Dividing Lines - Our Fall Sermon Series
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Hello, First Presbyterian,
I love fall. I love the return of colder weather, football, and, especially, college basketball (at least when UNC and Syracuse are winning). Unfortunately, though, with the return of my favorite fall sports, my competitive streak comes out. If I'm not careful I can quickly categorize those around me as friends and enemies, as good and bad people based on which teams they're cheering for. The annual temptation of sports rivalries is only compounded by adding a presidential election to the mix.
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The truth is that we are divided today: by politics, by our favorite teams, by our trivial preferences and our most important convictions. But in the Christian tradition, we hold another core truth, as well: that in Jesus Christ, we are one. Near the end of the Gospel of John, Jesus prays for his followers to be united. He says: "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (John 17: 20-21).
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This fall, that unity is what we will be focusing on. We'll talk about what divides us, but we'll also highlight what holds us together: a common calling as Jesus' disciples, a shared Creator, the boundless love of God that claims and forgives each of us (no matter which team you cheer for).
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I hope that you'll join us in those services as we look for reminders of what keeps us connected and how God can use that connection to transform our lives and the world around us.
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Peace,
Pastor Billy
Upcoming Scripture Readings for Worship
This fall, we are choosing Biblical texts for weekly worship from both the Revised Common Lectionary and our thematic worship series. To help you read along at home, here are the upcoming passages:
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September 8 - Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 and Mark 7: 24-37
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September 15 - Proverbs 1:20-33 and Isaiah 50:4-9a
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September 22 - Proverbs 31: 10-31 and Mark 9: 30-37
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September 29 - Numbers 11: 4-6, 10-16, 24-29 and Mark 9: 38-50
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October 6 - Psalm 26 and Job 1:1, 2:1-10
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October 13 - Job 23: 1-9, 16-17 and Mark 10; 17-31
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October 20 - Psalm 91: 9-16 and Job 38: 1-7, 34-41
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October 27 - Job 42: 1-6, 10-17 and Mark 10: 46-52
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November 3 - Ruth 1: 1-18 and Mark 12: 28-34
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November 10 - Psalm 16 and Mark 13: 1-8
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November 17 - 1 Kings 17: 8-16 and Mark 12: 38-44
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Special thanks to Claire Noble for her beautiful graphic design work (above).
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