As this newsletter comes out, I am just finishing another of my intensive class
weeks at Acadia Divinity College. This semester’s course is on the parables of
Jesus. Some of Jesus’ parables are long, involved stories, but many are just a
single verse. It is amazing what lessons you can learn (and what debates scholars
can have!) over a few words.

Take the parable of yeast as an example. You can find it in Matthew 13:33, as well
as in Luke 13:22. Have you ever thought about how much bread you can make
with 60 pounds of flour? She is baking for a whole village. Did you know that the
yeast described here is not the dry yeast we often use today, but something more
like sourdough starter (the stuff that was all the rage in COVID times)? Are you
familiar with the process of making bread, which involves time of hard work but
also periods of rest to allow the bread to rise?

In a handful of words, we have themes of the small and hidden working its way
through something much larger than itself, cycles of work and rest, and the idea
that the kingdom of God works for the community and not just the individual. And
all of that comes before we even consider the work of the woman or whether the
other parables that surround this one might also help us interpret it!

So why do I share this with you? Partially it is because I am excited by my course!
And partially it is because I find it helpful to be reminded on occasion of just how
deep and wonderful God’s word really is. God gave us such a gift when God
inspired people over the ages to write down the stories of God’s covenant grace.
In particular, we are blessed to have the stories of Jesus to help us understand the
characteristics of the kingdom of God and the character of God and God’s people.
May we live out that vision, with God’s help!

I look forward to seeing you around the church in the month of November! We will have another community dinner on November 21 and Advent starts on November 29!

Hope to see you there!

Blessings,
Meg

A Song from my Playlist:

Tell me the stories of Jesus is a song from my childhood that always brings a smile to my face. You can find it in our hymn book at #348.

This is a spectacular version with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and two organists at the organ!

Click below to listen.