Pastor's Top 3
.jpg)
Tuesday January 21, 2025
Friends:
Gone Fishing
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Simon, Andrew, James, and John met Jesus. When Jesus saw these two sets of brothers working, he told them to come and follow him. The words in Mark 1 show the sense of urgency in this call: verse 18 says that Simon and Andrew left their nets “at once,” and verse 20 says that Jesus called James and John “without delay.” Following Jesus is a very important calling!
Following Jesus is so important that it means leaving other things behind. Simon and Andrew left their nets to follow Jesus, and James and John left their father and other workers in the fishing boat to follow Jesus.
To show these first disciples what it meant to follow him, Jesus used a fishing image that they would understand. He said to them, “I will send you out to fish for people.”
Does this mean that all people who follow Jesus should leave their jobs and become professional missionaries? Does it mean that people who follow Jesus should not go fishing for fish? No, this means that in whatever we do, followers of Jesus focus on loving people first because that’s what Jesus does. So in whatever situation we are in, let’s join Jesus in showing his love and sharing his good news of salvation, bringing people to full life in the family of God.
Dear Jesus, you draw people in with your deep love for us all. Give us faith to follow you, serving you first in whatever we do, sharing your love always. Amen.
Top 3 Things for the Week of January 20
1) Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr this week for his vision for a just and equitable society and the courage to confront and work to eliminate and heal racism.
2) Annual Meeting this Sunday, after service in Fellowship Hall. A lite lunch will be provided as we discuss a budget, voting for Council (feel the nudge to serve on Council please talk to Jan), and the Reconciled in Christ program. (Regarding RIC, I am aware that not every member agrees with the program. We have a democratic voting method where every vote counts if present). No matter how the vote goes, let's commit to staying together serving the Lord as we walk with our community. Because come Jan. 27 (Monday) we are still called to serve!
3) The Clothes Closet open this Saturday,10-12, and volunteers are welcomed to come help. They fold clothes and put them out this afternoon, and Saturday. Donations can be held until further notice.