4-Jan-25 (John 1:10-18)

John says (in different words) that to see Jesus is to see God and, to be sure, we know God's love through the actions and the words of Jesus. When we think about how God wants us to live and to move in this world, we are informed by what Jesus did.
There's a big truth in that, but there is also a smaller one: We who follow Jesus can and should also show the world who God is by what we say and do.
Does God love only a specific set of people? No? Then neither should we. Does God act in love or in indifference or hate? Love? Then so should we. Our actions should speak love first and always.
A major part of the work of the Church is to show God to the world in what we do and say.
So, it is that we come to the time when we commit ourselves to support the ministry of the Church, within this congregation, close by to us, and all over the world.
One way we do that is by giving of our financial resources for that work.
Think about how your gifts can help the world to see God in us and with us through your gifts as the deacons come to collect our offering for today.

Prayer:

Please join me in a spirit of prayer.
God who brings us light and life through Jesus, we thank you for Jesus and how he brought life and light in a form that we could see.
Help us to give generously to support the ministry of Jesus and, with our gifts, show your light and life to the people around us.
In the name of Jesus, Lord, Amen.