~~~Beloved Community Newsletter~~~

Sunday, April 14, 2024

“Faith, Fear, Love, Us, Our Culture”

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Our home gathering place:

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

~In the small chapel~

(Enter by door to the left of the main doors).

8545 E. Dry Creek Rd. Centennial, CO 80112

And on Zoom

(Caution: GPS may want to take you to another location.

Church is located on Dry Creek just a bit west of Yosemite, a little bit west of I-25)

~Also available on Zoom~

🎵🎶 Some music for inspiration

“America the Beautiful” by Keb Mo

https://youtu.be/-qrCJjmODCo?si=PyZ_j2UIFtlMc2EB

Bible reading, meditation title, and other resources

Lectionary reading from the Revised Common Lectionary:

Acts 3:12-19 NRSV

Peter addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

“And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.”

Acts 3:12-19 NRSV with Vern Rempel paraphrase

Peter (having participated in a healing) addressed the people, “You people of faith in God, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Sarah and Abraham, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, and the God of Leah and Rachel and Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified God’s beloved servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One, the one who came preaching peace, and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the very bearer of life, whom God then raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in Jesus’ name, this name, this spiritual connection itself, has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

“And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what had been foretold through all the prophets, that God’s Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out. It is never too late; this is the very reason we are here. This is the resurrection; this is love.”

—See pastor Vern’s Sunday meditations at soulreport.wordpress.com. Shared reflection - “Faith, Fear, and Love In Our Lives and Culture.” We will discuss the Bible reading and the articles included below in our Beloved Community notes.

—Pastor Vern’s political blog is at mennopol.wordpress.com. See pastor Vern’s newest posts, Amber Souls and Action and Willfulness as well as one soon to be published on abortion, plus many previous reflections on Mennonites and politics.

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Gatherings and events

(Notice many special events in the coming weeks.)

April 14 - 12:30 at our Episcopal chapel - Shared reflection - “Faith, Fear, and Love In Our Lives and Culture.” We will discuss the Bible reading and the articles included below in our Beloved Community notes. (I will have printed copies of the articles available on Sunday.)

April 21 - Pastor Vern will be on leave. Alternative leadership?

April 28 - 12:30 at our Episcopal chapel, maybe a shared gathering with Mountain Community followed by special event at home of Connie & John.

May 5 - 12:30 at our Episcopal chapel.

Cinco de Mayo! Gathering with celebration and Latin-groove music, maybe share food?

May 12 - 12:30 at our Episcopal chapel

May 19 - 12:30 at our Episcopal chapel

May 26 - break for Memorial Day weekend?

June 2 - 12:30 at our Episcopal chapel

Somos una comunidad de fe intencional e inclusiva, reunida de todos los pueblos,

todos los colores, sexualidades y experiencias, mientras caminamos en el amor de Cristo.

We are an intentional and inclusive faith community gathered of all peoples,

all colors, sexualities, and experiences as we walk in the love of Christ.

Beloved Community Mennonite Church is a congregation affiliated with the Mountain States Mennonite Conference, a part of Mennonite Church USA and the Mennonite World Conference. 

May these gifts of joyful sharing and generosity create a community full of love and actions for Christ's peace here and in all the earth.

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Upcoming Events & Actions

~Thursday Circle - You are warmly invited to the this weekly expression of "Circle of Trust" practice, on the south side of the metro area, 7:00 p.m. Email pastor Vern for more information - vkrempel@gmail.com

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Get into community; our newsletter offers Numerous weekly connections:

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New Tiny Home Village to be built!
The Colorado Village Collaborative is kicking off a funding campaign for the new women’s village. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/CoVillageCo/

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Memories