Blessed.
“Blessed are kickoff returns, interceptions, and blocked punts. Blessed are wings, pizza, chips, and salsa!” Those may sound like the beatitudes of football season. Whether you’re a diehard fan or dread this time of year, you know the season is underway: televisions filled with hours of football, weekends organized around games, and people wearing their loyalties for everyone to see.
Sports can bring people together in remarkable ways. Football, baseball, basketball, and hockey (along with many others) have greatly contributed to our communities and country. At their best, they offer a picture of people with different backgrounds working toward one common goal. Each person brings something the team needs. Success requires individuals to give of themselves for the sake of others.
Sports have also helped challenge barriers to inclusion, acceptance, and diversity. The movie 42, which tells the story of Jackie Robinson, reminds us that what happens on a playing field can help change what happens beyond it. Robinson’s courage exposed prejudice and challenged a nation to imagine a different future. Sometimes, a team helps us see possibilities our society has struggled to embrace.
Unfortunately, we can’t rely on sports to bring us together in every part of life. And as we approach the midterm election, we know how quickly differences can become divisions. The noise can feel relentless, choices can be overwhelming, and differences can create distance between each other.
This Sunday, we begin Sacred Civics, a new worship series rooted in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Our starting point is the truth that we’re citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven first. Although that kingdom has not yet been fully revealed, Jesus calls us to live by its values now, taking them with us into every conversation and interaction, our community, and the voting booth. Jesus’ teaching shapes how we see every candidate, policy, and neighbor. Throughout this series, we’ll ask how Jesus’ teaching shapes our civic engagement.
We begin with Matthew 5:1–12, the Beatitudes. Jesus names as blessed the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. He invites us to recognize God’s Kingdom among people we might otherwise overlook.
On World Communion Sunday, we’ll also gather at Christ’s Table alongside Christians across nations, cultures, and languages. The grace we all receive at the Table reaches beyond any team, party, or country.
Also, this weekend, our 8th grade confirmands (including my son Isiah) will be at Camp Warren Willis for their confirmation retreat. Please pray for them and their leaders as they explore their faith and learn more about following Jesus.
Come worship as we learn to see the blessed… and bless the seen.
Remember, it’s not Love University… without U.
With love,
Pastor Corey