The Call

The Call 7/29/2024 - by: Kathy O’Toole Peters - Starting With Scripture Share The Reverend Kathleen O’Toole Peters is a retired UCC clergywoman who now lives full time in CT! She is a grateful and joyful member of the First Congregational Church in Southington, Connecticut. In retirement she clowns around as her clown persona SweetCakes, reads, walks on the beach and travels to be Nana to her granddaughter in California! Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16 (NRSV) I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. Reflection: The Call The problem with “call” language is that many assume that it does not pertain to them. Only religious types seem to use such phrases and Paul himself may have added to that assumption by using the terms “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.” Yes, he is talking about “equipping the saints for the work of ministry” but I would maintain that we are all called to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling” to be God’s people, “speaking (our) truth in love!” We all have a part to play in the “body of Christ.” As a sometime preacher it is always my desire to speak in such a way that the reality of God’s love is seen and heard and because of that love folks are moved to go out into the world making God’s love evident in the way they live their own lives. A lofty goal, perhaps even an impossible desire, but we all have the power to use our gifts and talents to do something that will make a difference in our little corner of the world. There is a wonderful story later in the gospel of Mark about the woman who anoints Jesus’ head with costly perfume and as the disciples complain about the wastefulness of this act of love, Jesus tells them to leave her alone…”she has done what was in her power to do” (Mark 14:8 The Jerusalem Bible) And that is all that is asked of us…to do what we have the power, the gifts, the talent, the resources to do…..to love and care for one another, all whom we encounter, the best that we can with our words, our actions, and our ardent prayers…even or especially when we do not totally agree with them. Perhaps in this time of anxiety, uncertainty and division there are no other words needed than these: "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, (make) every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace!" May we have the wisdom and the grace to hear and answer the call. PRAYER Loving One, move us to love as you love with unconditional and full love! Open us to see your call to us to be our loving and peaceful people. Amen New Prayer Requests: We ask churches and church leaders to join us in the following prayers either by sharing them during worship, printing them in bulletins, or sharing them in some other way. To make a prayer request, please contact Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane at cochranem@sneucc.org. Prayers of Intercession: Prayers for peace as wars and conflicts continue to escalate around the world. Injustices and inequalities manifest as racism, discrimination, gender-based violence, economic disparities, and other issues. For those grieving or suffering due to the ~9,600 gun violence deaths that happened in the US since the start of the year. For the friends and family of The Rev. Walter "Scooter" Pitman who passed away on July 20, 2024. Rev. Pitman held ordained ministerial standing in the Litchfield North Association and served for 25 years at the United Church of Christ, Southbury, CT. Prayers of Joy and Thanksgiving: For those who hear and answer the call. For those who keep being the Church. For local churches who are becoming more trans-affirming. This Week in History: July 29, 1921 (103 years ago): Adolf Hitler becomes the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ (Nazi) Party. Under Hitler, the Nazi Party grew into a mass movement and ruled Germany as a totalitarian state from 1933 to 1945. During World War II, some 6 million European Jews were murdered under Hitler’s state-sponsored extermination programs. [History] “Study the past if you would define the future.” — Confucius kathypeters.jpg