The Sabbath is a day of hospitality. It is a day where we live out humility and dependence. We need God to provide for us totally. We are the guest; He is the host. We do nothing; He provides everything.

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan:

Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ you Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen

“Miraculin.” If you haven’t heard of it before, you’ll no doubt hear of it in the future. In fact, you will probably be invited to a “miraculin” party someday.

“Miraculin” or “miracle fruit” is a small berry that grows on a plant in West Africa that looks like a rhododendron. The technical name is the “Synsephalum dulcificum” plant. It looks somewhat like a cranberry, or when unripe a coffee bean, and has a slightly citrusy taste.

But the “miracle” about this “miracle fruit” is not what it tastes like. The miracle is what it makes everything else taste like.

Fertilizer is not a quick fix. It’s a slow resurrection. Jesus often used metaphors that describe the slow, invisible and quiet. The emphasis is to wait. Be patient, not impetuous. Sometimes instead of doing something, we need to do nothing. Join us this week as we look a Manure Happens.

How do we lead a church community to engage mission as a way of life? How do we steer a congregation out of evangelism programs into everyday missional living? How do we train a congregation out of Christendom habits and instill post Christendom virtues (character for living faithfully in post Christendom)?