together at home
a weekly practice of scripture, reflection, questions and prayer
Gather the cup, the plate and the bowl. Fill the bowl with water, and set all the elements before you as you consider the following: Scripture For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Reflection In baptism, we enter the community of faith, and are joined to those who walk beside us as we take our faltering steps as disciples of Jesus, and who pick us up when we fall or are tempted to give up. In baptism, we enter the body of Christ, the dwelling place of the Spirit where all of God’s gifts are at work to take the word of Christ and make it alive and real to us. Here are brothers and sisters in Christ who will challenge us by their words, by their example, and by their love to recognize God’s goodness more clearly, to accept God’s gifts more openhandedly, to trust God more unreservedly, and to follow Jesus Christ more fearlessly. This is the life of faith - not just our own but the life of the body of Christ - to which our baptism summons us. - from The Promise of Baptism by James V. Brownson Questions 1. Who in your “community of faith” are the people who pick you up when you fall? Who challenges you, leads by example, and shows you how to follow Christ more fearlessly? 2. Who in your “community of faith” are you challenging, encouraging, leading? 3. Dr. Brownson names a few things that the body of Christ does for one another (helps us to recognize God’s goodness, accept God’s gifts, trust God and follow Jesus, etc.). What other things have you seen or experienced in the body of Christ? What do you do for and with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Prayer God, we thank you that in the gift of baptism we are joined together with our siblings in Christ into the community of faith. Give us a humble, bold and loving spirit so that together with the body of Christ, we may challenge and be challenged, encourage and be encouraged, lead and be led. All for your kingdom and your glory. Amen. Activity Suggestions - Coloring page below. - Looking back at Question #1, write a note to someone in your community of faith. Perhaps it’s a thank you note for being someone who shows you what it looks like to follow Jesus. Perhaps it’s a note of encouragement to someone who may feel like giving up on something right now. Maybe it’s just a note to say “we’re in this together” because we are all members of the body of Christ. (If you need someone's address and they attend Maple Ave., contact Jo in the church office and she'll be able to help you out.) Featured Artwork: Baptism, by Dani Suhy
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ServiceSundays @ 10:30am in the sanctuary and on Facebook
Office HoursMonday & Wednesday
10:00 am - 3:00 pm |
Location427 Maple Avenue
Holland, MI 49423 |
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