During this season of fast for our congregation, scripture(s) will be placed in this area for all to use as we focus our hearts and minds during our time of prayer, praise, and readings.Scripture Verse for June 18, 2009 (day 24):
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by [c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues [d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire [e] the greater gifts.
15 Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues [d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire [e] the greater gifts.
– I Corinthians 12:12-31 (TNIV)
PROCESS FOR FAST:
•REPLACE ONE MEAL A DAY (LUNCH OR DINNER WITH TIME OF PRAYER, READING, AND PRAISE). •MISSED MEAL: EITHER LUNCH OR DINNER.
•ALL PERSONS STOP FOR PRAYER AT 12 NOON AND 7:00 P.M. (5/15/30 minutes)
•NO EXCESSIVE SNACKS AFTER 7:00 P.M.
•TAKE FUNDS FOR LUNCH AND SAVE FOR “FUSION FUND”!
•*some may choose to employ one of the other types of fast provided (extra).
FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR FAST, IT'S PURPOSE, HELPS AND FULL INFORMATION, CLICK HERE:
1 comment:
Pastor, what comes to mind this morning, as you title this "Unity and Diversity . . .," is "Ceasing to be Disjointed."
This morning it began to rain and for some the sensing of rain and the rain itself causes the body to ache to the degree that you want to remove that part of the body from the body. We may feel that way but it is not in our possibility to do so. So we tend to that part where there is discomfort. In discomfort we suffer together, but when we tend to healing the discomfort the body rejoices ceasing to be disjointed. In unity (comfort) the body did not know that it was seeking to be in unity. It does not know that it should be sought after until it finds itself in discomfort. There is a serendipitous relationship taking place here. In unity the diversity must be found to valuable and the people (the body) must be agreeable. At the moment of feeling discombobulated, the agreement of the body is not to cast out, but ceasing to be disjointed.
Grace and Peace!
Rev. Troy
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