I’m not saying HOT DOGS are sin, exactly… Let’s enjoy the iconic amazing place and take in their generosity this weekend!  A special invite to join me for my annual hot dog on Saturday at noon:)

But as for Sunday… let’s prepare to remember (or learn for the first time) a couple stories that reveal something big about God’s guidance.  Nathan’s careful confrontation of David upon his sins of adultery and murder reminds us that one form of God’s guidance comes from human confrontation.  God calls us to tell the truth, in love and loyalty, to help our loved ones see their sins and hypocrisy.  God calls us to be bravehearted and honorable to deal with such loving confrontation. (David Angel would call this a “difficult conversation” in his wonderful workshops.)  

We take in this story, which is rarely preached, as we observe Reformation Sunday.  We remember together the courage of Martin Luther who, upon his own conversion regarding grace, bravely confronted his beloved church to call out the damage it was doing. The ways it was getting in the way of grace.  The ripples of his actions and conscience spread across Europe and then the Americas, creating the wide proliferation of Protestant churches.  Our own denomination, the United Church of Christ, emphasizes “God is still speaking.”  On this Reformation Sunday, we remember that attempting to hear and voice that guidance is not always easy.  It sometimes takes great love and courage to call for the repentance which opens for redemption (good news!)

So join us for amazing grace and tending “the guts for guidance.”

In Christ’s Peace,
Pastor Jacki