Rev. Rebecca’s Note - Love in the Time of Resurrection
As we continue on in Easter, we continue exploring what resurrection means in relation to other foundational elements of Christianity. As Christians we can say in all honesty that Christian faith can be most succinctly summed up this way: love God, love your neighbor as yourself, and love your enemies. The Great Commandment, plus. This is as simple as faith gets. Most Christians, in spite of the many different manifestations of Christian belief, would readily agree that love is foundational to who we are as Christians. Words translated as “love” in the NSRVue (New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, updated edition) occur 624 times throughout the Bible over 66 books between the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha. The Anchor Bible Dictionary spends 21 pages (in small print!) talking about all these occurrences and their myriad of meanings.
And yet for a topic that on the surface seems like it’s simple enough, it seems like there is plenty of disagreement on what it means to love God, our neighbors as ourselves, and our enemies. How do we determine how to love God, ourselves, and others? This is one of the key questions of our faith as Christians. Particularly in this Easter season it bears examining the relationship of love to Jesus’ resurrection. Stephen Patterson considers this:
“To believe in the resurrection is to have faith that God would redeem the life and work of Jesus from the death sentence imposed on it by history. It is to have faith that Jesus’ ministry was the work of God, that his words were the Word of God. History cannot prove that these things are true. One can only risk asserting that they are true, and listen and watch for this same God in one’s own life. This is all that the earliest Christians had to go on. It is all we have too. They understood that the resurrection of Jesus is a challenge to believe that history is not all there is to human existence. They understood it as a call to have faith that we live in the presence of a God whose gracious, loving character shone forth in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. They understood it as an invitation to live life as a faithful, trusting response to that God, extending that experience of gracious love to others, just as God had extended it to them in the ministry of Jesus. This challenge, this call, this invitation are still ours today.” (p. 239)
Throughout this Easter season we’ll get more into the weeds about the particulars of what love really means to us from a Christian standpoint, in light of a resurrected Christ, but I think it’s important to say right off that love was the guiding and foundational force of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. As Christians, it’s our continuing call to live out that love in all kinds of ways we can use our theological imaginations to think of.
Source:Patterson, Stephen. The God of Jesus: The Historical Jesus and the Search for Meaning. Harrisburg: Trinity Press International, 1998.
- Rev. Rebecca
Think+Pray+Act(itivites) Survey
Even if you weren’t able to make it on Saturday, please fill out our survey on activities and times by this Friday, April 24 (https://forms.gle/JrLpi4wZvge3QcGF9) to help us set priorities and schedules for the rest of this year. Thanks!
The Board’s Note - Thank You Rev. Rebecca!
Dear TPA Community,
Can we all flood the TPA email ([email protected]) with gratitude for Rev. Rebecca (Becky)?! She had her installation on 4/11, as well as the church’s launch, and we know some were unable to attend. So, please be sure to show her some love this month, as we would not have made it to one year without her. Here are some Pictures of the event:
Left: Rev. Rebecca with her Cake. Right: Rev. Regan Saoirse, Rev. Dietra Wise, Rev. Rebecca Klemme Eliceiri, with the start of the Public Theological Library behind them!
TPA Online - Drawing All Things to God in Easter
Our Online Spiritual Group, Drawing All Things to God: , will go on through the whole Easter season and beyond. You are welcome to join us anytime. We will have a brief spiritual practice and a video of the author reflecting on an idea for us to discuss and reflect upon together.
| Join us on Sunday Nights at 6 pm For the Online Spiritual Group aboutDrawing All Things to God Sign Up Here for the Link! |
There is so much we can say about Jesus - and much has been said about Jesus, who is the center of our Christian faith! But who is he, really, and what does he really mean to us? As we’re in the 50-day Easter season, in this series we consider who he is through video, discussion, and spiritual practices. See you online!
South City Youth Group Meeting Think+Pray+Act is part of the South City Youth Group for grades 6-12 with Compton Heights Christian Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and Oak Hill Presbyterian Church! The youth group meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month - the next meeting is on May 3, looking at Servant Leadership from Henri Nouwen.
What’s Next
| April 19-25 | Daily Bible Reading 1st Samuel 23-24 - 2nd Samuel 3-4 |
| Sat, April 25, 12:30pm Think+Pray+Act 2725 S Jefferson Ave, StL, 63118 | T+P+A Gathering: Easter: More Than a Day! Why is Easter a whole liturgical season and not just a day in the life of the church? We’ll delve into the meaning of this. |
| Sun, April 26, 6pm Online | T+P+A Online: Drawing All Things to God: Look at Jesus with NT Wright Exploring who Jesus is and what he means to each of us. |
| Sat, May 2, 9-11:30am Affton Christian Church 9625 Tesson Ferry Rd.,StL, MO 63123 Email [email protected] to sign up | Safe Sanctuary Training 2026 As a faith community, we must be committed to freedom from all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation or intimidation. All adults who want to work with the youth group are required to attend this training. |
| Sat, May 2, noon-3pm Leclaire Room 600 Troy Rd.Edwardsville, IL Get tickets HERE | DIsco and Disruption: United Congregations of Metro East’s Brunch Boogie for a purpose! This unforgettable experience will spotlight the disruptors—those who challenge the status quo and lead radical change in our communities. UCM will also showcase the transformative work they’re doing to build a stronger, more just Metro East. |
What to Know about Think Pray Act:
We are an open and affirming faith community that strives to maintain open and free theological learning as an act toward justice. We welcome all spirit seekers into full participation in the life and membership of the community. We actively and faithfully accept as they are people of every race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, relationship status, physical and mental ability, family type, and economic background.
We believe God calls us to do justice and love kindness, giving assistance and healing to others and the planet by following the teachings of Jesus. We promise to love our neighbors, respect differences, and build authentic relationships by learning who we are, taking just action, and breaking bread together. In our actions, God’s love moves and shines.
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