This Sunday, February 24th, we continue to explore what the Gospel teaches us about LOVE. Our focus scripture is Matthew 5:38-48 and through these words we realize how love interrupts the patterns of our lives and calls us to love even our enemies.
Jesus points to the source of our perfection. God’s perfect love has the power to transform us and the paradigms in which we live. We realize through these readings that God’s love interrupts the patterns of the world, interrupts our lives, and shows us a new way of living, one that brings peace and freedom. The topics faced in our Matthew reading are difficult ones: retribution, oppression, begging, loving one’s enemy, and the advice is also: “Do not resist an evildoer,” “turn the other cheek,” “give your cloak as well,” “go the second mile,” “love your enemies.” More than a demand, these words are a description of how much Jesus, who will give his life, loves us. More than an order, these words are an invitation to live not by the rules of an empire but by the covenant that shapes God’s realm.
Jesus ends today’s teachings with these words:
“Grow up!
You’re kingdom subjects.
Now live like it!
Live out your God-created identity.
Live generously and graciously towards others,
the way God lives towards you.”
Join us on Sunday as we worship together and as we meet for our Annual Congregational Meeting. This is a meeting where we reflect on the last year of ministry together and where we look ahead and make decisions regarding our strategic priorities and budget for the coming year, 2019.
To view the annual report, please click on the link below:
Click below to view the Order of Service for worship:
[gview file=”https://westmountchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/Bulletin-Feb-24-2019.pdf”]