Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

From the very beginning of creation, we know that our world is filled with God's blessing and goodness (Genesis 1). God's creation is filled with awe and wonder as God provides abundantly with steadfast love and mercy, and we are called to respond with reverence and care. Joy and peace are to meet, and justice and righteousness are to embrace.

How are we now to embrace God's presence and promise in a world fractured in division and distortion? How are we to move beyond the visions and sounds of hate and intolerance and mean-spiritedness, and find mutual trust and care for one another within the blessings we have in God? Are we able to look upon humanity, each and every one of us, and see and confirm that we are all children of God, redeemed and sanctified in Christ?

A world of division and distortion fueled by indifference and hate is not the expected world viewed from the one whose outstretched arms hung upon a cross, and in whose dying words expressed forgiveness for those of us who do not seem to know what we have done and are still doing. If this is truly God's world as we profess it to be, and if we continue to profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and if we believe that we are called as disciples to carry forth ministry and mission in Jesus' name throughout the world, ought we to proceed by adopting and following through with a vision of the world as God intends it to be? Ought we to engage our world with hope rather than despair, love rather than harm?

May we be able to follow Christ as we hear and respond to the counsel of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them," We, as followers of Christ, shall not fall prey or victim to the rhetoric of hate and intolerance, for we know that "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

Blessings and peace.  Pastor John