Immanuel United Church of Christ

  • Home
  • About
    • Meet the Pastor
    • Next Steps
    • Who We Are >
      • Who We Are
      • Staff
      • Church Committees
      • United Church of Christ
      • History
      • Stained Glass@Immanuel
    • First Time Visitor
    • Find Immanuel
    • Weddings@Immanuel
    • Contact
  • Sundays@IUCC
    • Worship >
      • Listen to Sermons
    • Worship Notes Sunday Service
    • Sunday School >
      • Children and Youth Education
      • Adult Education
  • Connect
    • Youth Groups >
      • Junior Youth
      • Senior Youth
      • VBS & Sports Camp 2020
      • VBS & Sports 2019
      • VBS & Sports Camp 2018
    • Women's Groups
    • Men's Groups
    • Interest Groups
  • Grow
    • Small Groups
    • Adult Study
    • Devotional Blog by Pastor TJ
    • Devotional Resources
    • Still Speaking
  • Serve
    • Missions >
      • Afterschool Program
      • Summer Club
      • Grant's House
      • Laces for Lisa Faith & Fitness Trail
      • LUM Christmas Jubilee
      • Growing Hope Globally
      • Pancake Brunch
      • Fish Fry
      • Community Outreach
      • Other Missions
      • UCC Missions
      • Serving our Youth
      • Serving Immanuel
    • Music
    • Health Ministry
  • News@IUCC
    • Reopening Plan
    • Weekly e-Spire
    • Calendar
  • Give to IUCC
  • Pastor TJ's Sermons
    • Pastor TJ's Sermons YouTube
    • Listen to Sermon Podcast

​Tree of Life

11/8/2018

0 Comments

 
Sometimes when hatred and violence fill our world, we find ourselves struggling to see the light of love.  Like so many others, my heart was broken when I heard the news of the violence carried out on the worshippers at Tree of Life Synagogue in suburban Pittsburgh.  Tragically, a hate-filled individual gunned down innocent worshippers at the synagogue.  We join in prayer with others from across the country and around the world for the families who have lost loved ones.  We as Americans have long prided ourselves in freedom of worship regardless of the person’s religion, so this act cuts to the very core of who we are as Americans.  But it goes even deeper.  It hurts those of us who cherish faith.  I could not help but reflect on the name of the synagogue, Tree of Life, and its roots from the Garden of Eden in the book of Genesis, where wrong choices brought a removal from the peaceful garden and the presence of God.  In a very real sense, such a hateful act of violence re-enacts God’s heartbreak and our alienation from God and each other.  Let us pray not only for the families of those who lost loved ones at the Tree of Life Synagogue, but also pray that our country would seek a new era of understanding and peacefulness. 
 
(verse of the week)
 “Blessed are the peacemakers,
                   for they will be called children of God” (Matt. 5:9 NIV).
 
(prayer of the week)
Lord, grant us minds that seek to understand, hearts that seek to care, and hands that seek to build up rather than tear down, through your power and to your glory, Amen.

​Blessings--Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved through understanding – Albert Einstein 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Pastor Dr. TJ Jenney
    ​Awarded Top 30 Devotional Blog  
    Listen to Inspire Podcast

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
1526 South 18th Street Lafayette, IN 47905
Phone 765-474-6496

Sunday Schedule
8:30 AM Contemporary Worship
​
9:45 AM  Sunday School for all ages
10:45 AM  Traditional Worship
No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, YOU are welcome here!