Christ Lutheran's Weekly Update...

Greetings in Christ! 

 

Announcements

• Our Sunday morning discipleship group (9:45AM) will continue our discussion on stewardship this Sunday. Join us to help shape our Fall Stewardship Emphasis!
  
  
• Attached is a sign up form for Operation Inasmuch, a day of service for churches across Radford, on Sunday, September 26th. Sign up and return the forms to Pastor Andrew. Join us in making a positive impact and developing deeper relationships with our community!
  
  
• At our August meeting, the council will appoint a Property Task Force, which was given the mission of finding appropriate new homes and locations for the pews, altar, and baptismal font. Please inform the Pastor or one of your council members, if you’d like to serve in this way.
  
  
• On August 12th, from 7-8pm, we're hosting a Pub Theology event at the River Company along with St. Michael. While this is targeted at young adults, all are welcome. If you know someone not connected with church who might find this kind of event intriguing, please invite them.
  
   
  
  

Devotional

In John 6, this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we hear a word of promise and comfort from Jesus. “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Since last week’s sermon was about the Feeding of the 5000, a passage that appears earlier in John 6, a theme appears to arise before us, one of sustenance at the hands of God.

 

At many points in history, people have tried to separate these two commitments, the spiritual promise of Jesus as the bread of eternal life and the physical promise of feeding all who hunger and thirst. But if John’s Gospel has anything to say, it’s that these themes are inextricably linked.

 

Simply put, Jesus first ensures immediate thriving before teaching about eternal life. The bread of heaven and the bread of the world come hand in hand in the hands of God. Practically speaking, any teaching about eternity that ignores the immediate needs of people who face food scarcity and homelessness is disingenuous to the God who feeds not only our spirits, but our bodies as well.

 

As we continue to grow in ministry at CLC, let’s help one another to keep this in mind. We’re called to provide both physical and spiritual sustenance, to feed our minds, bodies, and spirits with the blessings of God in Jesus. I’d love to hear your ideas on how do that!