Throwing the Cargo Overboard
Pastor Jason Sometimes we are late to the game. And this is one of those weeks! January 18-25 happens to be Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. So, yes, we are a few days late getting reflections and prayers to you. But better late than not at all, right?! Over the next 8 days or so we will share scripture, reflection, and prayers from the World Council of Churches for you to use in your daily life as we join the world in praying and working for Christian Unity. There is no better theme to coincide with the beginning of our new series as we reflect on the power and purpose of our words, language and conversation. So let’s use our words in a powerful way this week as we take prayers for unity straight to God!
Day 1 – Reconciliation: Throwing the Cargo Overboard
Acts 27:18-19,21
We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard… Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss’.
Reflection
As Christians from different Churches and Traditions, we have unfortunately, over the centuries, accumulated abundant baggage consisting of mutual distrust, bitterness and suspicion. We thank the Lord for the birth and the growth of the ecumenical movement over the past century. Our encounter with Christians from other traditions and our common prayer for Christian unity encourage us to seek mutual forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance. We must not allow the baggage of our past to hinder us from drawing closer to one another. It is the Lord’s will that we let go, in order to let God!
Prayer
Forgiving God,
set us free from the painful memories of the past,
that wound our shared Christian life.
Lead us to reconciliation
so that, through the Holy Spirit we may overcome
hatred with love,
anger with gentleness,
and suspicion with trust.
We ask this in the name of your beloved Son, our brother Jesus. Amen.
Miss Sunday’s Message?
Read or listen to Pastor Jason’s message: Can We Talk? Series Intro
From Sunday Morning Small Group
Sunday Morning at 10 am we held a great discussion on God’s call in our lives. We reflected specifically on what it feels like to be known and called by name. We thought about how we don’t always feel up the the challenge of God’s call in our lives. And we talked about how sharing those feelings in vulnerable ways can be an empowering experience that helps fulfill God’s call in our lives. If you missed it, here are some resources for you to reflect further this week! And we hope you will join us this Sunday at 10 for coffee and more great spiritual reflection.
This Week at Hood…
Wednesday, January 22 – 1:30pm – Prayer & Inspiration
Wednesday, January 22 – 6:30pm – Choir Practice
Thursday, January 23 – 3:00pm – Ladles of Love Meal Preparation & Delivery
Sunday, January 26 – 10:00 am – Sunday Morning Small Group
Sunday, January 26 – 11:00 am – Worship
Sunday, January 26 – 12 noon – Church Board Meeting and Deacon/Elder Orientation
Coming Events…
Tuesday, January 28 – 9:00 am – 2:00 pm – Hood Memorial serving at the DUMA Food Pantry on Broad Street, please make plans to share an hour or more with us supporting the neighbors in our community
Saturday, February 1 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Leadership Launch 2020, at the Regional Office (Fellowship Hall) in Wilson, NC (see above for more details)
Tuesday, February 4 – 6:30 pm – DWM (Disciples Women) meeting in the Fellowship Hall
Friday, February 7 – 6:00 pm – Valentine’s Pizza Party @ Pizza Inn (VBS style)–invite a neighbor and join us for pizza, singing, dancing, and learning about God’s love