Sermon by Rev. Barb Lemmel and Rev. Mitch Hay

Readings

Psalm 1:1-3                Nancy C. Merill translation

Blessed are those

    who walk hand in hand with goodness,

    who stand beside virtue,

    who sit in the seat of truth;

For their delight is in the Spirit of Love,

    and in Love’s heart they dwell

    day and night.

They are like trees planted by streams of water,

    that yield fruit in due season,

    and their leaves flourish;

And in all that they do, they give life.

New Testament Lesson             James 3:13-18 (TIB translation)

If there are any wise and learned among you, let them show it by good living—with humility, and with wisdom in their actions. But if you have the bitterness of jealousy or self-seeking ambition in your hearts, be careful or you’ll find yourself becoming arrogant and covering up the truth with lies. This kind of “wisdom” doesn’t come from above. It is earthbound, unspiritual, and demonic.

Where there is jealousy and ambition, there is also disharmony and wickedness of every kind. The wisdom from above has purity as its essence. It works for peace; it’s gentle and willing to yield. It’s full of compassion and shows itself by doing good. Nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it. Peacemakers, when they work for peace, sow the seeds which will bear fruit in holiness.