July 30, 2022

Dear Road Church Friends,

This Sunday Rev. Jack Shackles will join us once again to bring a scripture lesson and lead our worship service. The text from which he will be speaking is Colossians 3:1-4, 9-12. This is an ethical exhortation to live a “resurrection life” which is defined by things that originate from heaven above where the risen Christ reigns in the presence of God. The wardrobe of resurrection life is “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Resurrection life also gives us new eyes. When we look at others, we don’t see them or judge them based on the categories into which the world divides humanity, —ethnicity, culture, religion, or social status. Instead, we see the image of Christ in all people and are at therefore at their service. We think and act this way because we are God’s holy and beloved community, a colony of heaven that is a light to the world.

Rev. Shackles will have plenty more to say on this subject.

     Sunday, I travel to the Congregational Library in Boston where I will be co-leading a seminar for Lay ministry students on Congregational History, Polity, Theology and Spirituality. I will be returning on Friday, August 5.

SCRIPTURE:  Colossians 3:1-4, 9b-12 (CEB)

Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God’s right side. Think about the things above and not things on earth. “You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Take off the old human nature with its practices and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it. In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people. Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

SERMON TITLE: “We Are God’s Choice, Holy and Loved”  Rev. Jack Shackles

HYMN:  “For the Beauty of the Earth” #40

LOOK TO THIS DAY

Look to this day, for it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course lie all the verities and realities of your existence:

The bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendor of beauty.

For yesterday is already a dream, and, tomorrow is only a vision.

But today, well lived, makes yesterday, and every tomorrow

A vision of hope.

Look well, therefore to this day!

Blessings to you all,

Pastor Norm

The Worship service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xG6PIHaWdXQ