Month: January 2023

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Dear Church,

In recent years we’ve dedicated the month of January to renewing our commitment to our mission here at the Grove.  We’ve done a deep dive on the three parts of our mission statement (inviting all to serve and come alive in Christ).

Every year we’re on the same mission, but each year is a new season with its own beautiful gifts and challenges. 

I hope you’ll join me as we gather around the story of God’s promise to our ancestor Jacob and reveal our ‘word of the year,’ It’s a word that captures God’s posture towards us and inspires our posture towards one another and our neighbors.  I’m excited to share it with you!

Peace,

Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here:
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Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Dear Church,

Each January our community returns to its mission–inviting all to serve and come alive in Christ–to review, to renew, to recommit.  This Sunday, we focus on the call to serve that’s at the center of our common life and the story of the feeding of the crowd in Matthew 14.  Most bibles give this passage of scripture the subtitle ‘Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand,’ but it wasn’t Jesus who did the feeding.  The disciples ended up feeding the people that day, but only after they tried to send them away. 

The disciples had been serving the crowd with Jesus all day.  They noticed the growing hunger in the crowd, but assumed it was not their job.  They came to Jesus and asked him to send the people away so they could find food for themselves.  After all, they signed up to ‘fish for people,’ not feed them fish.  They assumed people were responsible for caring for their own physical needs.

They were wrong. 

They didn’t understand the assignment.

And we continue to struggle.  Some of us feel that people’s spiritual needs are all that matter.  Others of us are convinced that our call is only to meet physical needs.  A few understand that everything, every need, every encounter is spiritual, but are paralyzed by their own limited resources.

Today we consider how the power of Jesus still flows through us to meet the needs we notice.

Peace,

Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here:
https://www.thegrovecharlotte.org/connect-with-us

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Scripture: Matthew 3:1-17

Dear Church,

This Sunday we are looking at another one of those rare stories that appears in all four gospels, the baptism of Jesus.  If you have even the most rudimentary understanding of baptism–or of Jesus, this is a moment that does not make sense. 

I don’t know about you, but I was taught that baptism was for the forgiveness of sins, and I was also taught that Jesus didn’t have any sins.  So, what’s Jesus doing being baptized? If you are wondering this, you are in good company because Jesus’ baptism really confused and offended John the Baptizer as well.  When Jesus came before him to be baptized, John refused to do it saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, why are you coming to me?’  It makes it look like Jesus is confused about who he is and what’s going on here.

But of course, Jesus isn’t confused–we are.  And that’s his answer to John, ‘it needs to be this way now, this is what will fulfill all righteousness.’  What seems right and righteous to us doesn’t to Jesus.  In fact, the righteousness of Jesus is often unrecognizable to us.

Friends, there was nobody more all in and fully committed to Jesus than John.  The man ate bugs, for God’s sake.  Literally.  But when John actually came face to face with Jesus,  when John encountered not an idea about Jesus or a ministry task for Jesus, but Jesus in his flesh–Jesus made him uncomfortable.  Jesus challenged John’s expectations and his ministry practice and his faith.  The righteousness of Jesus wasn’t what he expected.  He couldn’t recognize it as holy. 

Every January we spend a season examining and reclaiming our mission as a church, together as a community.  I hope you’ll join us as we learn how John’s encounter with the Lord and the higher righteousness displayed in the baptism of Jesus can guide and shape us as we recommit to the first part of our mission, inviting all people to share in the goodness we’ve found in Jesus and one another.

Peace,

Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here: https://www.thegrovecharlotte.org/connect-with-us

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Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Dear Church,

The world has moved on from Christmas, but we are still wrapped up in wonder, joy and celebration of Jesus.  I hope you are still savoring the astonishing words of the angel who announced the birth to the shepherds, who were still working hard in the dark of a cold night, ‘Do not be afraid,  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.  Today, in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is the messiah, the Lord.’

The world has rushed on to gawk at the New Year, promising us that if we plot resolutions and self-improvement plans we can change everything for ourselves and finally be happy.  But the Spirit invites us to imagine a different kind of life, one that does not ask us to lose weight, get organized, work harder, save more money or do anything else to become acceptable in our own sight.  The Spirit finds us in our dark nights and whispers that although Jesus was born long ago, he was born for us too, he is our messiah-savior-the-one-we’ve-been-waiting-for, he will be Lord of the lives we already have.  There is peace, there is wholeness, there is freedom for us here and now, in him.  The one who has changed everything does not require us to change before he loves and accepts us.  In him, we find the abundant life the self-help-industrial-complex promises us.

This New Year’s Day we will continue to keep Christmas as we celebrate Epiphany, the story of the wise ones who followed a strange star that led them to Jesus and the revelation that the child born King of the Jews was also born the redeemer of all creation.  From the very beginning, the circle of salvation was widening to include those who are strangers to us but known as beloved to God.

Peace,

Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here:
https://www.thegrovecharlotte.org/connect-with-us

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