Our Scriptures this week paint a complicated picture. Romans 14:1-12 lays out the expansiveness of God's mercy, and how vast an array of choices, styles and beliefs are deemed acceptable in God's sight. Talking about the variety of religious practices and beliefs of his day Paul proclaims, "God has welcomed them- who are you to pass judgment on servants of another?"

Right as we are breathing a sigh of relief, however, the lectionary brings our attention to Exodus 14:19-31, the well known passage in which God enables Moses to drown the Egyptian army in the Red Sea: "and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore." This Sunday we will examine Scripture, thinking about how these two faces of God-- expansive and merciful versus vengeful and death-dealing-- might be reconciled, or at least better understood.

After we wrestle with these big questions, sing, and pray together, we will celebrate the Assistant Minister Search Committee with cake and refreshments at coffee hour-- I hope to see you there!

The festivities commence promptly at  4:30 as Heinrich plays organ works mostly of Danish origin, inspired by his lengthy stay in the motherland last month. You will hear music by Buxtehude, Gade, and a couple of American offerings thrown in for good measure, by LaMontaine, as well as David Conte's setting of Cardinal Newman's text Lead, Kindly Light, which will also serve as our closing hymn.