How are your New Year’s resolutions going?
This past Sunday I asked Unity to adopt a resolution for this year. Really, it’s more of an intention of what we choose to focus our time and energy on.
We resolve to GO.
Go where?
To GO out into the world and create new disciples. Yes, we are to respond to Jesus’ command to go into Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth…or in our case— to go into Denver, Lincoln County, and beyond.
But…it’s kind of hard to GO when we are in the middle of a pandemic, right?
I believe we can get started in fulfilling this intention even in the midst of our current restrictions. We’ll just have to be a bit more creative.
Here’s how:
Prayer and Share.
Begin with prayer. I don’t mean simply continuing your normal pattern of prayer—whether that is before meals or before bed. I’m asking you to create a new time each day— even 5 minutes— to pray for Lincoln County.
Unity will be unable to fulfill Jesus’ command without the guidance and direction of God. God leads, we follow.
Pray that God will use Unity to reach as far as Lincolnton, Vale and beyond.
Pray that God will work through our church to communicate the good, life changing message of the Gospel to those who have not heard it.
Pray that God will give our congregation the creativity and resourcefulness to connect with those who do not attend church and perhaps have never attended church.
We begin with prayer, and then we share.
Sharing may look like talking with your neighbor from six feet away (or, even better, from MORE than six feet away. Stay safe)! Do you have your neighbors’ phone numbers? You can call or text and see how they are doing.
Sharing may be sending an invitation to live stream one of Unity’s worship services or to host a watch party on Facebook.
Sharing may be calling someone that you think is interested in church and faith and striking up a conversation.
Sharing may be Facetiming a college student, single family member, or elderly relative who lives alone and asking them how they are doing—and really listening.
St. Teresa of Avila is a Carmelite nun who lived in the 15th century. She founded 14 monasteries during her time of ministry. Teresa taught that since Jesus has ascended into heaven, the only body Jesus has in which to act in the world is the church.
“Christ has no body now, but yours. No hands, no feet on earth, but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion into the world. Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world.”
-St. Teresa of Avila
May Unity be the body of Christ in Lincoln County in this new year of 2021. May our hands share food with our hungry neighbor. May our feet take Christ’s message of love into the community. May our eyes see the world as Jesus sees the world.
This is going to be a great year.
See you on Sunday!
-Pastor David
