candlering

Dan Buttry’s visit

candleringWhat a great day we had on Sunday. It was such a treat to have Dan Buttry, Global Specialist for Peace and Justice, American Baptist International Ministries, with us for worship, adult education and lunch. Dan represents the kind of meaningful, contemporary mission work that keeps us, as a congregation, supporting American Baptist missions. His sermon and his sharing helped us see what a difference the gospel can make when communicated in a way that helps people live into peace and justice. And Dan’s work stretches around the globe, touching the lives of all kinds of people in all kinds of places. We heard stories from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, the Naga area of India. Philippines, Mexico and Kyrgystan. I was especially impressed with the stories of courageous, passionate young people who are learning conflict transformation from Dan and boldly practicing it in very dangerous situations. Our support for this work is surely well-spent. I hope this inspires us to give a little more to meet and even exceed our goal for the month’s World Mission Offering.

This Sunday, we will continue to “make the road by walking” it. Both Wally Bryen and Dan used texts from McLaren’s book so we are still on schedule. This week’s theme is “Rivalry and Reconciliation.” We have a choice of four great texts – the reconciliation of Jacob and Esau, the reconciliation of Joseph and his brothers, the celebration of those who care for “the least of these” in Matthew and the parable of the Good Samaritan. I think we will focus on the Joseph story for worship, though each of these passages teaches us something about rivalry and reconciliation. Even in situations of murderous rivalry the face of God may appear in compassion, forgiveness and healing of broken relationships. This is good news.

Don’t forget the potluck and pumpkin carving Friday evening and our Quarterly Business meeting Sunday after worship.

See you Sunday at 10:00 AM for Worship and Sunday School.

God grant us more light, more love, more life as we journey together.

Pastor Rick  

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We are a progressive Baptist Church affiliated with the American Baptist Churches, USA. We have been in Palo Alto since 1893. We celebrate our Baptist heritage. We affirm the historic Baptist tenets of: Bible Freedom, Soul Freedom, Church Freedom, Religious Freedom

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