Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“Who do you say that I am?”  Jesus asked the disciples in Matthew 16.  Peter responds “You are the Son of God”   As I listened to a sermon this morning on this text, I kept getting drawn back to this question for me personally, for you my beloved congregation, for my family, ad for the world.  How do you answer this question of Jesus - “Who do you think I am?”

Please take a moment and think about how you would answer this question.  How would you answer this question?  You may echo some of the answers shared where I worshipped this morning (by the way, I am not the only pastor that includes congregation participation in their sermons).  We shared answers like: Messiah, Savior, Lord, Teacher, love, peace, healer, friend, rebel, Son of God, Redeemer…. the list went on and on and was a varied as the person there.  We were challenged then to consider if our answer reflected how we live. 

Beloved people of God, this is an important question for Christians to answer today.  Our society is one of the most divided, most agitated, most stressed, and unsettled than I have ever witnessed in my lifetime.  It is such a time as this that we as Christians called to live out their faith: to be ready to articulate our answers to who Jesus is and live our lives in response to this. 

So this fall I invite you to consider your answer and find ways to live out your life in response.  Please consider answering this question along with the life of our congregation.  Join us for God’s Work Our Hands Day on September 10th as we serve our neighbors in our communities.  Join us and participate in worship, Circles, and Bible Studies as we gather in God’s presence with one another this fall. 

I also invite you (yes you - not someone else) to consider helping our children and youth be able to answer this question as well.  This year Sunday School will begin with providing a simple breakfast each Sunday before class between 9:00 -9:30.  We are looking for individuals or small groups of people to sign up to provide and serve breakfast before Sunday School.  Our education committee is busy preparing and leading class time from 9:30 -10:15 and are especially in need of help in this area.   They are also looking for a couple of people willing to help on Sunday mornings lead singing, or help with leading activities, or just being an extra set of hands. Please prayerfully consider how YOU - (yes you) can help out with our Sunday School program helping our children answer the question “Who do you say that I am?”

This year our Confirmation students once again will be looking for mentors to walk with them through their confirmation instruction.  The expectations of a mentor is to meet with the students 5 times throughout the year and discuss elements of faith.   Please prayerfully consider saying yes if one of the youth asks you.  If you are asked, it is because they feel a connection to you, have a respect for you and how you live out your faith, and would like to share part of this process with you.   Help our young people continue to grow in their faith… and also answer the question, “Who do you say that I am?” 

Let’s keep this question in front of us this fall as we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.

Living in God’s Grace

Pastor Krista