Our California-Pacific Annual Conference has developed and shared a worship service that centers our hearts, minds and spirits on the issues of systemic injustice and racism. While racism is deeply rooted in the history of our country, our culture, our institutions, our churches and our communities, this year has stirred, troubled and, at times, shattered our hearts in unique ways. God calls us to seek what is right and just for all His children; He calls us to a place of deep listening and courageous living. We have the opportunity to gather together this Sunday to share in this special service, celebrating the voices and wisdom and challenge or our United Methodist siblings in our California-Pacific Annual Conference.
I hope you’ll join us on Sunday as we experience this service together via our livestream. We’ll be able to share in the Chat Box as usual and gather for our virtual Zoom Coffee Hour following the service. I’m eager for us to share our reflections, our struggles, our questions, our hopes and our commitments as we lean into the Kin-dom, restless for justice, not just for one or two or a few…but for us all.
Blessings,
Pastor Lori
Ephesians 2:14-22 (CEB)
Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us. He canceled the detailed rules of the Law so that he could create one new person out of the two groups, making peace. He reconciled them both as one body to God by the cross, which ended the hostility to God.
When he came, he announced the good news of peace to you who were far away from God and to those who were near. We both have access to the Father through Christ by the one Spirit. So now you are no longer strangers and aliens. Rather, you are fellow citizens with God’s people, and you belong to God’s household. As God’s household, you are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. The whole building is joined together in him, and it grows up into a temple that is dedicated to the Lord. Christ is building you into a place where God lives through the Spirit.
