Resurrection is central to faith

Beloved of God,

    This Sunday, after the Sunday school hour, we are going to hold the first of many standing lunch dates to fellowship as a church family. Because it is “Souperbowl” Sunday, we are inviting you to bring a soup of your choice to share, and join us for lunch. You can spend a little quality time with your church family and still make it home with plenty of time to watch the game.
    There is still time for you to submit nominations for the Associate Pastor Assessment committee. Please email the Deacons if you know a church member who might help us think and pray over our church’s needs for (an) associate minister(s). 

    Our Scripture reading for Sunday is from 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, and it is very nearly the heart of our whole hope. 
Through the long walk of the church down through history, the hope that has given so many disciples the courage to keep on walking is the hope that we are all walking into eternity with Jesus. For many of us, it will be hard to even imagine a Christian faith that wasn’t bound to (maybe even bound up by) this very hope. We live the lives we live, we claim the faith we claim, because we are going to one day join Christ Jesus in an eternal life through an eternal day. 
    Christ was raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Paul wants the Corinthians to recognize that far from resurrection of the dead being a wild superstition, it is in fact central to faith in Christ. Jesus was raised up, and we will be also. We who are united to Christ in a death like his through baptism, will be raised into a resurrection like his as well. We’re going to live, die, and then live again. Whatever we might face in our lives, even if it kills us, there is always a further hope that we hold in Christ. Talk about good news!

Please join me this week in praying for:

• An end to this pandemic.
  
• In thanksgiving for the many people who have loved us through our lives and the many opportunities we’ve been given to love others.
  
• Those who are missing someone who they loved very much.
  
• Those who are wearied from serving in ministries, and in thanks for the good work God has brought forth from them thus far.
  
• Doctors, nurses, PA’s, paramedics, and others working to keep us all well.
  
• Those who respond to emergencies on our highways, in our wildlands, in our communities and even our homes.
  
• This congregation as we explore what may be needed in an associate pastor.
  
• Each other (please email [email protected] if you’d like to be added to our prayer list).
  

You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world,

Marshall