Peace Amidst Chaos-How Do We Live Within the Peace of God?

Join us for Canon Tim Clayton's sermon: Peace Amidst Chaos-How Do We Live Within the Peace of God?

What do we do when the name of Jesus is associated with violence?
How do we respond when the name of Jesus is associated with denigrating women, minorities, and refugees? How do we respond when our beautiful Lord and Savior is associated with a "shaman", an attempted insurrection, and sexual assault? How do we find the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – seem lost as an ethic of morality or of masculinity?

When we find ourselves deeply troubled and full of sorrow that some in the American church pretend that these things have not happened, where is Jesus? and how do we find the peace of God?

In this caring, loving, and thoughtful sermon, Tim shares some insights into being with Jesus, the Prince of Peace in the chaos and confusion. How we can learn to present ourselves before the cross of Christ and walk ourselves through to the empty grave.

The good news is that we are not alone in these struggles. Bonhoeffer and others spoke out against the rise of fascism in Germany. Wilberforce spoke out against slavery in England. The church fathers and apostles shared with their generation the beautiful story of Jesus Christ against the power of Rome and of Caesar.

Tim reminds us to remember in thanksgiving those great things that God has done in our lives, to recall them, to thank God for them; to think on the self giving love, goodness, and kindness of Jesus; remember to present ourselves before the cross of Christ, and walk ourselves through to the empty grave, and welcome the spirit of Jesus into our lives.

Our scripture today from Eugene Peterson's translation of Phillipians 4: 4-9:

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Sunday Mornings
Join us Sunday Mornings at 10 am on Boston's North Shore in Hamilton, MA. We meet in the Kaiser Chapel on the beautiful and scenic campus of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary 21 Billy Graham Way, South Hamilton, MA 01982.

Follow the purple signs for Trinity North Shore along the main road for parking and to the Kaiser Chapel.

Or online on our Services Page.

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May the peace of God be with you today.