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We end our Community, Purpose, Love series on a high note by gathering on holy ground: The Lord's Table. Jesus gave us a simple but deeply profound drama to reenact regularly. These everyday acts of sharing in bread and cup were intended by Jesus to be a ground of unity for his people but what questions and controversies have swirled round, especially in the past five cen...
Keep ReadingDear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (1 John 4:11-12). Chatham Community Church is a community whose purpose is to love God, each other, and the world around us. Easy to say, much harder to do! Love does not come naturally. John ca...
Keep ReadingThere is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful lifefear of death, fear of judgmentis one not yet fully formed in love. 1 John 4:18 MSG Let's start by asking, "What does this verse NOT mean?" It does NOT mean we use this one line in the Bible to insult our Christian neighbors, friends, and family when they express con...
Keep ReadingBeloved, let us love one another This is how God showed his love among us:he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him God is love Whoever loves God must love his sisters and brothers (1 John 4:7, 9, 16, 21). Community, Purpose, Love our current themeare connected how? Three equal terms, in sequence: we begin with community, proceed into ...
Keep ReadingGod is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and matures in us. (The Message Bible paraphrase of the passage that includes I John 4:16-17a). The Hebrew language has this wonderful word: hesed. The trouble is, there is no succinct way to define it. Which, rig...
Keep Reading1 John 4:7-21 Good Monday to you, as we begin week 4 of our Community, Purpose, Love series! Our passage for the week is 1 John 4:7-21; please take a moment now to read through it. This is a challenging passage to write on. But not because there is too little in it; there is too much. John, the author, does not think like us, or write like us. Rather than writing in the ...
Keep ReadingJesus "appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He mightsend them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons." (Mark 3:14-15) Think of a team you have been part of: at work, in a neighborhood, as a volunteer. Do you recall the purpose of that team? What kind of people were chosen? Those with similar abilities, backgrounds, and personalities? A co...
Keep Reading"He appointed twelvedesignating them apostlesthat they might be with him" (Mark 3:14a). Take a minute to think about how our eyes adjust to light after being in a dark room. Now imagine that the light we must adjust to is BRIGHT. Really, really BRIGHT. We would run back into that dark room to hunker down, wouldn't we? We would hide our eyes. We would whimperor scream "To...
Keep Reading"He climbed a mountain and invited those he wanted with him. They climbed together. He settled on twelve, and designated them apostles. The plan was that they would be with him, and he would send them out to proclaim the Word and give them authority to banish demons." (Mark 3:13-15 MSG) What are your job description(s)? Some of us have "official" job descriptions tied to ...
Keep Reading"Jesus went up into the hills and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelvedesignating them apostlesthat they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons." (Mark 3:13-15a) The beginning of the Gospel of Mark shows Jesus establishing His plan to help the Hebrew peopleand, consequently,...
Keep ReadingJesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.He appointed twelvethat they might be with him and that he might send them out to preachand to have authority to drive out demons.(Mark 3:13-15) The job interview: everyone dreads it. "What will they ask me?" "What if I say something stupid?" Or (if we're more self-assured): "What if t...
Keep ReadingMary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country (Luke 1:34). You are wonderfully and uniquely made in God's image. You are deeply known and deeply loved by God. Jesus calls you his friend, and his Spirit has given you distinctive-to-you gifts so that you can be a difference-maker in the world God loves. While none of us has the particular assignments given to M...
Keep ReadingMary stayed with Elizabeth (Luke 1:56a). Here at the Liu household we are treating ourselves to episodes of Call the Midwife on Netflix. This series follows the community of midwives and nuns of Nonnatus House in the Poplar district in London's impoverished East End during the 1950s and '60s. The small community of midwives and the larger community of Poplar show up befo...
Keep ReadingAt that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:39-41 You know that feeling: the one where you walk into a room and know you're sticking out like a sore thumb. May...
Keep Reading"Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months." (Luke 1:56) Think of a small group you're most comfortable with - family, church, neighborhood, colleagues. What makes them so? Acceptance, similar interests, common goals? Stay with them long enough, grow with them long enough, they will act like a compass to orient you, a safe harbor to welcome you back when you have to v...
Keep ReadingLuke 1:34-56, Mary visits Elizabeth If we obey God, we'll find ourselves in some strange circumstances, in some unusual kinds of communities. And making unexpected friends necessary friends. This week's passage in our Community, Purpose, Love series looks at a micro-community: just two women, a very young and pregnant Mary, and a very old and also pregnant Elizabeth. W...
Keep ReadingWhen Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby,he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother."From that time on, this disciple took her into his home(John 19:25-27). COVID has messed with so many aspects of our lives. Now, as we are just beginning to slowly and carefully emerge from the pandemic's sha...
Keep Reading"We [have] become the children of God [we] are all one in Jesus Christ." (John 1:12, Gal. 3:28) What are the hallmarks of your family? An intimate, laughing tangle of cousins, parents, and grandparents protecting, supporting, and comforting each other, worshipping together, and offering hospitality to others? A distant father, quarrelsome siblings, an atmosphere of critic...
Keep ReadingNear the cross of Jesus stood his motherWhen Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home (John 19:25a-27). You know, mothers don't necessarily like Mother's Day. (Apologies here to you mo...
Keep ReadingNear the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.John 19:25-27 We met Esther the first time...
Keep ReadingWhen Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby,he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother."From that time on, this disciple took her into his home(John 19:25-27). Slowly the pandemic appears to be loosening its grip. Slowly life is "returning" to "normal." We still have a way to go before COVID is ...
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