Dear Friends,
This Sunday we continue to reflect on Jesus as the vine and we are the branches. What type of loving fruit are we producing through the love of Jesus?
If you would like a home visit, conversation, or home communion, please call me at 573-437-2779 (church).
- The Dorcas and St. Peter’s will be serving lunch and cookies at the Blood Drive at Immaculate Conception Church on Thursday, May 9 from 12-6.
- Owensville High School Graduates will be recognized during worship on Sunday, May 12th.
- Pastor Stephanie’s Farewell Service will be on Sunday, May 19th.
- The Scenic Regional Library is sponsoring a grave cleaning event in the St. Peter’s Cemetery on Saturday, June 8. Register at the library.
Blessings,
Pastor Stephanie DeLong
Scripture: Acts 10:44-48 • Psalm 98 • 1 John 5:1-6 • John 15:9-17
Sermon: Chosen and Appointed
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15: 12, NRSV
In John 15:9-17 Jesus continues his discussion about how he is the vine, and we are the branches, but now he adds to the discussion by explaining how we are to love and care for each other. Our fruit is produced by showing love for one another as Jesus has loved us. This is more than loving your neighbor as you love yourself. This is love as Jesus has loved us and Jesus has set the bar high.
Jesus loved us so much that he laid down his life for us. This is an amazing amount of love to have and to show it. How are we to be able to even come close? Jesus laid down his life so that we might have new life through him. Jesus laid down his life in love so that we live in a whole new way. Jesus loved us and the whole world so that we would live loving lives.
Too often love is associated with a feeling of overwhelming joy and anxious moods. This is the romantic love of infatuation sung about by pop stars. The “I cannot live without you love”. The “whole world goes away when the object of your love walks into the room” kind of love. The “My hormones go wild when I see you kind of love”. As any couple who has been married for more than a year or two will tell you, this type of love is fleeting. A real loving relationship takes work.
Love is doing loving things day after day because we choose to do them. In the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” the main character Tevye contemplates about love as his daughters get married. His daughters want “love” marriages. His marriage to his wife Golde was an arranged marriage. So, in a reflective mood he asks his wife “Do you love me?” She responds with all she has done for him and all they have been through together for the last 25 years and reflects, “If that is not love then what is?” The two agree that they love each other.
To love as Jesus wants us to love is a choice empowered by the love that Jesus has for us. The choice to love is not always easy, but it can be transformative. This is the kind of love which Mother Teresa speaks about in the poem found on the wall of her orphanage. This is the poem:
“Mother Teresa's Anyway Poem”
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
Inscribed on the wall of Mother Teresa's children's home in Calcutta.”
― Mother Teresa
How we love and live is connected to our relationship with God. We are to live in loving ways no matter what the world may command us to do. We are to love one another because God love us. Even when it is hard, do it anyway.
Prayer: God help us all to live and love as Jesus loves us. Amen.
Prayer list: All who have been on our list for a while, Mark’ s brother Billy, Tyra, Freya, Vicki B., Barb Z., Jesse, Tammy. Jennifer, Richard, Tamara, John, Dixon’s daughter, Ashlely and Cody, Garth, Linda, Tessa, Carl, Kimbra, Liz’s father, Dannie, Lathe, Marilyn, Kris, Lee Ann, Bob, Diane, Linda, Keetha, Carly, Mia (Good news, she is healing.), Brenda, David, Dave, Jeff, Bill & Kathleen, Bill with cancer, Nancy and Pat, Son-in-law of friends for Diann K., baby Claire. Janet, Karen, Karen N. Edie, Judy, Tom, Mike, Larry
Family of John Walter at his passing last week.
