The "E" Epistle

The "E" Epistle
United Presbyterian Church of Cedar Grove, New Jersey
April 27, 2008
6th Sunday of Easter

Thought for the Week
We have been created to need one another. Christ has commanded us to love one another, to link up with one another in mutual care and concern, and to feel responsibility for one another. The test of a Christian's faith in and obedience to Christ is not first of all a matter of belief, but a matter of love. As Christians we are those who acknowledge our dependency upon the love of Christ, a dependency that leads us to be obedient to his command to love.

Scripture Readings for Worship
Acts 17:22-31 (selected reading for sermon)
Psalm 66:8-20
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21

Sermon
Sharing Words of Truth and Love

Introductions to the Readings

Acts 17:22-31: In Athens Paul takes the opportunity to proclaim the gospel to the cultured Greeks.

1 Peter 3:13-22: The first letter of Peter instructs an early congregation in Christian morality, morality that is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus.

John 14:15-21: Jesus, in his farewell remarks to his disciples, links their love for him to obedience to him. "I will not leave you desolate," he says to them as he prepares to depart from them. He gives us his commands as a means of his continuing presence with us. Jesus, Lord of love, commands his disciples to love and gives them his Holy Spirit to enable them to obey his commands.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, you have called us to be your disciples. You have called us to walk in your ways and to follow your laws. But sometimes we feel very distant from you. We are confronted by dilemmas in life that cause us to question our faith. We come to an intersection in life and don't know which way to turn. We want to be strong and faithful, but that isn't easy considering the challenges that life throws our way.
Therefore we pray for the gift of the Advocate, the Comforter, the Counselor - the Holy Spirit. Breathe upon us, stand beside us, enter into us, that we may be the disciples we would like to be, that we may follow you no matter where you lead us, that we might obey your commands for our lives, no matter what. Amen.

See you in Church!

Our goal is to glorify God
by growing in our faith and
by inviting others
to share in this growth.