Saint Paul’s Pod

On Christ the King Sunday we celebrate Jesus, the king of the universe and our hearts.
Luke’s story of the crucifixion reminds us of the truth in a confusing time during the rise of Christian nationalism. Let us not shrink Jesus down. Christian nationalism assumes God endorses has a national identity where God works for the world.
God is bigger. We serve a God of all people, working for all people throughout the world. We should not rush to the top to look down on others but to the bottom where we serve and help those in need as Jesus would do. Jesus is expanding compassion, deepening hope and meeting us where justice and mercy embrace.
Jesus is the GOAT. Greatest of All Time, the ultimate servant leader, transforming the world and all of us from the inside out.

When there are times of persecution, where do you turn? Allow the holy scripture to feed your peace. Allow it to sturdy your foundation and plant your feet.
Your belief in the truth of God’s word lets you know you’re never alone. God is in relentless pursuit of his creation, you.
Scripture outlines a roadmap to navigate a holy life, a good, healthy and prosperous life but also how to navigate hardships. When Jesus calms the waters he showed the disciples the power of faith.
Mother Kimberly shares a personal story of her experience of intense fear during the political and racial tensions of 2021, specifically during the insurrection on January 6th.
She looked to the word to guide her with peace and strength. God promises we will not perish and hope in him is stronger than death.
 

Throughout Saint Paul’s 275-year history, we have been a place of refuge for those seeking faith and the love of God. It is remarkable as we have loved our neighbors in one place for such a long time. For generations, Christians have gathered here; in peace and turmoil, in confidence and confusion. We don’t always live up to the calling, but we always point to the living God.
We acknowledge our strong history of mission, but we celebrate the God who continues to work within us. God’s reign is uninterrupted and defies the concept of time. In God’s love, justice and mercy are complete.
Regardless of where the world stands, the living God remains working. We are celebrating the grace of God being active amongst us and His faithfulness no matter what. May we continue the legacy of service, feeding the hungry and loving the lonely for the next 275 years.

We are on the cutting edge of a long line of faithful people. We are not the first generation to do this. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have faced the trials of the world by loving God.
The Gospel of Luke says that blessed are those who are poor, hungry and weep on this earth. God help us to love our enemies and bless those who curse us; to turn the other cheek.
We’re on the current page of the long story of the faithful. May we make those proud who came before us and walk in love, doing to others as we would have them do to us.

Oh God, you have bound us together in a common light. Help us amid our struggles for justice and truth to confront one another without hatred and with respect.
Amen
Our lives together mean we struggle together. We are asking God to help us not become the injustice we confront.
God doesn’t give up on any of us.

We aren’t perfect, but Jesus is. Jesus asks, when the son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?
Yes, He will. Persistent prayer and unwavering faith will help us see clearly the difference between what is true and what is false. Jesus helps us stay focused on God’s grace.
In this world there are threats, insecurities and fears. There are times when evil presents itself as truth. When the noise of life becomes too much, remember the good news. God stands ready to provide justice.
 

Consider God’s people in exile. The worst had happened as Jeremiah had warned. The people are shunned and the temple in ruins. They can only hope for a reversal, an escape hatch.
But God through Jeremiah tells His people to build houses, plant gardens and grow families. To continue to live faithful lives.
When our world feels helpless, we cannot pause and wait for deliverance. We still have work to do and can serve others to create prosperity not defined by wealth and power.
If you don’t particularly like where you are in life or the world you find yourself in, there is no escape hatch. We can’t sit on our hands and wait for God’s kingdom, we work for his people today. We follow Jesus’ example of living with a purpose to seek and save the lost on the way and in between.
 

The parable of the mustard seed illustrates the power of faith. Jesus taught that having faith "as a grain of mustard seed" is enough to accomplish the impossible.
To strengthen our relationship with God we must have faith, steadfastness, courage and obedience.
We must not be clouded by our worldly surroundings and allow faith to activate our life of service. Serving others furthers the kingdom of God.
Exercising our faith in God allows us to live boldly using our time, talent and treasures to serve. We can also exercise our faith by humbly seeing ourselves and our neighbors as God sees us.
We must focus on the work to be done and what we are called to do. How do we put this into action? “Go wash some feet.”
 

There is no barrier that can prevent us from experiencing God's love; however, it is essential that our hearts remain open. How we utilize our time, talents, and resources reflects the true state of our hearts.
God is endlessly patient with humanity; yet, it is important to understand that patience does not equate to tolerance. The message of God's word is a profound love story — He is actively pursuing you, His cherished one. God extends mercy to the oppressed, the poor, and all those in need. We have received all the necessary warnings; may we recognize that pride has the power to lead to our downfall. In our pride, we may gain the world but ultimately lose our souls.

In the Old Testament, Jeramiah tells of a society in crisis; a world full of violence and filled with greed. Jesus comes 600 years later, and the world remains in a state of crisis filled with murder, oppression, neglect, lies, brokenness and wickedness.
Where do we as Christians look when our world is fractured? We look to God. God is relying on hope and perseverance to bring all people into the heart and family of God. The answer is not in vengeance. Jesus calls out to the lost. He came to seek and save what was lost…sinners and tax collectors alike. The church must remain with Jesus, on the move. Not on the left or on the right but serving from the bottom.
These are horrible times. We grieve but not without hope. We must follow Jesus more closely and proclaim the good news of the love of God more boldly.
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,Look full in His wonderful face,And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.”