Jesus. The early church found a way of living, worshiping, praying, and sharing all things. Church is a community where we learn to entrust our lives to one another. I know community can be a bit of a challenge. There are people that don’t see eye to eye with you. There are people that have hurt you. Yet it is the church where we develop into a community. In the church, we seek justice, learn to love kindness, and find ways to walk humbly with God. As we see familiar faces and are reminded of sacred words, we witness to the good works of God together. Worship is a great time to embody being a community. As we turn our hearts to God, we reorient and remind ourselves we are followers of Jesus. Each person present is a special child of God. Church is the special place where we can find peace, share mercy, and receive forgiveness. Being church takes practice, commitment, and through it all, God’s help. Grace and peace, Rev. Brian
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2 Corinthians 9.8 (CEB)
God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need always and in everything to provide more than enough for every kind of good work. I have been making plans for the Fall. My emphasis is on how LPCC is living out God’s hope that we be the salt and light to our community. Specifically, I focused on how we can precisely and uniquely plant the seeds of Jesus’ love, hope and peace in our community. During these last several months, I listened, prayed, and sketched out ideas. As soon as I thought all was just right, and I was ready to put pen to paper, the unexpected happens. Case in point, Courtney Rockafellow, gave notice that she will no longer be our secretary. Her final day with us will be August 4th. I know you will join me in thanking Courtney for all of her dedication and hard work for the church. While some things never change, some things do. Our call as God's people is to continue to be the salt and light to the world. So we learn to adapt to circumstance and remain true to our call none-the-less. While our expectations might change, our resolve of Christ's being in the world never does. Our mere existence is forever shaped by God’s Word in Jesus as we learn to live it every day. Join me Sunday and this Fall, as we carry out God’s hope. The next sermon series, “Being”, starts this process with us, the individual. See you on Sunday! Grace and peace, Rev. Brian 1 Corinthians 15.58 (CEB)
As a result of all this, my loved brothers and sisters, you must stand firm, unshakable, excelling in the work of the Lord as always, because you know that your labor isn't going to be for nothing in the Lord. I typically define steadfast to mean constant. And while this is a perfectly reasonable definition of the term, I have begun to understand steadfastness is more akin to unwavering. Constancy has a connotation that seems fixed to one place. While unwavering helps to imagine steadfastness as, “there is nothing that can separate us” from God’s love. God’s steadfast love moves with me and I with God as together we seek God’s will. God’s will is that all know the love shown to us in Jesus Christ. God’s love is patient with my impulsive nature, generous with my stubbornness, merciful when I am complacent and righteous when I am unkind. These things: steadfastness, patience, generosity, mercy, righteousness are the building blocks of God’s kingdom. We are asked to work at being part of God’s kingdom. Essentially, we are asked to share God’s steadfast love with all. Where do you experience God’s steadfast love? How might you share that steadfast love with others today? Grace and peace, Rev. Brian Romans 12.5 (CEB)
In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. LPCC understands the strength of community. I have seen time and time again the way that we gather to support one another in times of loss. I have seen the joy on faces as we welcome participants on the first day of VBS. I have heard the loud “We Will’s” when we baptize and confirm the young and new within the body of Christ. I have seen the hugs shared between friends. I have heard the unpretentious and expectant greetings of one another in worship. I have witnessed the life-transforming presence of the Holy Spirit as it has raced through LPCC. Our church is truly a unique and wonderful expression of the body of Christ. For me, LPCC is the greatest place to deepen faith as we grow in faith together. While I will be gone on vacation this week with my family, please know that I will hold you all in my prayers as you are precious to me. I hope that you have a great week and are excited that Rev. Peggy Edge will be part of our worship offering our sermon at the 10:45 worship in the Sanctuary. May God bless you and be a blessing to others this week! Grace and peace, Rev. Brian Galatians 6.9 (CEB)
Let's not get tired of doing good, because in time we'll have a harvest if we don't give up. Mission trips are special to me. At every one that I attend, I learn something more about loving God, living the gospel, and loving my neighbor. I am grateful that Disciple Summer Mission 2016 in San Marcos, TX was no exception. Each day we ate the familiar Subway sandwiches for lunch, worked together through the heat of every day, and played together at night at local favorite haunts. I was filled to the brim with extremely satisfying work done with my hands and quiet floats on the river. I was gratified with new friendships and renewed old ones. Mission trips remind me that together with God’s Spirit helping us, we can accomplish so much. We can support each other through the long days, laugh at the little absurdities of life while putting all things into perspective, and make a huge impact on people’s lives for God’s sake in a short period of time. Sunday, you’ll get to hear more about the trip as Blake, Braeden, and I share our experiences with you. Grace and peace, Rev. Brian 1 Corinthians 12.26 (RSV)
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Our faith involves other people. Jesus invites us to take care of one another. Jesus invites us to tend to others especially if they are in need or are vulnerable. Jesus invites us to seek justice and righteousness for everyone. It is a daunting task to be sure, but one that God’s people have been given nonetheless. Psalms, once again, tell us the truth about ourselves. And the truth is that we are to be part of what God is doing in the world. God invites you and me to be co-creators in making our lives, and the lives of others, equitable. We are to share what we have: time, money, and talents so that all benefit from goodness, honesty, and peace. As the adage goes, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Sunday we will hear the call to return to giving even-handed justice. The Psalm will remind us again that justice is for all: the orphan, the weak, and the needy; as well as the oppressors, the oblivious, and covetous. We have been gifted, tasked, and reminded that righteous justice includes all no matter what. Grace and peace, Rev. Brian 1 Peter 2.5 (CEB)
You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple. You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Taking faith seriously is a risky task. We are asked to integrate the life-altering experiences of God into our daily living. We know that racism, sexism, and natural disasters are realities in our world, and they affect our sense of security. We also realize that joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control are a challenge to incorporate when our culture values time and money above all else. But even in the tough places, we have help. Psalms help give us words to say when our words fail us. Psalms show us the power of words and the power of faithful tradition. Psalms become an instrument for us to live faithfully, even when we don't fully comprehend God’s movement and presence. Sunday we will reflect on Psalm 30 which is praising God for what God has done. In it, the Psalmist names places of moments of heartache and juxtaposes each with moments of transcendence. By doing so, he transforms each moment, making it sacred and special. Grace and peace, Rev. Brian Article:
Ephesians 4.29 (CEB) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. We begin a series this week moving through the book of Psalms. This book offers us a snapshot of life, filled with highs and lows and, of course, everything in between. The Psalms helps give voice and language to our faith. The three most common forms of Psalms are the 1) hymn: offering praise to God and acknowledging all that God has done 2) lament: expressing regret, annoyance, or disappoint in what we feel when God doesn’t live up to our expectations, and 3) thanksgiving: giving God appreciation for goodness and kindness, expressed and accepted. Giving language to faith is a life-long endeavor. Thankfully we have some guidance in how we might do that authentically. Please join us this Sunday through the end of July, as we find ways to express our faith. Being sincere is both the joy and the heartache. Grace and peace, Rev. Brian Article:
John 1.5 (RSV) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Our first night of Vacation Bible School is over, and it was an amazing time! La Porte Community Church “does” VBS like no other, and I thank God that we do! This year’s theme is “Cave Quest: Following Jesus, the Light of the World.” Each night during our journey through the scriptures, crafts, snacks, games, and gathering time, we are faithfully witnessing what God is doing and what God will do in our lives. We call this hope. Hope is looking forward to God’s future working while in the present to ensure its realization. And God’s people know what it means to hope. From our earliest scriptural accounts, we know that people have been expecting a Savior. In the meantime we live faithfully seeking to serve one another in love. We give our best because in doing so we are living out our faith. Jesus is the light of the world for you and for me. Please join us every night this week as the light of Jesus becomes brighter and brighter! Grace and peace, Rev. Brian Mark 1.15 (NRSV)
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” Jesus teaches us that the kingdom of God is at hand. We live our lives in the kingdom. We, at the same time, seek expression of the kingdom in its fullest manifestation knowing that it is yet to be fully realized. We do this by faithfully following Jesus wholeheartedly, believing that God is moving in our hearts and lives. In essence we are never fully done with our work. If we claim our name as Christians, we are professing Jesus as LORD and Savior. He will then shape what we say and what we do. We do this thoughtfully with a heart knowing that we are who we are supposed to be right now. With an open heart we accept who we are; acknowledging who we are becoming is yet to be entirely known. Our faith then is not rigid or as set as we would hope. The beauty is that we each have a part to play, and we are called to be part of the kingdom. Sunday, Elijah will once again show us what commitment to faith means as he puts everything on the line. Elijah’s confrontation with King Ahab will challenge us to think about power and our use of it. See you Sunday! Grace and peace, Rev. Brian |
Rev. Brian
Husband, father, minister, child of God, follower of Jesus Christ writing in the context of La Porte Community Church Archives
November 2016
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