Weekly Parish Announcements

21st SUNDAY of PENTECOST  |  October 25, 2020  

THIS SUNDAY - WORSHIP AT 9:00 A.M.  

             ** INDOOR SERVICE **

REMEMBER to sign-up for service.

NEXT WEEK ~ 1 November: 

Remember to "Fall Back" and set your clocks back one hour. 

Dear Friends,

Diving Deeper into the Mercy and Grace of God

I think we know why discipleship is difficult. Take today’s lesson: “the Summary of the Law.” It’s because, in this section of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is asking us to do things that are impossible. The truth is “we want to do things ourselves, do things our way.” Our Gospel lesson asks us to reflect upon the “Summary of the Law” or what does Jesus think are the “most important” commandments? And such a pathway is an alternative to our ordinary life.

With a close review we find buried deep in the holiness ancient code was one, single command, Leviticus 19:18, that Jesus said was more important than the 611 other commands. Jesus responded that the most important commandment is this: "'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength' [Deuteronomy 6:4]. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself' [Leviticus 19:18]. There is no commandment greater than these.

“Love the Lord with all your heart?” Sounds great! I hear Jesus says this, and I quietly respond, “Amen. So be it! Yes – love the Lord with my whole heart.” But our hearts of full of so many other things! These are difficult times after all.

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But what if you are one of the countless millions who have low self-esteem, and fear that you are unlovable due to some aspect of your life?   What if society has taught you that you have no inherent value due to your gender, or your race, or your economic background? Jesus tells us to love God, neighbor and self with our whole, restless, heart. Well, I don’t know how to do that.

And perhaps that is precisely the point of conversion in today’s Gospel passage. In laying out what appear to be these impossible goals of discipleship, Jesus is not setting us up for failure. He is opening up an invitation. He is not judging us – we need to walk humbly, and to say, “I can’t do this myself.” And at that moment, he whispers, “Here, let me show you.”

The only people who need a savior are the ones who understand how much in their life needs saving. The only people who can reach out to Christ are the ones who have tried to do everything by themselves, and now see that there are some things they cannot do alone. 

Join us for Sunday worship and start or keep up your spiritual journey diving deeper into the mercy and grace of God.

Faithfully, Beverly+

THIS WEEK  will remain an abbreviated service with one form of previously consecrated communion at 9:00 AM only.

•            The Parish House will remain closed.

•            You will not need to bring your own chair.

•            Social distancing will be observed and masks are required at all times inside  

              and around the Church.

•            All Church doors will remain open, with a fan for circulation at each side door, 

              throughout the service. 

•            Please observe the closed pews, floor markers and directional signage.

•            Space will be limited to 50 people.  You will need to sign up on-line, by phone

              or email.  Your regathering covenant must be on file.