Beyond Our Imagination

And now to God who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

— Ephesians 3:20–21

From the Desk of Father Ted

Dear People of Grace,

In the middle of his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul breaks out in doxology. He spontaneously praises the God who has given us his Spirit and thus is able to accomplish great things in and through us, things abundantly far more than we could ever ask or even imagine. Paul ends his praise with an hearty “Amen.” I love when passages like this are read in worship, because the congregation—who has been shaped by the liturgy—will automatically say “Amen” along with the lector.

The reason Paul breaks out in doxology is because, for the first three chapters, he has been expounding the rich abundance of God’s grace. He has been explaining the mystery of the Gospel, namely, that God has and is reconciling all peoples to himself and to one another. In Jesus, God has torn down the dividing wall that separates human beings and is repurposing those stones to create the walls of a temple that encompasses all humanity. And so, in light of these riches of God’s glory, Paul prays that Jesus may dwell in our hearts through faith, as we are being rooted and grounded in love, that we may know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge and be filled with all the fullness of God.

That’s a really good reason to break out in doxology, and that is exactly what we are going to do at our Ingathering Feast on November 19. After the 10:15 am service, we are going to gather together and share a wonderful, catered meal, and we are going to reflect on the life and mission of Grace over the past year. In particular, we are going to celebrate the abundance that we experienced, which at times was far more than we asked or even imagined. Does anyone remember the Rosary making or The Family Fun Night?

So, join the celebration of God’s abundance, and sign up for the Ingathering Feast on Sunday, November 19th. All the food will be provided so all you need to do is bring yourself.

010.  The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: Cousins in Context

Recent events in Israel and Palestine have gripped the attention of the world. Sometimes it can feel hard to understand—so much history, so many wars, so many political actors, so many strong feelings. Brooklyn has specialized in Middle Eastern politics and has taught college courses on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.  

LAST SUNDAY in Part 1, Brooklyn offered some historical and political context so we can better follow the news. THIS SUNDAY in Part 2, Dr. Walker will focus on the current conflict. This will take place in Parish Hall from 9:15 to 10:00 am in Parish Hall, and it will also be live-streamed on our Facebook page starting at 9:10 am.