Imani MCC of Durham
a church where, through faith, all can experience and express God's irresistible love through worship, word, oneness, wonder and witness.
Let Us Give Thanks This Day, And Always
"...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
May each and every day be a day of thanksgiving and praise.
Peace,
Rev. Phil
2012: The Year of the Lord’s Return
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
(Matthew 25:37-40)
“2012: The Year of the Lord’s Return”
Thanks to the lectionary we began our New Year with the end in mind. Not just the end of the New Year but the end of time. Our text from the Gospel of Matthew offers us the last words of Jesus’ last discourse, and they are a description of the end of time or the “Day of Judgment,” and what a description they are!
Hearing the Voice of the Lord
“The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” Psalm 29:9 (NIV)
“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:9-11 (NIV)
“Hearing the Voice of the Lord”
Knowing Versus Believing
“You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.” Psalm 139:1-6 (NIV)
Rev. Phil's Letter to Imani MCC
“I give you this to take with you:
Nothing remains as it was. If you know this, you can
begin again, with pure joy in the uprooting.”
― Judith Minty, Letters to My Daughters
19 November 2012
My Dear One,
After four grace-filled years of being in ministry together the time has come for us to move into the next phase of our faith journeys. The time has also come for us to move in different directions as we journey forward. There is so much that could be said now because we’ve been through so much together. We have shared so many blessings in such a short period of time. For now, I’ll simply say thank you for blessing my life, and ministering with and to me, during the past four years.