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LIVE STREAMING
The Grace of Christ be with you!
In the story last week of Lydia, we see a woman of means who is baptized and takes the church by storm. Rather than selling her possessions and giving the money to be held in trust by the church, she keeps her livelihood and instead offers hospitality to the church. When Paul accepted her hospitality, he in effect blessed this use of wealth as a faithful action. Yet the slave-girl reminds the church that ownership (wealth) that distorts human relationships is still an obstacle to faithfulness. How?
-By turning people into objects that are used.
-By oppressing people by denying them means.
-By imprisoning those who give oppressed a voice.
-By valuing people only by how we profit from them.
-By enshrining economics above all else.
-By separating freedom into physical & spiritual
One could easily read the story of the slave-girl and leave her behind, still a slave, after Paul and Silas are arrested. Lydia, who was named and was a person of means was able to prevail upon the church to bless her use of wealth as faithful. Yet can the church be prevailed upon to go back and listen to the slave-girl to hear what she has to say; to let her make her case?
Blessings, Will
SUNDAY SERVICE: 11:00 AM: Worship service -- Join us in-person or here online!
THIS COMING SUNDAY: "Aftershocks! " based on Acts 16:16-34. The Rev. Will Heyward is preaching.
OUR ADULT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS are not currently meeting due to Covid-19. We are planning to offer an introductory course on the Presbyterian Church this summer during the Sunday School hour.
OUR CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: Our Sunday Cool program for all grades will begin again during the Sunday School hour in the fall.
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Our mailing address:
P.O. Box 782
West Jefferson, NC 28694
Phone: (336) 846-7481