These four rules occur to me as ways to get our responses sorted out and put in order to help us respond as God’s agents: remember to be in touch with our religious and spiritual community for inner strength; remember that we do not have to face the world alone; live a life in which love is a verb as well as a noun; and remember that we have more in common with each other than we realize.
When we be, the church people will look at us and know we are Christians by our love and our work. Christians are the church. If people look at us and we are not exemplifying Christ, they have a valid reason for not wanting to join us. I am sure we have all heard several varied reasons why people avoid church. This aversion to the church is understandable when we in the church do not live by example.
“See, The home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples and Godself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away… Behold, I am making all things new.”
Psalm 23, comfort, hope, and resurrection
Valerie Kelley delivered the sermon for Sunday, May 3. This sermon was written by the Rev. Kathleen Walker, the missioner for Black ministries in the Diocese of North Carolina. This sermon was made available from Sermons that Work. A manuscript is available here.