Rochester, MN UCC - "A Fair Balance" - 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

In his second letter to the Corinthian church Paul reminds the people of what God has done for them in Jesus Christ- “For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich…” In Jesus Christ, God the Son chooses to empty himself and take on our humanity so that we might be united to God. This is the wealth, the richness of which Paul speaks, our union with God through Jesus Christ. 

 We experience the richness of union with God in our common life as the church. We are drawn in and made one with a whole community of believers. We belong to a new family dedicated to giving thanks, worship, and praise to God for all the blessings we’ve received. We become members of a body that loves and cares for its members and sees generous giving and loving service as the most honorable duties to which we are called. Belonging to our local congregation is the source of so many blessings in our lives, it is a source of true wealth. 

 This Sunday we welcome a new family into the life of our congregation, Shannon and Owen Witte and their daughter Nora. The Witte’s have been attending our congregation for nearly a year and we baptized their daughter Nora this spring. We’re thrilled to welcome the Witte’s into our congregation, confident that their presence and ministry will increase the wealth of blessings that we already experience here. We gain another family to love, and to serve, to give thanks for, and to join us in serving Christ through service to the world. Thanks be to God for the wealth of blessings with which we have been bestowed! Join us in welcoming the Witte’s this Sunday!

 Rev. Andrew Greenhaw