Rejection Hurts

Good Afternoon Church Family!

Well, tonight is the night. The Super Bowl is on. Not sure how Steeler fans are coping with this. If the 49er's win, we share 6 Super Bowl trophies with them. If our rival Ravens win, we... Well, we don't even want to go there! Go Steelers! Pitchers and Catchers report February 12!

Worship was a blessed time of togetherness as we celebrated the Sacrament of Communion together at our services. Our focus today dealt with rejection, rejection received and at times, rejection given. Rejection hurts. In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus encountered a rejecting crowd in his hometown. Here are the words from Luke 4:21-30:

21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers[a] in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away. 

Rejection can take on many forms: rejection at school, rejection at work, rejection at home, rejection in the church. Rejection alienates and rejection can exclude others from being together. Jesus, proclaiming the mission from the prophet Isaiah, earlier in chapter four, came to seek and save the lost. The people were astonished by what Jesus said and they began to grumble, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" Jesus knew that it was difficult to accept his new authority because they knew him as the son of Joseph, the carpenter. The crowd had an idea to rid themselves of Jesus. "Let's push him off the cliff." The ultimate form of rejection.

Jesus, knowing their hearts of anger, pressed through the crowds and moved on. We too face rejection all of the time. The key is not to retaliate or blame, but when we do face rejection, by faith, we can be sustained through the comfort of the means of God's grace-
Works of Piety 

Individual Practices--
Prayer, Fasting, Searching the Scriptures, Healthy Living

Communal Practices--
Holy Communion. Baptism. Christian Conferencing (or "community")

Works of Mercy 
Service focused toward individual needs--
Doing Good (Good works), Visiting the Sick, Visiting the Imprisoned, Feeding & Clothing those in need, Earning, Saving, & Giving all one can, Service focused toward communal/societal needs, the Seeking of Justice;

These are the means of which we can be sustained by the grace of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. May God forgive us when we reject others and may we strive to seek to find reconciliation, wholeness and new life in Christ and each other.

Here is a link to a video played in worship today. It shows Susan Boyle, at once unknown and rejected. After you see this video, you can see how easy it is for us and society to reject others. Susan Boyle Rejected Almost

This week marks the start of our Wednesday Nights at Christ Community (February 6)! I encourage you to take time to come out for an incredible time as we begin with:
Dinner at 5:30 p.m.
Choir at 6:00 p.m.
Sing Out Loud Choir at 7:00 p.m.
Classes at 7:00 p.m.
Children and Youth Classes at 7:30 p.m.
Our evening together will conclude at 8:15 p.m.

I look forward to sharing the journey on Wednesday Nights with you!


Here's a pic one of our youth took today after the Souper Bowl of Caring at Pizza Hut! Our youth are awesome!

Have a blessed week church! It is an honor to serve and lead as your pastor.