Of Snake & Joy

Luke 3:7-18

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

This Sunday’s service can be viewed on our Facebook page @ Sunday, December 15, 2024

Greetings everyone,

When I was much newer in my faith, I remember worrying about Judgment all the time. I recall the impending sense of doom and guilt cultivated by a parade of traveling preachers who emphatically preached on the wrathful predilections of God. For most of my childhood through late adolescence, my discipleship and growth was hindered. I didn’t understand that God’s judgement is a function of justice. And God’s justice is a messenger of forgiveness. And that God’s forgiveness was just one of the features of life-giving grace.
 
This Sunday, we’ll be lighting the Joy candle for Advent and meditating on Luke 3:7-18. Let’s be sure, this is a prophetic text. This is a text of judgement and repentance. In our meditation this Sunday, let’s pray that we are ready to see the calling to repentance in John’s warnings. Yet, actual and true joy doesn’t come despite our lectionary reading for this Sunday. True and actual joy can be found through and because of John the Baptist’s words.
 
We’ll see you this Sunday,
Zach

GATHERING FOR SUNDAY
CAN BE FOUND AT:
 
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Following the worship gathering, worship services will be uploaded to our website and will be available at www.newdaycov.org/listen.

NewDay Online Giving: https://newday.churchcenter.com/giving

Update From the NewDay Leadership Team

What has happened:

The leadership team met on Tuesday, December 10 and discussed the following:

  • Plans to meet the interim needs of the church.  Following discussion, we decided to spend the next week in prayer and reconnect on Tuesday, December 17.

  • Plans to search for a new pastor.  During this pause in the search, we are focusing on prayer through the month of January.  

  •  Plans to strengthen our relationship with the two other Covenant churches in Rochester.

  • Plans to continue to live out our mission and vision.

What’s next:

  • An evening of prayer in January.

  • A relaunch of the search committee in February.

  • The startup of one or more new small groups and new opportunities to serve our community together.

 What you can do:

  • Continue to be faithful in prayer for our church community and our leaders. 

  • Continue to be faithful in your commitment to serve in the ways God calls you.

Angela DickinsonComment