Uncredited Internet Image
Not much of the Harvest Thanksgiving display remains in the sanctuary, our thanksgivings just continue to multiply. But how do we translate ‘thanksgiving’ from a thought or feeling into a life?
As we read through Paul’s letter to the Romans chapter 12, we hear exhortations not to be conformed to the ways of this world, and to ’think’ the faith, and this morning our attention is shifted to the Christian practice of life. Paul suggests our ‘thinking’ the faith is truest, and our thanksgiving in response to the grace of God is deepest, when we are sensitive to and care for … others. He writes that the focus of life in Christ is … the community: ‘love one another’ (Romans 12:9).
The image above may be unattributed to an artist, but wonderfully illustrates the attributes of Christian living according to the apostle. At the centre of being ‘in Christ’ is the dynamic of ‘one another’. And making ‘one another’ a verb is brilliant – ‘one another-ing’!!
Our worship will include some wonderful hymns that lift up the theme of love from the Christian context – ‘New every morning is the love our waking and uprising prove’, ‘My song is love unknown, love to the loveless shown’, ‘God is love, eternal love’. Have a look at this Sunday’s Order of Service, lyrics to hymns, notes from the Director of Music, and many announcements, each an invitation to grow in Christian faith, community and service.
Join us either in the sanctuary (following COVID protocols of safe distancing, mask wearing and refraining from singing) or by live-stream Sunday morning at https://youtu.be/gzD0r7A3YBw. Organ preludes will begin around 10:25 a.m. and the service will commence at 10:30 a.m. Previous services can be found on the St. Andrew’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/StAndrewsPresbyterianChurchKingston
A formal congregational meeting will follow our worship this Sunday, to consider a recommendation of re-purposing the church manse to assist the community in dealing with the current deficit of affordable accommodation. Participation will include members in the sanctuary and by a Zoom link distributed to members.