FROM THE PASTOR
The Kingdom of Peace
This coming Tuesday is Independence Day. As we cook on our grills, celebrate with friends and family, and watch fireworks, we should remember to be grateful for the freedoms we enjoy. Liberty is sometimes won and protected by the shedding of blood.
Yet the job of every warrior—the job of every Christian—isn’t to glorify or perpetuate war, but to end violent conflict forever. Our commitment to peace begins with our personal relationships and widens out to include our workplace, our neighborhood, our community, our city, our county, our state, our nation, and finally, our world. At every level, we’re called to be messengers of reconciliation. That is the way of Christ.
I’ll have more to say about this Sunday as I preach from Isaiah 2:1-4 and John 15:12-13. My message is titled, “The Kingdom of Peace.”
Update on Annual Conference Actions
Two Sundays ago, I said:
"In a historic action, the NC Conference approved and ordained as elder a pastor who is in a same-sex civil union …. If you want to know more, I’m preparing a document to share with any who are interested, and I’ll be glad to discuss it with you individually or in small groups.”
The document is still a work in progress, but I’m available to speak about this, preferably in person.
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