mercy – St. John's Episcopal Church, Suffolk, VA https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org Serving our community since 1642 Sun, 20 Feb 2022 20:46:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cropped-Door-for-website-55x55.jpgmercy – St. John's Episcopal Church, Suffolk, VAhttps://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org 32 32 116451644 Love is not an emotion, it is a statement of relationship – reflection and sermon from 2/20/2022https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/2022/02/20/love-is-not-an-emotion-it-is-a-statement-of-relationship-reflection-and-sermon-from-2-20-2022/ https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/2022/02/20/love-is-not-an-emotion-it-is-a-statement-of-relationship-reflection-and-sermon-from-2-20-2022/#respond Sun, 20 Feb 2022 20:46:40 +0000 https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/?p=2739 Blessings to all from Chuckatuck as February begins to wind down and Presidents’ Day is tomorrow. We have spent a lot of the last weeks and months considering our ministry and our engagement in the community. We are looking for new connections and ways that we might be able to share our grounds with our community – there is a place of peace and connection at St. John’s that is ours to share as a sanctuary. We look forward to the coming season of Lent and the opportunity to reflect on our connection to God and community.

In worship, today was a day where we are reminded that love is the centerpiece of all that we are as a community of faith. That without love, nothing we do is a real worth. Our ability to reflect God’s love is what makes us different and inviting. Our Hebrew Scripture was taken from the book of Genesis and relates the revelation of Joseph to his brothers in Egypt during the famine. Joseph sees the truth, that the family’s relationship and longevity is possible because of his relationship with God and not breaking relationship with his family. The Psalmist sings the song of reminders that we should not be jealous of those who get ahead while they do wrong; rather, we should trust in the eternal work of God. Our Epistle was taken from first Corinthians, the things that last forever are not flesh and blood, but they are the things that come from and celebrate the life of God.

Our sermon was loosely based on the gospel reading from Luke. His lesson is a bit misunderstood from time to time – while it is important to love relationship is more important. While someone may steal from you, if they choose to leave then that is on them. Likewise, while we are not supposed to “sit in judgement” we are still responsible for upholding God’s requirements – do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: Genesis 45:3-11; Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38

Video of worship: https://youtu.be/hVKTM7a4KNA

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]]> https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/2022/02/20/love-is-not-an-emotion-it-is-a-statement-of-relationship-reflection-and-sermon-from-2-20-2022/feed/ 0 2739 The good news is God’s mercy is always present – reflection and sermon for 10/27/19https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/2019/10/27/the-good-news-is-gods-mercy-is-always-present-reflection-and-sermon-for-10-27-19/ https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/2019/10/27/the-good-news-is-gods-mercy-is-always-present-reflection-and-sermon-for-10-27-19/#respond Sun, 27 Oct 2019 19:08:18 +0000 http://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/?p=1607 May the last Sunday in October be filled with God’s grace and blessings. The morning opened overcast and muggy, odd for the end of October. We made our final preparations for All Saints’ Sunday next week and all that day entails – a special celebration, returning to Standard Time, and (of course) a potluck. As October closes, Halloween approaches, and the feast of All Saints’ I pray you and your families are well.

Today’s worship was filled with lessons that focus on humility and the orderliness of our life with God. The gospel reading pitched a Pharisee against a tax collector and who offered the better prayer – it’s better to claim your place in God’s kingdom and offer glory to God. Paul’s letter to Timothy spoke of the culmination of Paul’s ministry and encouraged Timothy to model his life after Paul – fight the good fight, finish what was started, and keep the faith. Our Psalm served the reminder that God is awesome and because of God’s nature we must praise God. Today’s sermon focused on the prophet Joel (meaning YHWH is my God) with the reminder that God’s presence is found in the simple things in life – no plagues, good harvests, and sufficient wine (or water) to drink; and that God’s mercy originates in God and is present for us if we look for it, as it always has been.

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 65; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14

Check this out on Chirbit

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