Dear Friends,
This week’s focus scripture is Matthew 15: (10-20) 21-28. But every scripture in the lectionary is a struggle this week because of the way we humans keep trying to box in the love of God. Even in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus has crossed a border that has been clearly marked by his tribe for generations, and it takes a stranger to get him out of his boxed-in thinking. Every scripture reading has God redrawing the maps of salvation and healing and community, and it is disorienting because it confounds our insistence that someone must be “us” and someone else “other,” some must be loved and some unlovable, some must be powerful and some powerless. As you prepare for Sunday, maybe you could think about what would break open your thinking about love.
I also want to let you know that the Christian Ed. Ministry has been trying to break open its thinking about faith formation in this time of pandemic. And they need your help to imagine what would make our hearts sing in the seasons ahead? What would we like to see happening for our children, youth and adults that would bring us together and take our faith deeper? Look for a short but important survey coming on Friday about this very thing. Please, please, please take the time to fill it out to help CE shape its planning for the program year just ahead of us!
Peace,
Pastor Karyn
