James 2:14-18 (CEB) My brothers and sisters, what good is it if
people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith
can’t save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never
has enough food to eat. What if one of
you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you
don’t actually give them what their body needs? In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t
result in faithful activity. Someone
might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith
apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into
practice in faithful action.
If someone asked what was my favorite part of this past Holy
Week I would have an immediate answer although it might be surprising. We observed
Palm Sunday with beautiful arrangements of palms on the altar tables and a
choir cantata at 11:00. Thursday night we shared a delicious meal, scripture
and Holy Communion in an amazing recreation of the Upper Room. I received many remarks about the
meaningfulness of the Good Friday service, even from the two pastors and the
lay leader who joined me from other churches to lead the service. How wonderful it was to be able to honor our
senior adults who serve this church so faithfully in a fun way with their very
own egg hunt and party. Easter Sunday
brought us worship spaces filled with flowers and special music in both
services. We had a beautiful bulletin
board and “empty tomb” and in both services a way to display life coming from
our prayers and confessions. What was
my favorite? None of these! My favorite part was actually all of the
volunteers and my staff who came together to make all of this happen. It excited me to see so many members
willingly and enthusiastically giving their time and using their gifts in the
service of the Lord through their work in the church. God bless them. And we all had fun together.
Holy Lord, thank you for the church. Help us to continue to live our faith and
discipleship through service in the church and beyond the walls of the
church. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Have a beautiful day,
Paige
Paige
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