Typically when we read the middle of John 15 the word that jumps out is “love,” with good reason, mostly because it is mentioned 8 times over just a couple verses. However, the connective tissue for Sunday, May 5th is verse 11: “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Love creates opportunity for joy, and joy breathes life into love.

This Sunday, April 28th, is the fifth Sunday of Eastertide. It is also the Sunday following Earth Day. We have chosen as a staff to focus on how we are connected to creation, and are charged with being stewards of all that God has made.

Sunday, April 21st, we will sing together three shepherd hymns, to go along with two shepherd-themed scripture readings for, you guessed it, Good Shepherd Sunday.