Hello Gloria Dei,
At Gloria Dei we have a Mission Statement. Do you know what it is? Let me remind you.
“Freed by Christ, We Gather, Grow, Give, and Go, all to the Glory of God.”
I like that statement for many reasons. First, I love those first three words, “Freed by Christ.” You and I are part of God’s family because of what Christ has done. By his life, death, and resurrection, and through faith in him, we are set free to be the people God has created us to be. As the Bible tells us, we are saved by grace through faith. Salvation is God’s doing, not ours.
Secondly, once we have been freed by Christ, we can get on with what God has for us. On this Labor Day weekend, be reminded that God has given you a Christian vocation or calling. Simply put, it is “To Love God and Love Others.” In our mission statement loving God and others plays out as we gather, grow, give, and go, all the glory of God.
Think of the different roles you play in your family. Are you a brother or a sister? An aunt or uncle? A mother or father, grandparent, spouse, son or daughter? How about at work? What roles do you play there? What is your role in the community as a citizen? How about within your church family? Your vocation and calling as a person of God encompasses your whole life.
You are freed by Christ. What a privilege and honor to be part of God’s family, called now to love God and love others in a variety of ways. And as you do, it is right and good to love yourself too. Find time this weekend to enjoy family, friends, church family, and the beauty of God’s creation.
These days and always, give thanks to God for your calling. Simply put, in all you say and do, give glory to God.
This weekend in worship we are finishing up our “Summer at the Lake” series. Please read about “The River of Life” in Revelation 22:1-7.
See you in worship,
Pastor Tim
