There are questions that are common to all of us.
We all, at some point - and for most of us at many points - ask, Who am I? What am I going to do with my life? Where or how will all this end?
In his first letter to the New Testament church, Peter wrote to Christians who had been scattered all over the known world because of persecution. These were believers who were isolated, and in places where the cultures were hostile to their beliefs; they knew what it was to be afraid and alone.
Peter acknowledges this as he begins his letter, “May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” These precious souls needed grace and peace during this time when they were out of their comfort zones, exiled to unknown lands and uncertain futures. Their greater need was an anchor for their faith, just like us as we face our fears in this season.
Peter continued: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.(v. 3)
We have a Living Hope! It is wonderful to have a dying hope; we just celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and trust that as He was resurrected from the dead, we, too, shall be resurrected and live in heaven with Him forever. However, we have a Living Hope; our hope begins now! The scripture states that as believers in Jesus, we have been born again to a new life. We also share in a blessed inheritance (v. 4) and we are barricaded by God’s power through faith for our salvation now and in eternity.
We are also Living Through Trials(v. 6). Peter acknowledges the suffering of Jesus’ followers, but also shows them that there is purpose in their pain. In verse 7, he says that the trials are tests of faith like gold tested by fire, that will produce a testimony of praise when Jesus is revealed as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Then Peter concludes his thoughts by reminding us that we are Living in Faith (v. 8-9). Peter instructed us that as we live in faith, we live with love for Jesus, with joy in Jesus, even though we do not see Him, we do not yet know how He will work all of our trials out for good (Romans 8:28). We live with trust in Jesus for the salvation of our souls, believing that He is working in us and through us for our good and His glory.
May we, just like those Christians before us, trust our Living Hope, Jesus, as we live through our trials in faith, to the praise and glory of our Savior.
Scripture Readings for Sunday: Acts 2:14, 22-32 | Psalm 111|1 Peter 1:3-9 | John 20:19-31
Thank you for your prayers, notes of encouragement, and continued giving over the past several weeks. We are blessed by your generosity and faithfulness.
Please continue to give as you are able, whether mailing a check to the Church office at 667 20th Street, Vero Beach FL 32960, or an online donation.
Easy Tithe is secure software on our website that allows you to give directly from your bank into a Christ Church designated fund.
Grow
All worship services, classes and meetings involving 10 or more people are cancelled through April 30.
Join us online again mid-week for Evening Prayer live at 5:30 pm each Wednesday using the Book of Common Prayer (pg. 41). This additional resource is helpful for those new to this prayer format.
The prayers of the people are read so please send names of those needing prayer to Lois Okaily; this list is available as a link on the website streaming page.
An excerpt from Session 7, on why the Crucified Life matters,
particularly as we now celebrate Jesus' resurrection:
“The Crucified Life is the entry point into the Resurrected Life.
It is as we die to self and count everything lost for Christ [to] fulfill our call and our mission; as we cling to God's personal and compelling call on our lives; it is when we say, 'Here am I, Lord, I'll do anything You call me to do,' that we know the power of the resurrection. We have new life in Him - as we die to our stuff, we are filled with the Spirit and set ablaze for His purpose, and we are set free to live for the glory of God.
“Do you want to know the power of the empty tomb? Then die to everything but His call upon your life. Be willing to leave anything and everything for His sake, doing whatever He calls you to do — and you will live life to the full now and life everlasting with Him.”
—Fr. Keith Allen, Session 7
Mondays
at 3 pm
through May 18
Please join us, or invite someone you know who is grieving the loss of a loved one to join us. Contact Carol Pearson for an inviteto join the Zoom meetings each week.
Embrace theJourney
resuming classes on Fridays
at 3 pm
through May 15
Please contact Carol Pearson for an inviteto join the Zoom meetings each week as we continue our interrupted course on the topics of aging and dying and what the Bible says about it.
Reach
Outreach Update
Christ Church is a long-time supporter of the Military Moms Prayer Group, the prayer support ministry behind the annual Holidays For Heroes project. They shared a letter from Bryce Saint-Vincent, SSgt, USAF, who is one of many recipients of these care packages.
In addition to the holiday boxes, Juliana Gammell presented dozens of boxes of Girl Scout cookies to the Military Moms at the GO Tour in February, to the delight of many troops who received them in Afghanistan. Thank you, Christ Church, for reaching out to bless deployed soldiers who are serving and protecting our nation.
Hello Military Moms Prayer Group:
I am SSgt Bryce Saint-Vincent. I have been one of the grateful recipients of your care packages for about a year now. I was flying as an aircrewman on a small 4-man aircraft in Afghanistan for several months and had received many care packages from you, including a large quantity of Girl Scout cookies. My detachment and wingman loved all the gifts and packages. It got to the point where everyone could get their favorite cookies and pack some for their flights.
Additionally, the Hothands packets were very welcomed, since the aircraft got to about just below 0 degrees at altitude in the winter. Even though everyone complained that I was making them fat because of the snacks you sent in, they always crowded around the box as soon as I brought it in from the mailroom. So you were successful in boosting the morale with all the boxes.
Plus the socks! I know from helping pack the packages when I was a kid how many tube socks you send out. Well, you should be happy to know that EVERY office out there has a mound of white tube socks that have been donated. We just walk up and grab a pair whenever we need one and throw a couple in a backpack whenever we catch a chopper out to a more remote location to give away.
We also loved all the cards and pictures that we got from the kids from Ft. Pierce and Sebastian. We plastered them up all over the JOC (Joint Operations Command).
Now I am back "home" in Germany and thankfully still receiving packages. I do not keep them but send them forward to some friends of mine who are in some more sensitive areas. Once again, I wanted to thank you on behalf of my entire detachment and the guys that are still receiving downrange. You do a great service to us all.
V/r
Bryce Saint-Vincent, SSgt, USAF
Local Information for Those in Need
Many local non-profit organizations are grant recipients of funds from United Way to assist local residents with rent, utilities, food, diapers, and other needs. More information is available here.
Residents of Indian River County who are in need of meals may call The Source Ministries at 772-564-0202 to get on the delivery schedule. They deliver meals 7 days a week.
he Military Moms Prayer Group, the prayer support ministry behind the annual Holidays For Heroes project. They shared a letter from Bryce Saint-Vincent, SSgt, USAF, who is one of many recipients of these care packages.
