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Words from the Pastor – October 2016
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and we were all made to drink of one Spirit...Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
1 Corinthians 12: 12-14, 27
 I have yet to find a better biblical metaphor for the church than the Apostle Paul’s phrase, “the body of Christ.” As Christ ascended to heaven, he gave his remaining followers the mission to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey his commands. They became the church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, charged with “being Jesus” to the world.
Paul saw the church as having all the gifts and abilities (members) needed to fulfill the mission. What was needed was for the members of the body to work together, develop their gifts for ministry, and to love one another.
Over the years, Christ Church has been blessed with an active group of members that have served faithfully to teach the faith to our young people, offer inspiring worship, and to serve and help with the needs of the community.
On October 16 we will celebrate “Homecoming.” This will be a day to celebrate the past and to offer a challenge for the future. The challenge is for us to be that fully functioning “body of Christ” that Paul writes about. We are reaching out to our entire membership to take part in the inspiring worship and special meal offered on that day and to renew their connection to Christ Church as a place of spiritual growth and service for themselves and their families. Former pastors, Rev. Frank McKenzie, Rev. Martha Boyer, and Rev. Robert Reiff will be joining us along with the Rev. Robert Naylor who grew up at Christ Church.
If you have not yet given us your RSVP for the worship and meal on October 16, please call the church office. Let’s make “Homecoming” a day of joyful memories and renewal for this “body of Christ.”
Blessings!
Pastor Jeff
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