Dear friends in Christ,

Jonah is a familiar story of a man who is swallowed by a whale, and lives to tell the tale. But his story is one of contradiction and fear, hiding and trying to avoid God’s call for his agency in a time of great need, violence, and injustice. Jonah is an interesting figure because he is such an exasperating human. He complains, he avoids responsibility, he makes excuses, he pouts, and he makes sure to say, “See?! I told you so!” straight to God’s face. Despite all this, he manages to make an enormous difference in the world and in the stronghold of the oppressor of his day. Jonah – in all his stubbornness and immaturity – has much to teach us about overcoming our own bad attitudes, embracing God’s invitation, and speaking truth to justice.

During worship we will be blessing all of our June birthdays and anniversaries.

This Sunday we will have Bible Study immediately following worship in the Fellowship Hall. We will be studying 1 Cor 6:9-10, and the concept of who gets into the Kin-dom of Heaven, and who does not. Mistranslations often include the word “homosexuals,” but that has not always been the case. You may be surprised to learn what this passage really means when put back into its proper language and context.

We will look forward to seeing you there!

Many blessings,

Pastor Tracy