JUNE 2020
We are One in the Spirit
“We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, and we pray that all unity may one day be restored . . . and they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”
The world we inhabit is torn with strife, from sibling quarrels to mean-spirited politics to divorce courts to warring nations. Human pride and narcissism undermines unity. But God is creating a new humanity out of self-centered narcissists like us.
God’s purpose of unification is guaranteed because he predestined this in Christ before the creation of the world. In fact, God embedded his goal of unification in the physical structure of the universe.
Vast solar systems are held together by gravity—in order to exist, the worlds need to connect!
Tiny molecules are held together by electromagnetism—before any process of nature, atoms need to bond!
Biological life depends on attraction—herding, swarming, flocking, and especially, mating. The mystery of the birds and the bees comes from the heart of a loving, reconciling Creator. All things need to be connected!
Christ is the hidden power who holds everything together. As a great Christian anthropologist said, “Love is the affinity which links and draws together the elements of the world . . . Love, in fact, is the agent of universal synthesis.” (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)
On Pentecost, the risen Christ gave gifts to create a new kind of human society, one that overcomes the divisions of this hurting world. On that day Jesus inaugurated a spiritual family that’s meant to overflow with God’s Spirit until God fills everything.
The Bible says that Christ is the head, and we are his body. The church is a living, expanding fellowship of love that will eventually overcome every division and fill the universe. That’s why Christ has blessed us with hospitality, authenticity, forgiveness and reconciliation—to make his predestined plan come true.
“They’ll know we are Christians by our love!”
(A personal note: I’m deeply grateful that God called me to be part of the pastoral team at Cedar Hills for the past six years. Although I’m “retiring” from my official role at the end of May, Jan and I look forward to continuing our precious friendships with you in the days to come. This is where we belong. Your love completes us!)
Alan Crandall
Pastor of Care & Visitation
Steve Poole
But last week, I tore it down. It was strangely emotional. At first I was sad that no one really saw it and then it quickly became a symbol of all the changes thrown at our church over the last couple of months. And then I was angry. I’ll be honest—there were times when I was ripping down green vines and not doing so ‘gently’ and I didn’t care. Up and down the ladder I climbed, throwing vines around, tossing fabric in piles, pulling out nails with a vengeance and chucking props across the stage with all the might I could muster. I just wanted it down and off the stage. For good. It was the stage no one saw.
Leah Carolan
July 14th is our next Blood Drive at church. Walk-in’s are not allowed at this time, but you can go