June 18, 2022

Dear Road Church Friends,

     We were deeply saddened upon hearing of Jane Hildreth’s passing on June 1st. Our prayers of sympathy and comfort go out to her husband Charlie and the rest of the family. They have planned a private memorial service at Stone Ridge later today where I will represent our church family. Your condolences may be sent to:

Charlie Hildreth

186 Jerry Brown Rd.  APT #4411

Mystic, CT   06355

SCRIPTURE READING: Galatians 3:23-28      SERMON: No More “Us Versus Them”

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s conversion to Christ made him realize that Biblical law excels at condemning us, and inciting hostility between us by emphasizing differences between Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free, male and female, but is unable to save us or unite us. A well-known Jewish prayer in Paul’s day was: “Lord, I thank you that I was not born a Gentile, a slave or a woman.” Paul’s gospel declaration in Galatians 3:28 is a rejection of his legalistic Rabinnic past. He insists that in Christ there is no more “us versus them.” Christ is the Creator of a new humanity built on unity, not separation, and grace, not law. In Christ there is one new humanity, which has the mind of Christ, all of whom are clothed in Christ’s character: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love. This gospel message is our best hope for a better world and a better country. It is a message that our world and our country needs now more than ever.

HYMN: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands #80

SONG OF LIBERTY

America, thou promised land, thy dreams and hopes are mine,

And I will break thy sacred bread and drink thy living wine.

O God, our source of Liberty, stretch forth thy mighty hand

And bless the life of her we love, the free man’s chosen land.

by Louise Ayers Garnett

Blessings to all,

Pastor Norm

Our worship Service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vINsTqvuLzg