“Living with Blessings and Boundaries” - Sermon for September 8, 2019

It's a new season at Second Presbyterian! With the return to regular church services (remember - back to 9:00 and 11:00 AM next Sunday!), we leave our journey with Paul and instead join our fellow Christians following the Narrative Lectionary - Season 2. The narrative begins at the first moment when God became intimately connected to humanity - God's personal interaction with the first man and woman. This story challenges us to ask: what has God given to us, and how does that show what God wants from us? As Rev. Tom describes, God has given us both blessings and boundaries. The first human had a face-to-face relationship with God, but still needed something else - a "sustainer" to be by his side. God's solution? A woman. Two people can sustain each other, and be partners in life. Even in our limitations, we can share our gifts. In that way, all of us are Adam and Eve - created by God, and given limitations that offers us a way to turn to each other - to find a blessing, and to be a blessing, in joyous life together. (Bible reading: Genesis 2:4b-24)