Focus on Core Values Part 4

 

This week we are letting our Core Values sing to our souls.  I’ve invited you to both find space to think, write, and share your own definitions of Worship, Caring, Welcome, Belonging, Justice, and Faithfulness ~ as well as find conversation partners with whom you can hear a different description of these words. 

 

In the Book of Acts, we hear how at Pentecost there was a worship experience that changed the hearts and lives of people.  After Pentecost the early followers of Jesus settled into an ordinary rhythm of breaking bread, praising God, and caring for each other.  People shared the resources they had with each other.  This is an expression of caring.  Peter and John cared about the beloved son who was sitting by the Beautiful Gate asking him to look them in the eyes ~ they saw each other.  This is caring and welcome.  The beloved Ethiopian welcomed Philip into the chariot and Philip offered the gift of belonging to the Ethiopian.  When we work for healing and expanding the boundaries of God’s expansive love, this is justice.  In the coming weeks, we will hear how Peter sees a vision of a buffet of forbidden food ~ of pork chops cooked in bacon-grease (see meditation from Tuesday for that odd reference).  Initially, Peter was like, “Oh no, Lord, I would never, ever let such food touch my lips” ~ even as his mouth watered.  Peter eventually understood that God is asking him to grow for the sake of another ~ or ~ faithfulness.  To be sure, it is not only Acts where our Core Values find scriptural support.  In Ruth, she ministers to Naomi with caring and unconditional love.  Jesus welcomes the children and invites us to do the same.  Paul says that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile; male or female; servant or free ~ we all belong.  Isaiah worships and sings with seraphim, “Holy, Holy, Holy”.  Micah 6 proclaims a way justice and Hebrews 11 says faith is the reality of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen, talk about a contradiction!!  I pray you are thinking of passages of scripture where our Core Values are hiding in plain sight connecting us to a BIGGER story that goes back thousands of years.  This is where my story, our story, and God’s story all converge and connect in holy ways.  Amen.