Jesus protests against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God’s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things, but from the intentions of the human heart. Last week Jesus told us “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Now James says God has given us birth by the word of truth. We who were washed in the word when we were born in the font return to it every Sunday to ask God to create in us clean hearts. The sermon is entitled: Life Affirming Living! 

A PRAYER FOR GOOD SHEPHERD DURING OUR VISIONING PROCESS

Lord, we come to you today with open hands and open hearts, ready to depend on you to help us through the day and all it will bring our way. Help each one of us be like Nehemiah, help us come to you for guidance, strength, provision, and protection, as the Visioning Team and the Call Committee will be faced with many important choices and decisions for our future congregation in the upcoming weeks and months, help us to make sure it is your will that we serve, and help us remember that we are all Your children and Your representative to the world around us. Help us live today in a way that brings honor to Your holy name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.