First Christian Church | Pittsfield

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Listen to One Another

07.27.21 | Michael's Corner | by Michael Ten Eyck

    Dear Church Family, 

    It is hard to imagine that the summer is nearing an end.  In the next few weeks, our college students will begin leaving for the fall term and classes will begin within our local district.  At Monday’s staff meeting we reviewed some of our summer goals. I would like to remind us to all be in prayer for our students and school staff.  Those going off to college face a continually eroding and philosophically challenging landscape that is difficult to navigate while holding on to a strong faith in Christ.  They need our love, support, and prayers, as do all of our students and educational staff.  The recent rise in hospitalizations and reported cases of Covid-19 and its variants are also complicating factors to an effective year of learning. While it is still unclear what this year will look like, we are all hopeful and prayerful that we can safely return to as “normal” of a learning environment as possible. To this end, I admonish us, as those called to bear the image of Christ to the community, to remember this calling as we perform our active citizenship. 

    Paul admonishes the church…

    Col 3:12-17

    Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  ESV

    These continue to be challenging times.  Listening seems to be a lost art in our polarized society.  Although social media may reward rudeness and boorishness, they do not build up our society in a positive way, nor do they provide the type of examples that are worthy of emulation. Christ-followers are called to a higher standard. With this in mind, let us work together sharing our perspectives and opinions in love and respect.  As we do so, let us also remember that we are building eternal bridges to share the Good News of God’s love which leads to life everlasting.  

    I also want to give a huge shout out to our VBS team.  To all those who led small groups, cooked, served, drove, painted, built sets, made costumes, registered, monitored crosswalks, ran sound, cleaned up, and in any other way took part in VBS…THANK YOU!  It was a wonderful week! 

    Loving you all,

    Michael