How Did We Get To This Place? Lament and Hope
1 Peter 3:8-18 [CEB]
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, sympathetic, lovers of your fellow believers, compassionate, and modest in your opinion of yourselves. 9 Don’t pay back evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, give blessing in return. You were called to do this so that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For
those who want to love life
and see good days
should keep their tongue from evil speaking
and their lips from speaking lies.
11 They should shun evil and do good;
seek peace and chase after it.
12 The Lord’s eyes are on the righteous
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord cannot tolerate those who do evil.[a]
13 Who will harm you if you are zealous for good? 14 But happy are you, even if you suffer because of righteousness! Don’t be terrified or upset by them. 15 Instead, regard Christ the Lord as holy in your hearts. Whenever anyone asks you to speak of your hope, be ready to defend it. 16 Yet do this with respectful humility, maintaining a good conscience. Act in this way so that those who malign your good lifestyle in Christ may be ashamed when they slander you. 17 It is better to suffer for doing good (if this could possibly be God’s will) than for doing evil.
18 Christ himself suffered on account of sins, once for all, the righteous one on behalf of the unrighteous. He did this in order to bring you into the presence of God. Christ was put to death as a human, but made alive by the Spirit.
GATHERING FOR SUNDAY
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Hello NewDay friends,
Today my heart is heavy, and I am sure yours is as well, if you have been following the news in our country, and even the greater world this week. I have heard collective thoughts this past week from so many people that have a common theme of, "How did we get to this place?" "Why?"
I am taking a break from preaching from our Lectionary texts this Sunday to address and reflect on this past week,and these questions we are all asking. I invite you to corporate prayer, lamenting, interceding, and also praising the God who makes all things possible, who heals, comforts, and above all is Sovereign and in control of this world, no matter how out of control it may feel or seem.
Please make an effort to come to the block party at 3pm tomorrow too, if you are not already committed to helping set up or volunteer in some way. It's going to be a beautiful day, and we have an opportunity to connect with our community and enjoy fellowship with each other.
See you tomorrow and Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Kari