“Can You Keep a Secret?” - Sermon for January 12, 2020

What truths does a secret hide? If the secret only hides itself, it can be used for good or ill. But sometimes, a secret can be used to reveal a greater truth. Such is the case with the secrecy that Jesus kept around his identity during his ministry. As Rev. Tom describes, Jesus did not seek the limelight as a healer. Many came to him to be healed, but this pointed the way towards Jesus' deeper ministry — the healing of people's spirits in selfless love. Not only did he quiet those whom he healed, but also those who would proclaim him king. To quote C. S. Lewis: "Enemy-occupied territory — that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed — you might say, landed in disguise." As Rev. Tom notes, the works of the Christian community — if they follow the works of our Lord — are formed in a new Spirit that is "healthy, creative, caring, peaceful and generous." This Kingdom of God comes in secret, to subvert the ways of this world with the ways of love.

(Bible reading - Mark 3:1-12)

Churches of Charles MLK Day of Service, January 20, 2020

The community of churches along North Charles Street are coming together to serve our community. This is a great way for us to learn about local mission programs, meet new people, and be the presence of Christ in someone else's life. To learn more or to sign up, Please visit:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090a49a4a829a57-mlkday6

Meatless Mondays

Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative founded in 2003 in partnership with our hometown Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center. If you are not familiar with the reasons for participating, here is a great article with “19 Reasons Why.” Michael Pollan, a long-time New York Times Magazine contributing writer and author of many books on food including The Omnivore's Dilemma, says this about the benefit of this change: “Even one meatless day a week - a meatless Monday, which is what we do in my household - if everybody in America did that, that would be the equivalent of taking 20 million mid-size sedans off the road.”

And finally, here's a link to recipes to help support this change. The Peace and Justice Committee hopes you join us in this step of Environmental Justice for our planet. Every meatless meal makes a difference.