¹³For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. ¹⁴For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

                                                                    Galatians 5: 13-14

There has been a lot of vitriol lately in many, many virtual venues. I have a colleague who distanced herself from Facebook recently when she was moved to tears by the dissension and anger she was reading in posts. I, too, have been saddened not only by the stark divisions but also by the seeming lack of love and compassion in a time when we need to remember the slogan “We are in this together” isn’t just about platitudes. Its about living out who we are called to be in Christ.

Paul writes to the Galatians at a time when that budding congregation had forgotten Christ’s call to unity in diversity. We are gloriously different in so many ways- each of us has different gifts, different limitations, different passions. But in Christ, there is no longer a dividing wall” (Eph 2: 14). Let us love one another.

Updates: The Worship and Music Committee is meeting tonight – virtually- to start definitive plans to restart worship together. Keep Micah’s Backpack in mind as you shop- Shirley will be at the Dearing Chapel on Wednesday’s from 4-4:15pm for safe, distanced pick-ups. And thank you for your faithful giving in response to God’s grace.

We are setting up on-line giving opportunities or you can mail in your gifts and tithes:

St. Matthew New Life:
Mailing address: P.O. Box 350119, Jacksonville, FL. 32235
Worshipping at: Dearing Chapel, 12355 Fort Caroline Rd., Jacksonville, Fl. 32225