This is the weekly bulletin insert from Sermons That Work.
Explore the Way of Love – Bless
The Christian tradition calls us not just to believe. We are also to bless the world with the Good News that we have learned.
As the writer of Mark’s Gospel tells us, Jesus said, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” When we incorporate the practice of Blessing others into our lives, we are putting our love into action by becoming the Good News for others.
As part of the Way of Love, Blessing gives us a way to follow the example of Jesus. Just as Jesus was a leader and a teacher, he also was a son, a friend, a servant. Jesus understood the need to know and be known by those in his community and beyond. He understood that being seen, invited, and welcomed are ways of sharing blessing.
Likewise, we are called to know and be known, in the name of love. We are called to see, invite, and welcome as living examples of Good News. The apostles were called to give and teach and heal. We are called to give the gifts we have to bless, as God has given so much to us. To seek, name, and celebrate the presence of God’s love in our lives and the lives of others is part of being good news.
We are called to work together as we share this love. This way we are not alone in our work. We act together as the Body of Christ, being his hands and feet in this world. We bring the Good News to life for people here and now.
Being part of a worshiping and serving community is part of the Good News. As the writer of Hebrews tells us: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” We are called to give freely of our resources, our stories and experiences, our time and our attention. And we are called to invite others into this Way of Love. We blessed ourselves in the process. Others will be blessed in the process.
This is how the world will come to know who we are and what we believe. Through the way we bless them.
Will you commit to the practice of blessing others? Are there others you know who are blessing others, who you can join with to multiply those blessings?
Learn more about the Way of Love at episcopalchurch.org/wayoflove. You can find suggestions on getting started and going deeper with Turning at iam.ec/ewol.
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Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6210 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Episcopal Church welcomes you.
