Hello Gloria Dei,
Today I want to remind you of Gloria Dei’s five core values. And while we could list dozens of values in addition to these, our five core values help to guide and lead us to always be about the ministry of Christ and, as they say, “To Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing”.
1. Proclaiming & Living Out the Gospel – If there is anything we want to be known for at Gloria Dei, it is “that the Good News of God’s Love for the World, centered in Jesus Christ, is proclaimed strongly and boldly.” God’s gift of salvation comes through Jesus. Hearing the good news creates and strengthens faith. And a living faith in Christ plays itself out in loving and caring for others. Proclaiming and living out the Gospel is our number one value.
2. Growing in Christ is Essential – Each of us is on a lifelong journey with God. Just like a child grows in knowledge and maturity, so too do we grow and mature in our faith walk. Regular worship, Bible Study, Christian friendships and fellowship, sharing Christ with others, caring for others, giving of our time, talent, and resources, praying regularly… these are a few of the many ways we grow as individual Christians and as a congregation. Yes, growing in Christ is essential.
3. We are a Luke 15 Congregation – I invite you to read Luke chapter 15. It may be my favorite in all the Bible. In it, Jesus tells three parables, all with the same theme. God seeks and searches for those who are lost. All of us, at one point or another, are lost or separated from God and in need of being found. God is a God who searches and seeks after us and rejoices when we are found. We are never out of reach of God’s love. This news is to be shared with all people. If lost people are a priority for God, they are a priority for us too. Invite your friends and neighbors to Gloria Dei where they will hear of God’s love, forgiveness, and grace for their lives. We are a Luke 15 congregation.
4. Loving and Caring for our Neighbors – God cares for all of us. He calls and empowers us to do the same. This includes caring for our fellow church members, but also our family and friends. Maybe most importantly, it is a value that calls us to care for those we don’t even know. Gloria Dei joyfully cares for this wonderful family of faith, but we go well beyond our walls, into the city, state, country, and world, to love and care for our neighbors.
5. Our Unity is in Christ – I once asked a group of Gloria Dei members if it were possible for a congregation approaching 4000 members, with a broad range of ideas and opinions on politics, social issues, and a wide variety of other topics, to be united in Christ. I was happy to hear them say “Yes”. Dear friends, we get a glimpse of heaven on earth when we all worship and sing praises to God together, despite our differences. In a culture that seems to want to divide us into different camps, we can and are united in Christ, the very one who gave his life for us and prayed for our unity. As Paul wrote so eloquently to the divided church in Corinth: “Let me show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31). Paul then launched into the beautiful chapter on loving one another, chapter 13. Yes, we are one in Christ. Praise the Lord.
People of Gloria Dei, having been set free by Christ, we strive to live out these five core values and to keep them at the center of who we are as a congregation. Thanks for taking these values seriously and joyfully. Together, by the commissioning of Jesus himself and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are the body of Christ on earth. What a joy! What a privilege!
For this weekend in worship, please read Acts 17:22-31. One of Pastor Sarah’s favorites.
See you in worship,
Pastor Tim
