Prayer for Mission in Fiji

This week we pray for Niko Tapaeko, our missionary to Fiji.  He serves as pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Suva.

You can read more about the mission to Fiji here, including the story of tentative steps toward mutual work between different denominations in the island nation.

There are Christian missionaries serving on our behalf in many countries around the world.  Each week, Global Missions highlights the work in one of these countries and asks the wider church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

July 13 Worship: "Let Us Not Fall Asleep as Others"

Frankly, I'm still a little overwhelmed by Sunday's worship service, especially the sermon, which was meaningful as I prepared it, as I preached it, and as I listened to it again.  The Holy Spirit was at work in our midst, and the hand of God was noticeable.

We continued our study of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians by considering the issue of death and salvation.  After briefly exploring Paul's response to the Christians worried that those who died before Christ's return might miss out on heaven, we considered the type of salvation that Paul describes.  We considered the types of lives that God made us for, how we glimpse them today before living them fully in heaven.

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with others, you can find an audio recording here.

You can also listen to the related communion meditation and the closing benediction.

How Should We Live?

Here's an interesting recent story from Religion and Ethics Newsweekly related to questions of integrity and ethics in the business world.  This explores an issue raised by last Sunday's sermon, which admitted that we live in communities with conflicting values -- our Christian church and the wider culture.  How should we live and act in our wider community as Christians?  This piece considers that question specifically in the workplace.

Click here for the story and video.

July 6 Worship: "Do So More and More"

On Sunday, we concluded the Independence Day weekend with a spirited worship.  As part of the service, we continued our study of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, focusing on the apostle's encouragement for the new Christians not to backslide, but to hold onto their new faith.  In particular, Paul reminded them not to turn back to certain actions that were considered appropriate by the wider culture, but disrespectful through the eyes of faith.

In focusing on this text, we considered how we face a similar challenge today.  There is a certain way of life that is strongly encouraged by our surrounding culture -- what might be called "looking out for #1" -- and our Christian faith suggests different priorities and a different understanding of the value and integrity of each person.

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with others, you can listen to it here.

You can also listen to the communion meditation and the concluding benediction.

June 29 Worship: "The Good News of Your Faith"

On Sunday, we continued our study of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, focusing on the end of Paul's extensive opening section.  In it, the apostle writes of how he longs to see them, but how happy he is to hear Timothy's glowing report about them.  Paul seems to focus on their response to persecution and their ability to encourage each other through such challenges.

In my sermon, I emphasized two things.  First, it is also necessary for us to encourage each other through life's challenges.  More than this, though, Christians need to be willing to face challenges in order to live out their faith.  One cannot be a peacemaker unless one tries to make peace, for example, but doing so opens a person up to criticism from multiple sources.  In the afternoon, I amused myself by imagining that the sermon's subtitle should have been: "In Defense of Christian Meddling."

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, of if you'd like to share it with other, you can find an audio recording here.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation.

Prayer for Mission in the Philippines

This week we pray for Matthew Fehse, our missionary to the Philippines.  He is a Global Missions intern who serves with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines working on issues of typhoon relief and human rights.

You can read more about the mission to the Philippines here, including a reflection on the dilemma faced over energy policies that may benefit the environment but take away jobs and money from some of the poorest families.

There are Christian missionaries serving on our behalf in many countries around the world.  Each week, Global Missions highlights the work in one of these countries and asks the wider church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

June 22 Worship: "So Deeply Do We Care"

Evidently, I've been slightly oblivious since my recent vacation.  While I've uploaded my recent sermons, I've forgotten to post them here.  We've had a couple of joyous worship services recently, encouraged by some beautiful Sunday weather.  We've also begun a study of one of the Bible's happiest books, Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians.

On Father's Day, we began by considering how Paul approaches this new congregation, bursting with pride.  Focusing on his initial greeting, filled with thanksgiving, we considered how Paul and the Thessalonian church mutually benefited each other by sharing three years of ministry together.

If you missed that sermon titled "For All of You," would like to listen to it again, or would like to share it with others, you can find an audio recording here.

This past Sunday, we continued into the letter, where Paul describes the mutual affection that they shared together: "So Deeply Do We Care."

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with others, you can listen to an audio recording here.

You can also listen to Sunday's Communion meditation.