October 16th, 2018

Mistaken for Jesus

Last week, I had the privilege of accompanying our son on a field trip. As we stood at one point awaiting instructions, a young child from his school came up to me and began to grin. He looked a little bit familiar, but I wasn't sure who he was. "Hello, Jesus!" he said. After a moment of shock over the boy's confusion, I realized that the boy had likely been at our Vacation Bible School this past year. I had taught his class the stories about Jesus each night, so in his young mind he had mistaken me for Jesus. As I bent down to speak with the boy to clear up the misunderstanding, I heard my son ask one of his friends, "Why did he just call my dad Jesus?"

It is a strange thing to be mistaken for Jesus. I felt awkward in that moment to even be compared in any way to Jesus. I fall so short of the glory of God that it seemed ridiculous to think anyone - even a five-year-old - could make that mistake. Yet this boy's joy in saying hello got me to thinking. Isn't being mistaken for Jesus our goal in helping others? Don't we want others to see Jesus instead of merely us when they witness what we do and how we live? Doesn't God call us as the body of Christ to be just that - Christ for the world? Perhaps the discomfort with being mistaken for Jesus is really the discomfort at how knowing I often don't live in a way I want others to mistake for Jesus. If I feel this way, shouldn't I try to change how I am living so my witness will look more like Jesus than it does not? This small child reminded me of how important it is that I take my discipleship seriously each and every moment because folks just may mistake what I do for what I believe Jesus would do. Today, I give thanks for and am humbled and convicted by this gift from God that came in the form of a mistake.

May you live your life today in a way that witnesses to the boundless grace and fierce love of Jesus Christ!

Blessings on the journey, Jim

Sunday's Sermon Snippet

Promises to God: Participate (James 2:14-26, 1 Peter 2:4-10)
When we are baptized or join a congregation, we make several vows - promises to God. We promise that we repent of our sin, accept the freedom God gives to do good, and trust and serve Jesus as our savior. We also make promises of what we will do - promises not only to God but also to one another. Among these is the vow to participate faithfully in the ministries of the church by our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. In fact, any time someone joins the church, we who are already members renew this same promise to one another. Over the next few weeks, we are going to explore this vow and what it means for how God is calling us to change the world. 
Before we jump into the ways we participate, I want us to consider what that word itself means. Participation has gotten somewhat of a bad name recently as certificates and trophies are given out for participating in almost any event. "You showed up!" the certificate proclaim - not the most inspiring thing to congratulate someone for. Yet participation is a big deal. To participate means to share in and do your part for something larger. In his letter, James wrote about the need to actually do something to help others than just to think about them. Faith without deeds is dead, he said. To participate is more than just showing up - it means actually doing something. We all have a part to play in any ministry of the church. Peter wrote in his first letter to the church that we are each and every one of us a priest and minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ministry is not just what the pastors and a select lay leaders do. Ministry is what we all participate in to make happen on a larger scale than anyone of us could accomplish alone. Some of us may be the hands and feet making things happen, but it also requires the support of others through prayers, encouragement, gifts, and being present. Participation in the church's ministry - in a large way or small - is nothing to be mocked, as we all are called to share in and do our part for the work God wants done. Sometimes, however, we are satisfied with our part being too little. We pray a little, show up a little, give a little, serve a little, and witness a little, and we call it enough. Yet we are called to be more - not just to do more, but to be more!  Participation means doing your part faithfully. Would we deserve a certificate of participation from God for what we are doing for the gospel of Jesus? Are we praying, being present, giving, serving, and witnessing faithfully both withing and outside the church? In the coming weeks, we will explore how we are called to do these things and hopefully discover how God is calling us to grow in our discipleship to change the world! 

Living in Community

Thank you to everyone who baked goods or came out to support our confirmation students' bake sale to support the local SPCA! With your help, they raised around $225 to buy supplies for pets in need of a home.  Thanks again to Monica and the folks at the 340 Quick Stop for giving us a place to set up!

This Week at Port Church

Wednesday, October 17
9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours
6:00 pm - Wednesday at the Port
6:45 pm - Cantata Practice
Thursday, October 18
9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours
Sunday, October 21
9:30 am - Worship: "Promises to God: Prayers"
11:00 am - Sunday School
Wednesday, October 24
9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours
6:00 pm - Wednesday at the Port
6:45 pm - Cantata Practice

Looking Ahead

No Wednesday at the Port - October 31
Christmas Shoebox Packing Party - November 11
Charge Conference - November 12, 7 pm
Drive-thru Nativity - December 14 & 15