Dear Kris,

We’ve had some leadership transitions to reflect upon recently. We are experiencing a continuing transition in our pastoral leadership as Pastor Laura moves on to her next call and we (excitedly!) wait to welcome Rev. Annanda Barclay. In the life of our nation we have just witnessed the inauguration of one president and the exit of another.

These moments of leadership transition are times when we hear messages about what our leaders intend to do. They can also lead us to think about what our collective goals and priorities might be. Perhaps you’ve wondered recently: “What’s our congregation going to be or do in the days ahead?” or, “What kind of country am I seeing, now, before me and what’s my part in it?”

Even as we deal with the uncertainty of these transitions, we can turn to Jesus’ story to find some inspiration for our own. This Sunday we’ll look to a pivotal moment at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Come join us as we put that story alongside our own present reality, looking for direction.

Faithfully,

Hardy

Please join us immediately following the Sunday service for our Coffee Hour

(in-person in Trinity Court or online via Zoom).

bit.ly/SVPCCoffeeHour

Theme for Sunday

“In Luke [Jesus] announces that a new age was beginning, but that announcement carries within it a harsh criticism of all those powers and agents of the present order.”

Walter Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination

• Is there any particular “mission statement” that you find inspiring or meaningful? What is it and why does it work for you?

• When you think about your purpose in the world, what comes to mind? Are the things that you think about big or small, easy or difficult?

Luke 4:14-20

Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set free those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.