Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18-NIV)
Dear Friends,
St. Paul's words to the church in Corinth are also words for us. In this world where so much division is evident daily, we are called to "the ministry of reconciliation"...a ministry challenge always, but we can understand ourselves as agents of reconciliation because "God has reconciled us to himself through Christ."
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby claims that ALL human beings are called to pursue reconciliation, and offers some helpful, simple ways to begin and to grow in this ministry. Welby's short 6 minute video below frames the need and the cost of reconciliation and how much we long for our faith to be a vehicle for healing. I find his approach really helpful and grounding as we prepare to talk about our final Spiritual Companions book "A House Divided: How the Church Can Save the World" by Allen Hilton. (discussion is Aug. 17 at 1 pm on the Elm St. porch), and as we prepare for a sabbatical season of reflection on how we live out our Baptismal promises in our actual lives.
Welby invites us to cultivate 3 habits to build capacity for the work of reconciliation:
Be Curious
Be Present
Reimagine
Click on the video below to hear him describe them; and pray for yourself, our church, our country and the world. This is where we begin.
Blessings,
Nancy+
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