"I appeal to you, therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice"  Romans 12:1 

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

In the first eleven chapters of his letter to the church in Rome the Apostle Paul has laid out for them in detail the place in which humanity finds itself and the rescue mission that God has put in place.  If one had to find a thesis statement for those chapters it might be found in Romans 3:23: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith."

Chapter twelve begins with an important conjunctive adverb - "therefore."  If all that has been said in the previous eleven chapters about the fallen human condition, the love of God the Father, the work of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit is true, and it is, then our response must be to "present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God."   

We brought nothing into this world - except what we received from the hand of God, and we take nothing out of this world - except eternal life, through the gift of grace received by faith.  All that we have is indeed gift from God: our life, our talents, skills, abilities, and the spiritual gifts we receive from the Holy Spirit.   

You are you, uniquely so, designed in the heart of the Father, redeemed in the love of the Son, and enlivened by the power of the Holy Spirit.  You are the delight of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Will you give back to him what he first gave to you - so that he can bless you?

"I appeal to you, therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."   

Risk Management Policies of the Diocese of Central Florida require that all volunteers/employees who could possibly be placed in a pastoral relationship with another adult complete a Safeguarding God's People Training.  In order to be compliant with Diocesan guidelines we are offering this training on Wednesday, August 24 at 7:00 pm in Roberta's Hall.  Those already in such ministries are required to complete this training in order to continue in these ministries.

The Office of Evening Prayer will be said on Saturday, September 10 at 5:00 pm.  George Madill, Officiant.