Thoughts from DS Olivia

One of the beautiful things about the Church of the Nazarene is that we are a global church. We have made a commitment to work together across nations, languages, and cultures to be a Christian, Holiness, and Missional people. It is essential for us to remember this when it seems the world is coming apart at the seams. When horrific terrorist attacks happen like what Hamas has done in Israel, and when governments respond as Israel has, and when Palestinian and Israeli civilians suffer in the wake of it all we need to remember who we are.

As Christian People, we must remember the words of Jesus that those who make peace are blessed. While nations may fight, we can work for peace by standing against both anti-Semitism and anti-Arab hate in our nation. There is no place for this in our churches, lives, or communities. Remember Jesus' words in Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God."

As Holiness People, we rely on the Holy Spirit to shape us in such a way that we look more and more like Jesus every day. As we are being formed in love to be like Jesus our holiness leads to social holiness. This means we work against injustice of all kinds, we stand against the abuse of our neighbors no matter who they are, and in love, we recognize we are connected to each other by the image of God within all people. Holiness changes us personally and changes the world as we live in this kind of love that comes from God. 1 John 2:6 reminds us, "Whoever says, 'I abide in Him [Jesus],' ought to walk just as He walked."

Finally, as Missional People, let us keep before us the truth that we have Christian brothers and sisters who live in Israel and in Palestine. However, it isn't just those with the same faith that we are concerned about! We care about the lives of all people, for our good God cares about them all as well. As our Christian faith, which is particularly rooted in the message of holiness, is lived out may we be those who continue to proclaim the Good News that is for all people. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth a good word for us today, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." 2 Corinthians 5:17-20.

My prayer is that we will be people of peace who, by grace, walk as Jesus walked. May we embrace the reconciliation God has offered us and live as those called to mirror what God has done as we embrace our ministry of reconciliation in a broken world.

Pastor Olivia



See what the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene says on these matters:

1. Nazarene Core Values
2. Holiness
3. Discrimination
4. Peace and War

Winter Retreat Open To All Upstate Teens

We are excited to share registration information for IGNITE Winter Retreat hosted by Binghamton Naz. Join us on November 9-11 for bowling, a trampoline park, food, and much more including guest speaker Pastor Jay Geistdorfer!

The retreat registration form can be found here! Overnight accommodations are available. Those interested should make a note on their registration form.

Cost is $125 per student and $50 per adult. Payments is required at registration. The fun starts at 6 p.m. on November 9th and ends at noon on the 11th.

Any additional questions can be directed to Danielle Groome.

Thank you to Binghamton First Church of the Nazarene for sponsoring this awesome event. We are excited and looking forward to future opportunities to gather as a district.