Important Modifiers: “Healthy & Happy”

Dear Friends and Family,

Welcome! Today I would like to highlight a couple of things: First, this is our monthly Communion Sabbath—so no foot-washing (a.k.a. as the “Ordinance of Humility”). Adventists tend to like the word “ordinance” over, say, “rite” or “sacrament.” Even so, it’s holy. We remember the Christ who made our community possible, and gave himself for a world that was fractured and broken. All who confess Christ are welcome!

Second, it’s our final sermon in our series on Friendships and Family. Today I’ll focus on what makes for healthy and happy relations within communities. These two qualities are necessary for friendships to truly exist, and for family relations to be life-giving, not toxic. 

Chosen family, in the context of diversity, makes the principles that undergird real and productive relationships all the more important. While some values may feel aspirational, they are all within reach. We’re social creatures, so while there are people with special needs and challenges around social interactions, we have the tools we need to do what few places manage to do: create the kind of safety, regard, and trust that allows for the intimacies of friendship and family.

I also want to point to what’s right before us—October! October is Adventist Heritage Month. I would kindly ask that you attend if possible, and invite friends and family. We’re going to have a stellar lineup of topics and celebrations, all within the context of the 125th Anniversary of the Southern California Conference—our mother organization. Chase Wilder, our summer intern from La Sierra University, will be back preaching on October 24. Glendale Academy (Chaplain Jonny Moor and team) will visit us for the first time in several years, featuring Adventist Education. 

Grace and Peace,

Pr Greg