Breaking Down and Breaking Through

A living parable of life at the Garden Church, is the composting that takes place at an ongoing pace near the back fence. The smells of rotting of fruit and plant materials, the flies, are also creating magic in the form of new soil. And this process of breaking materials down to create something new also brings in the local community. On Friday I will see Alex, Liz, and often Christine diligently going about their incredible work of creating something new out of what otherwise might be thrown away and go to a landfill. People on Friday will also bring their egg shells, coffee grounds, and leaves to us and make their way over to where the composting is taking place. This is ministry! Sometimes we overlook the simple things taking place around us because we are waiting for, ‘Something BIG’ to happen.

What if all the things breaking down around us are actually revealing some deeper spiritual breakthrough that can only emerge in their process of spiritual alchemy? This will be another sermon from the compost heap in our Faith Over Fear sermon series as we look towards spiritual rewards that are with us through these challenging times on our planet. Jesus assures us in our reading from the Gospel of Luke that our endurance will also gain our souls. Come and join us as you are able to.

Luke 21:5-19 Suffering for Jesus' sake

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them. "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Blessings,

Rev. Dr. David Brown 

Sunday Rhythm:

3pm Work Together

4pm Worship Together

5pm Eat Together

Come as you are, stay as you are able

All Are Welcome