Given the diversity of human personalities, perspectives, and priorities, unity in the secular world is often hard or impossible to achieve. Yet, followers of Christ are already united with God and each other through their Savior. Though from many different ethnic, national, and confessional backgrounds, Christians share a common identity and purpose with all others who have given their lives over to Jesus. “There is one body (church) and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)
Jesus taught that unity in diversity was a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit working within believers to transform their self-understanding and interactions with each other. He prayed, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20-21) Our demonstration of living in harmony with those different from ourselves is a powerful witness to the world of the possibilities for societal as well as personal transformation inherent in the Gospel (Jesus’ teaching, action, and person).
On Sunday, October 5th we will unite in one Unity Worship Service to be held at 9:30 am in the East Hills Moravian Church Sanctuary. As we gather together as a single worshipping body we will join millions of other Christians worldwide in observing World Communion Sunday. I urge you to attend and to make a special effort to reach out to members of the congregation whom you may not know as well as your close friends. Let this be your witness to fellow worshippers and to the world as together we see to make Christ known.
– Pastor Derek French