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Enduring with Our Values: Romans 5:1-5

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  Ordinary Time "Great Choice" series on discernment October 2026 Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  2  We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand through him, and we boast in the hope of God’s glory.  3  But not only that! We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance,  4  endurance produces character, and character produces hope.  5  This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (CEB)             There’s a Facebook group I’m in that I never remember to actually check on called “Things They Didn’t Teach Us in Seminary.”   It’s a pretty solid resource of people telling each other all the weird little details that weren’t in our church histor...
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Enlivening Our Values: James 2:14-18, 24-26

  Ordinary Time "Great Choice" series on discernment My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it?  15  Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat.  16  What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs?  17  In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity. 18  Someone might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action. …24  So you see that a person is shown to be righteous through faithful actions and not through faith alone.  25  In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the [sex worker] shown to be righteous when she received the messengers as her guests and the...
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Inspired and Skilled Communities: Acts 2:42-47

  Ordinary Time/World Communion Sunday "Great Choice" series on discernment October 2026 The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers.  43  A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles.  44  All the believers were united and shared everything.  45  They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them.  46  Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity.  47  They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved . (CEB)             Yesterday was the Southside Fest here at New City Center, an afternoon of food and music and learning about some of the organizations doi...
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Shearing Your Values: Matthew 25:31-46

  Ordinary Time "Great Choice" series on discernment September 2026   “Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne.  32  All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  33  He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left. 34  “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.  35  I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.  36  I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37  “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry a...
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