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From the Pastor
This Sunday we will look at Matthew 25:31–46, a passage that speaks about the judgment of nations, when people are separated one from another “as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” Did you know that this was a common herding practice for shepherds at the end of each day? It was because the goats needed a bit more protection from the cold than the sheep did. Interesting.
In this passage Jesus also talks about feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, and visiting those who are sick or in prison.
Our denomination has chosen Matthew 25 to cast a vision for all PC(USA) churches, to engage in these three priorities:
· Building congregational vitality
· Dismantling structural racism
· Eradicating systemic poverty
We’ll be singing a Matthew 25 hymn, “Jesus Be with Us,” on Sunday. There’s also a video of the hymn. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the music by watching the video. It is a good description of the PC(USA) vision of what Jesus is asking us to do together around these priorities.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Paul
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