There are many divisions within our communities today: republican versus democratic, liberal versus conservative, wealthy versus poor, … We have found many ways to create groups that identify “us” versus “them” that have led to greater animosity within our culture.  Diversity is helpful for society because it can lead to innovative solutions to our social problems, but greater diversity built on anger and distrust stifles those opportunities for healthy growth.

This week we continue looking at the letter to the Ephesians as we consider the Apostle Paul’s plea for unity.  While acknowledging there are different gifts and perspectives, he implores them to grow toward a unity of Spirit.  Rather than becoming an increasingly divergent community, he sees the church as a mixture of diverse groups that inevitably become increasingly convergent in their purpose of loving God and each other as they mature in their faith.  We are encouraged to recognize the forces that polarize our faith community and speak of these issues in truth and love as we grow into Christ.

Special music for communion Sunday from The Common Book of Prayer, presented by Brandon Coz.

Prayers of the People for the week by Brandon Coz.

Setting goals is helpful in many ways.  They give us direction based on a vision of where we want to be in the future.  Without goals we tend to aimlessly meander through our day, or we may find that we are not able to reach our full potential.

In this week’s passage, the Apostle Paul describes a vision for the church community in Ephesus.  He hopes to see them strengthened in their inner being, rooted and grounded in love, and “to know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge.”  He sets lofty goals for them to be fully grounded in faith, and to have a spiritual understanding that goes beyond human understanding.  Paul’s vision for the Ephesians sheds light on the possibilities for our spirituality and gives us a direction for our spiritual growth.

Special music for the week by Jon and Sylvia Flint.

Prayers of the People for the week by Brandon Coz.

In modern culture, being “always on” is a common expectation. We have cell phones and laptops supported by vast digital networks that enable others to reach us just about anywhere we go. This constant connection can create significant stress that takes a toll on our mental and physical health. 

God meant for us to periodically take a rest from our work and even listed it as one of the ten commandments. Jesus also urged his followers to periodically take a rest after completing a big task. In this week’s scripture, we see Jesus leave with the disciples to a deserted place so they can temporarily “disconnect” from the crowds, but they are recognized wherever they go. Jesus had compassion on the crowds, continuing to teach and heal as he traveled, but he still took time to rest and pray. It is important for us to follow Christ’s example and make periodic rest and prayer a high priority in our lives. 

Prayers of the People for July 18, 2021 by Brandon Coz.

Special music for the week by Sheryl Clifton.

When we make a promise, we usually have every intention of keeping our word.  It reflects on our personal integrity which is one of those intangible traits that is hard to recover once it has been marred.  Although personal integrity may seem to be fully under our control, we often find ourselves in situations where we feel cornered between what we said we would do and what we know we should do.  And it can be more complicated than simply setting aside a personal desire.

This week's message concludes with a reaffirmation of baptism, so you may wish to have a small dish of water handy.