Growing up as imitators of God
We are continuing our reflection on Ephesians. Ephesians says that God has a plan to restore and reconcile all things in heaven and on earth and has called you and me to participate in this grand reconstruction project. We participate in God’s plan not by simply adhering to legalistic codes, clinging to rigid rules and regulations, but by imitating God in our daily life. Imitating God is our humble response to what God has done, is doing, and will do for us and the world. It requires listening to God’s Spirit and applying what we know of God to every situation. Imitating God requires a great deal of practice. It requires constant, continual growth. Imitating God does not come naturally, which is why we need the support and care of others. The church is the training ground where we learn and grow to become mature Christians.
Here is the link to the worship video: https://youtu.be/382f2-W8LMs
A Question of Identity
FMC Council extended an invitation to Paul Matheson to candidate for the position of Pastor at First Mennonite Church. Today's worship service is part of the candidating process.
Here's the link to the worship video: https://youtu.be/-HQ3JwHfmrE
Partakers of God's Wisdom
We are continuing with the sermon series on Ephesians. On the PDF you will see a photo of a Japanese pottery bowl that was broken but put back together again. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold, silver, or platinum. Kintsugi is a combination of two Japanese words: “Kin” meaning gold and “Tsugi” meaning joinery or repair. So literally, golden joinery. This art form does not hide the breakage or flaws but draws attention to how they can be put together. Gleaming seams hold together what was once divided.
In this morning’s reading from Ephesians 3 we will hear about the mystery of Christ, how the mystery of Christ was revealed to the church, “so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10). God has a plan to reconcile and unite creation and the church is the steward of God’s plan. In a divided world, can the church be the world’s “golden joinery”?
