Dear Jennifer,

In the past month for our stewardship season, we focused on the theme, We Belong Together. Of course, we were talking about this in the context of our congregational life. But as we are now confronted by the culmination of our national election season, how does the theme We Belong Together apply? Jesus makes it very clear that we are to love our enemies and pray for those that persecute us. Jesus is clarifying that even our enemies belong together with us.

Loving our enemies has got to be in the running for one of the most difficult demands that God makes of us. And I think it’s a challenge that we tend to shy away from in our current state of political and social polarization. Yet Jesus never surrendered to despair or cynicism, even knowing that his political and religious opponents would ultimately get him crucified.

Please join me this Sunday as we wrestle with what it means to love and pray for those with whom we disagree politically and religiously. And I hope you’ll also join us as we celebrate Communion and All Saint’s Day through the Lord’s Supper. 

Peace,

Rich

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

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

bit.ly/SVPCCoffeeHour

Theme for Sunday

When I look into the face of my enemy

I see my brother, I see my brother

Forgiveness is the garment of our courage

The power to make the peace we long to know

Open up our eyes to see the wounds that bind all of humankind 

May our shutter hearts greet the dawn of life with charity and love

Lyrics from the song, Brother, by the Brilliance

• Who are your enemies or those that persecute you and loved ones? 
• Why do you think it’s so important to Jesus that he loves and prays for his enemies? 

Matthew 5:43-47



“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same?