November 16, 2022
Scripture: Colossians 1.19-20
Because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in the person of Jesus Christ, and God reconciled all
things to God’s self through Jesus, whether things on earth or in the heavens.
He brought peace through the blood of his cross.
Devotion:
One of Maeve’s favorite phrases right now is: “All done!” When she’s done eating, she’ll put her hands up and say, “All done!” When she sips the last drop of her milk, she says, “All done!” When she’s ready to get out of the bath tub, she splashes the water and says, “All done!” But…sometimes she’s not really, “all done.” At first, I thought maybe she didn’t quite understand the meaning of, “all done,” but then I realized that her little comedienne personality is shining through: sometimes, she says, “all done,” but picks up another bite of macaroni and cheese to eat…and then erupts into giggles. She thinks it’s funny to say she’s, “all done” and then continue to eat or play or drink. And really, it’s pretty funny.
This Sunday, we are celebrating Christ the King Sunday, Thank Offering Sunday, and my final installation as your pastor for a term without an end date. With this installation, we can say, “All done!” and mean it! We also will be receiving the Thank Offering, sponsored by the Lydia Circle and our Presbyterian Women. And finally, Christ the King Sunday is the last day of our liturgical year. It’s the day when we say, “All done!” with the liturgical calendar, only to pick right back up the next week with Advent, to start all over again. It’s also the day that we are reminded of the finality of Christ’s work on the cross, as we read above in Colossians. On the cross, Jesus says, “All done,” and he means it. We also are reminded that Christ is King, Lord of all the earth and all the heavens, and he’s coming in power one day to make a new heaven and a new earth. Christ, as King, says, “All done” – there are no earthly kings, rulers, or presidents more powerful than me, there are no forces of heaven, hell, or earth who can claim your heart the way that I can, there is nothing else in all of creation that you should give your attention to. As we look forward to Christ’s reign, we know that Christ is already reigning in glory within our hearts, and we know that Christ will come to reign in glory throughout the whole earth. Even though Jesus says, “all done,” Jesus also picks up the next bite, the next sip of milk, the next bath toy to continue that work here on earth. There is still more to look forward to, more to do, more kingdom to build in our midst.
I look forward to celebrating that God is both “all done” with the work of forgiveness and grace, and that God is still working with us. Join us for worship this Sunday at 10:00!
Because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in the person of Jesus Christ, and God reconciled all
things to God’s self through Jesus, whether things on earth or in the heavens.
He brought peace through the blood of his cross.
Devotion:
One of Maeve’s favorite phrases right now is: “All done!” When she’s done eating, she’ll put her hands up and say, “All done!” When she sips the last drop of her milk, she says, “All done!” When she’s ready to get out of the bath tub, she splashes the water and says, “All done!” But…sometimes she’s not really, “all done.” At first, I thought maybe she didn’t quite understand the meaning of, “all done,” but then I realized that her little comedienne personality is shining through: sometimes, she says, “all done,” but picks up another bite of macaroni and cheese to eat…and then erupts into giggles. She thinks it’s funny to say she’s, “all done” and then continue to eat or play or drink. And really, it’s pretty funny.
This Sunday, we are celebrating Christ the King Sunday, Thank Offering Sunday, and my final installation as your pastor for a term without an end date. With this installation, we can say, “All done!” and mean it! We also will be receiving the Thank Offering, sponsored by the Lydia Circle and our Presbyterian Women. And finally, Christ the King Sunday is the last day of our liturgical year. It’s the day when we say, “All done!” with the liturgical calendar, only to pick right back up the next week with Advent, to start all over again. It’s also the day that we are reminded of the finality of Christ’s work on the cross, as we read above in Colossians. On the cross, Jesus says, “All done,” and he means it. We also are reminded that Christ is King, Lord of all the earth and all the heavens, and he’s coming in power one day to make a new heaven and a new earth. Christ, as King, says, “All done” – there are no earthly kings, rulers, or presidents more powerful than me, there are no forces of heaven, hell, or earth who can claim your heart the way that I can, there is nothing else in all of creation that you should give your attention to. As we look forward to Christ’s reign, we know that Christ is already reigning in glory within our hearts, and we know that Christ will come to reign in glory throughout the whole earth. Even though Jesus says, “all done,” Jesus also picks up the next bite, the next sip of milk, the next bath toy to continue that work here on earth. There is still more to look forward to, more to do, more kingdom to build in our midst.
I look forward to celebrating that God is both “all done” with the work of forgiveness and grace, and that God is still working with us. Join us for worship this Sunday at 10:00!