Dear FPCLA,
Wow, it’s already February. Time does fly.
February is Black History Month. Black History Month is an opportunity for us to understand Black History that goes beyond racism and slavery. It is a chance to celebrate their achievement and to understand how our stories, including our struggles and victories, intertwined with theirs.
How are you planning to observe Black History Month?
Sermon: The Stories We Tell
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
1-2 Friends, let me go over the Message with you one final time—this Message that I proclaimed and that you made your own; this Message on which you took your stand and by which your life has been saved. (I’m assuming, now, that your belief was the real thing and not a passing fancy, that you’re in this for good and holding fast.)
3-9 The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says; that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers, and later to more than five hundred of his followers all at the same time, most of them still around (although a few have since died); that he then spent time with James and the rest of those he commissioned to represent him; and that he finally presented himself alive to me. It was fitting that I bring up the rear. I don’t deserve to be included in that inner circle, as you well know, having spent all those early years trying my best to stamp God’s church right out of existence.
10-11 But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I’m not about to let his grace go to waste. Haven’t I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn’t amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it. So whether you heard it from me or from those others, it’s all the same: We spoke God’s truth and you entrusted your lives.
Announcements:
- We are back to in person worship at 1:15pm and remote worship. There is no fellowship hour afterwards, but instead will head out for meal and drinks.
- We have lots of church t-shirts. If you want me, we will send it out to you. Please email Pastor Sam. Colors are black and charcoal with sizes S,M, L.
- If you have the means, please give to FPCLA.
