Introduction
So last week I started off with extolling my love for the sensation of starting a new journal. The crisp clean pages, the vast opportunity presented by the blank lines… heaven. However, this week I was challenged by another member of the teaching team who described an alternative affection for the last page of a full journal. They described the satisfying sense of completion and accomplishment in seeing it faithfully kept to the end. We laughed and decided this would be a good personality test, are you a “new journal” or “finished journal” person. If any of you make this a thing, we want a cut of the profits.
Of course the “big news” last week was the announcement that we’re moving towards changing our name from Grace to Vine and Branch. We’ll continue to discuss and discern this step together over the next three weeks. We’ve received some really helpful feedback so far and hope for that to continue. This week we’re going to discuss how this potential change helps describe who we currently are, who we hope to be and how it holds us accountable in the area of belonging. Look forward to seeing y’all Sunday.
Grace and peace y’all,
John Ray and the teaching team
Scriptures
Responsive Reading for Vine and Branch
Reader: Friends, today we affirm our identity and aspiration with the following declaration.
Everyone: Jesus you are the True Vine and we, your church, are a branch
Reader: Sisters and brothers and siblings, apart from the Vine, we can bear no lasting fruit.
Everyone: Holy Spirit help us to remain in you and you in us.
Reader: It is God’s will that we have life and have it in abundance.
Everyone: Jesus is the Way, the truth and the life. We abide in Him.
Reader: As we abide in Him not just for our own sake, but for the sake of others and the healing of all creation, to the glory of the Creator.
Everyone: We abide in you Jesus, align our hearts and minds, souls and spirits to yours.
Reader: In the Name of the Creator, Jesus the Messiah and God the Holy Spirit, Amen.
