Put on Love!

Chapter 3 of Paul’s letter to the Colossians is a personal favorite (especially verses 1-17). I won’t quote the whole chapter…just a couple of verses that I find particularly timely right now. 

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  Colossians 3:14-15

As a country we are in quite a challenging place: bitter divisions around politics, continued racial tensions, financial hardships, and global pandemic.  And over the last few decades, a growing lack of civility and charity towards those who disagree with us.

So what are we to do?

Put on Love. Not the “oppy goopy mushy feeling love.” Put on the “roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty as you love your neighbor (dare I say enemy) love.” This is the love that listens without judgement or condescension; that loves mercy and seeks justice (God’s justice…not my own) and walks in humility.

And then let Christ’s peace rule in your heart. The “be still and know that I am God” kind of peace that comes by letting Christ have his way with you. The peace that comes from knowing deep down that you are part of his body here on earth. That abiding in Jesus peace that grounds you in the love of the Father.

And be thankful. Let your attitude be shaped and adorned with gratitude…for ALL that the Lord has done in you and with you and for you!

Whew! That’s a lot to ask. How are we to do this?

Again, Paul gives us a clue:

For you have died, and your life is hidden in Christ with God. Colossians 3:3

Paul reminds us that we have put off the old self…we have died to the old way of living, and are putting on the new life we have in Jesus. And so he tells us to put on this way of life as if we were pulling on brand new clothes. Which brings us back to the first part of verse 14: “Above all these.” Just what are all these?

Compassion. Kindness. Humility. Meekness. Patience. Forgiveness. We are to bear with one another (not simply put up with each other), but to actually bear the burdens that we face in these times with our brothers and sisters.

In other words, Put on Love.

Blessings,

Matthew+

Temporarily Disconnected

Due to a change in internet service providers and a hiccup due to the recent wildfires, our internet and phone service at the church is down. If you need to reach Fr. Matthew, please contact him by email: matthew.frey@stjohnsgranby.org  or by phone at 724-554-1992.

We hope to be back up with phone and internet by the end of this week.  

Coming up...

Lord of the Valley Women’s Advent Study

The women of the Episcopal community here in Grand County are invited to join in a Women’s Advent study: “Incarnation” by Adam Hamilton. Adam is Senior Pastor at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. You will need a copy of the book "Incarnation" available on Amazon here or for Kindle here. 

We will meet on four Tuesdays: November 17, December 1, 8 and 15. We begin at 11AM and we will go a little more than an hour.

Zoom meeting info:
Topic: LOTV Women's Advent Study
Time: Nov 17, 2020 11:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Tue, until Dec 15, 2020, 4 occurrence(s)
Nov 17, 2020 11:00 AM
Dec 1, 2020 11:00 AM
Dec 8, 2020 11:00 AM
Dec 15, 2020 11:00 AM

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZ0pc-6grTMvHN3zSRoYyY7xmYK5g1AFRLQ2/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGhqj8tEtedtR-ORpx5Bo-gKPzztlxYgo0OhizXDBlKW1TuO9tpZ7UuMf7i

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89447838569?pwd=SHd5UE15S0I0RFNJMEN1YTVWeUxqUT09

Meeting ID: 894 4783 8569
Passcode: 329248
Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799
+1 669 900 9128
+1 253 215 8782
+1 312 626 6799
+1 646 558 8656
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Mountain Family Holiday Giving

Mountain Family Center helping families in-need with Thanksgiving Meals. MFC offers these programs each year, and of course with COVID and the recent wildfires, we expect the need to be even greater this year. You can help buy purchasing gift cards at City Market to donate to Mountain Family Center. Please drop them off to MFC by the Friday prior to Thanksgiving.

You can also follow this link to donate towards Thanksgiving Meals: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6TE5QV2JYHWCS&Z3JncnB0=https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6TE5QV2JYHWCS&Z3JncnB0=

If you would like to receive assistance through any of these programs, please email katie@mountainfamilycenter.org or stop by the MFC food pantries in Granby or Kremmling.

Thank You!

Willing to make a phone call or two?

Greetings Everyone 

It has been a long haul of 9 months with COVID and the election. How are you all doing? We hear encouraging things about the virus such as treatments and vaccines that will improve our status. Still, the reality is that we have several months more of wearing masks, social distancing, and possibly a near lockdown.

How can we be a help to each other? How about if we make phone calls to each other? Reaching out in this way is safe. Others knowing there is someone concerned about how we are coping or not, can touch our hearts, unload our fears, relieve tension and give some peace.

Could each of us pick someone to call weekly? You may already be doing this – that’s great! Thank you. We are trying to make sure that everyone in our parish is cared for. To that end could each of you please email me and let me know whom you have chosen to contact within the next week by Nov. 17?  Doing so will help us see if we are missing anyone.

This can be a wonderful way of sharing Gods’ love. We know what we give out of love returns in abundance.

Peace and all God’s blessings,

Deacon Kaye

Join us for Worship this Week

Saturday: Evening Prayer at 5:00 PM 

November 14, 2020 05:00 PM Mountain Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/974290452?pwd=NUprQTAxN1NET0xZNXRsdnFkTm5HZz09

Meeting ID: 974 290 452
Password: 161595
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,974290452#,,#,161595# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,974290452#,,#,161595# US (New York)

Sunday: Morning Prayer at 9:30 AM 

November 15, 2020 09:30 AM Mountain Time 

https://zoom.us/j/99709427503?pwd=dlcydDlxVXZGdzQzRG5XVWNyOUFLdz09

Meeting ID: 997 0942 7503
Password: 179982
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,99709427503#,,#,179982# US (New York)
+13126266799,,99709427503#,,#,179982# US (Chicago)

You can find a PDF copy for both services by clicking the buttons below.

This Sunday's Readings

The lectionary readings for this Sunday are:

• Psalm 123

• 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

• Matthew 25:14-30

You can read them online here.

Sunday Morning Bible Study: Colossians

Come dive into the scriptures with us in our current study: The letter of Paul to the Colossians. Grab your bible and bring your questions as we open the scriptures together.

You can watch an brief introduction here from the Bible Project.

Our study uses our Sunday Morning Prayer ZOOM link.

Have you moved?

Now more that ever we want to make sure our church directory is up to date. If you have moved or changed phone numbers in the past year, please click here to fill out your current information.

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