God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. --Genesis 1:31

“There never were in the world two opinions alike, no more than two hairs or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity.”--Michel de Montaigne

God made each of us in God's image and at the same time each of us is unique.

April 18, 2010 (Annual Meeting)

Give the members of your community a fair hearing, and judge rightly between one person and another, whether citizen or resident alien. You must not be partial in judging: hear out the small and the great alike; you shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God's.
--Deuteronomy 1:16-17

Let's go one step further and stop judging people as "small" and "great." We are all made in the image of God. It is our duty to love and serve everyone as God loves us. We are all called to act with mercy and compassion at all times toward all beings.

Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord.  BCP, page 826

Palm Sunday, March 28, 2010

Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had...Mark 12:43-44

After Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday he clears the Temple of money changers and then returns on a later day and observes the widow putting in everything she has. What would it be like to go “all in” to support something you believe in?

Lord Jesus Christ,
by taking human flesh you sanctified material things
to be a means of your grace;
grant us wisdom in our attitude to money,
and a generous heart in the use of the resources entrusted to us,
that by faithful stewardship we may glorify you. Amen.

Adapted from a prayer from the Church of England. 

<p>March 14, 2010

How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?1 John 3:17

Lent begins with Jesus’s instructions for praying, fasting, and almsgiving (Matthew 6:1-18). Giving alms means making the needs of others our own. Those in need are all around us and when we share our money with our neighbors in need we experience the fullness of life.

February 28, 2010

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20

Your word is a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path. Psalm 119:105

Jesus sent out the Apostles two-by-two not one-by-one. Let us join together as partners, as families, as a church to love and serve the Lord and proclaim the good news.