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The Season of Grace, the Season of the Church, and Going Green
“You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’”
(1 Peter 2:5-6)
The Season of Grace, or the Season of the Church, answers the question, “What time is it?” It is a reference to our calendar in light of the coming and promised return of Jesus Christ to the world – a day that will signal not only the end of the world as we know it, but also a new beginning when Christ reigns in glory on the throne of King David.
Since the earliest days of the Christian Church, we have been interested in seasons, dates of celebration, and important holidays. For instance, the season we are in now, Pentecost, is also called the Season of the Church. It is signified in the church by the color green used in the paraments over the pulpit and the altar, and the stole worn around the necks of countless pastors around the world. Green is chosen because green is the color of living things.
In fact, against popular worldly opinion, “going green” is probably best understood among us as those who were once dead in our transgressions having been given the gift of new life – justified and sanctified by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus our Lord.
How do you think that would fare in the world? What if the next time you heard someone ask, “Are you going green?” you responded with, “Yes, like a stone that has been brought to life, my entire existence shines with the greenness of life because of Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior.” What do you think the other person’s response might be? My hope is that you would encounter another living stone and the two of you would encourage one another, but we do live in a fallen world…
One day, when Christ returns and the Season of Grace is ended, it will be too late for those who reject Jesus and His message. So, until that day, may we be recognized as ambassadors of life in this world sharing freely as Christ has shared with us – and this is not for our glory – it is for the glory of Christ: the one who has come and will come again with glory.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff
Eph. 2:8-9
The Season of Grace, the Season of the Church, and Going Green
“You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’”
(1 Peter 2:5-6)
The Season of Grace, or the Season of the Church, answers the question, “What time is it?” It is a reference to our calendar in light of the coming and promised return of Jesus Christ to the world – a day that will signal not only the end of the world as we know it, but also a new beginning when Christ reigns in glory on the throne of King David.
Since the earliest days of the Christian Church, we have been interested in seasons, dates of celebration, and important holidays. For instance, the season we are in now, Pentecost, is also called the Season of the Church. It is signified in the church by the color green used in the paraments over the pulpit and the altar, and the stole worn around the necks of countless pastors around the world. Green is chosen because green is the color of living things.
In fact, against popular worldly opinion, “going green” is probably best understood among us as those who were once dead in our transgressions having been given the gift of new life – justified and sanctified by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus our Lord.
How do you think that would fare in the world? What if the next time you heard someone ask, “Are you going green?” you responded with, “Yes, like a stone that has been brought to life, my entire existence shines with the greenness of life because of Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior.” What do you think the other person’s response might be? My hope is that you would encounter another living stone and the two of you would encourage one another, but we do live in a fallen world…
One day, when Christ returns and the Season of Grace is ended, it will be too late for those who reject Jesus and His message. So, until that day, may we be recognized as ambassadors of life in this world sharing freely as Christ has shared with us – and this is not for our glory – it is for the glory of Christ: the one who has come and will come again with glory.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff
Eph. 2:8-9
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Recently Jack and Cathy Carlos visited and gave a presentation about the work they will be doing in West Africa. Throughout the whole presentation Jack and Cathy keep mentioning how they are trusting in God throughout whole process from the deciding to go overseas to classes they are taking before they leave to even trusting that God will provide through the people in West Africa to provide their daily needs.
After hearing Jack and Cathy, Isaiah 6:8 kept running through my head. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” Isaiah 6:8 is a verse that I read almost daily during the weeks leading up to my placement at St. John Lutheran Church in Ellinwood, KS for my DCE internship. It really helped me to remember that God is bigger than I am and that I need to trust that wherever I was sent for internship it was part of His plan. I am very thankful and could not be more blessed to have been placed here.
How often in your life do you try and be in control and not trust in God? When you get in a situation that you really do not know what to do who do you turn to first your best friend or do you go to God in prayer? Do you have way more food or clothes than you need because you do not know what tomorrow is going to bring? Would you like to be able to say this is going to happen today and never have any surprises?
Throughout the Bible we are told trust in God and you will have everything you will need and He will watch over and protect you. Proverbs 3:5 tells us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” We will have good times and bad times; you will have those moments you want to remember and those moments you would like to forget; but remember in all things Christ is right there with you and He will never lead you down a stray path.
In Christ,
Kate L, DCE
P.S. Thank you so much for the reception and card shower for my commissioning and installation. I could not be more blessed! I am looking forward to seeing what God has planned for you and I was we work together to serve Him!
Recently Jack and Cathy Carlos visited and gave a presentation about the work they will be doing in West Africa. Throughout the whole presentation Jack and Cathy keep mentioning how they are trusting in God throughout whole process from the deciding to go overseas to classes they are taking before they leave to even trusting that God will provide through the people in West Africa to provide their daily needs.
After hearing Jack and Cathy, Isaiah 6:8 kept running through my head. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” Isaiah 6:8 is a verse that I read almost daily during the weeks leading up to my placement at St. John Lutheran Church in Ellinwood, KS for my DCE internship. It really helped me to remember that God is bigger than I am and that I need to trust that wherever I was sent for internship it was part of His plan. I am very thankful and could not be more blessed to have been placed here.
How often in your life do you try and be in control and not trust in God? When you get in a situation that you really do not know what to do who do you turn to first your best friend or do you go to God in prayer? Do you have way more food or clothes than you need because you do not know what tomorrow is going to bring? Would you like to be able to say this is going to happen today and never have any surprises?
Throughout the Bible we are told trust in God and you will have everything you will need and He will watch over and protect you. Proverbs 3:5 tells us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” We will have good times and bad times; you will have those moments you want to remember and those moments you would like to forget; but remember in all things Christ is right there with you and He will never lead you down a stray path.
In Christ,
Kate L, DCE
P.S. Thank you so much for the reception and card shower for my commissioning and installation. I could not be more blessed! I am looking forward to seeing what God has planned for you and I was we work together to serve Him!
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